The most wonderful time of the year is rapidly approaching! Christmas is always my favourite time of the year, and we need merriment & cheer even more than usual this year. For the first time ever I thought I’d put together a Independent Hampshire Christmas Gift Guide, showcasing some ideas for fantastic gifts from independent businesses based in Hampshire & the surrounding areas.
I’ve separated this guide into categories according to the type of gift you would like and who the recipient is. Everything in this guide can also be ordered online which is very helpful at the moment!
Click to navigate to the category you wish to browse in my Independent Hampshire Christmas Gift Guide.
- Perfect for Pampering
- Foodie Gifts
- Coffee Enthusiasts
- Festive Tipples
- Homewares
- Clothing & Jewellery
- Arts & Crafts
- For the Bookworm
Perfect for Pampering
Southsea Bathing Hut
Southsea Bathing Hut is one of my favourite independent businesses when buying gifts – I’ve sent (& received) several gifts from them over the past year, and I’ll no doubt be ordering some products to gift this Christmas too!
In their online shop you’ll find a range of handmade products featuring coastal ingredients – my personal favourite is their hand & body lotion and face oil. Southsea Bathing Hut also have some great gift sets available, perfect for sampling a few smaller sizes of their products. Everything is high quality & smells beautiful! Gift sets start from £8.50.
Read my post about Southsea Bathing Hut here
Coastal Remedy
A new addition to Portsmouth’s independent shops, Coastal Remedy sells a curated collection of lifestyle, home & wellbeing products. Alongside selected items perfect for gifting, they have some pre-made Wellness Gift Boxes available, which would make a lovely present delivered straight to your recipient’s doorstep.
Halsa Cosmetics
Stocking a range of beauty & cosmetic items alongside Sunny Honey Candle Co. candles (which are amazing), Halsa Cosmetics is a great choice
Foodie Gifts
The Whimsical Kitchen
The Whimsical Kitchen is extremely popular, selling out so quickly each time the shop opens that I still haven’t managed to place an order! However, everyone who tries Jackie’s sweet treats raves about them & she has some great Christmas products coming soon.
Keep an eye on her website & Instagram page to see when the shop is next opening!
New Forest Shortbread
Christmas always requires biscuits – and rather than buying the typical selection box from the supermarket, why not try some local shortbread? New Forest Shortbread, baked by Tracy, offer a selection of shortbread boxes for delivery. I love that each box includes notes about local plants & wildlife – it makes your box of biscuits a little more special! A box of shortbread would be a great stocking filler (if you don’t eat it first!).
Dumpling Dumpling
My favourite Dumpling Dealers have created a range of very cute dumpling Christmas decorations! They are also offering gift vouchers for their dumpling deliveries, which will resume soon. Read my post about Dumpling Dumpling home deliveries here
Get 15% off dumpling decorations with code XMASKAT15
Spice Island Chilli
I’m yet to try a bottle of Spice Island Chilli, but I’ve heard excellent things about their sauces! Based in Portsmouth, they have launched a special gift caddie (pictured here) for Christmas which is beautifully presented – or they have their offer of 3 bottles for £13 which is great value.
Elite Treats
I absolutely love that we now have pick & mix sweet deliveries available! Elite Treats delivers an enormous range of sweets in bags, boxes, made into wreaths – you name it, they deliver it! These would make great stocking filler presents.
Have a browse of the website & order online here
The Southsea Deli
The ever popular Southsea Deli in Portsmouth has launched some luxury Christmas hampers this year, which would make a great gift for your favourite food lover.
The Southsea Deli have several hampers available, starting from £28.50 for the Mini Deli Hamper. Free delivery is available to Southsea & Old Portsmouth, or you can collect from the deli.
Mooreish
Mooreish is offering three different Christmas treat boxes, which will are available for pre-orders with selected delivery dates throughout December. The Christmas Baubles box will be £10 plus £2.50 delivery fee, which will include a range of brownie bombs like the below – vegan options are available for this box. There is also the Perfect Gift Treat Box for £12 plus delivery, containing a range of festive sweet bakes, as well as The Big Christmas Treat Box for £20 plus delivery – which includes a huge selection of cupcakes, blondies and brownies. We’ve had a couple of deliveries from Mooreish and all of her treats are fantastic! Delivery is to PO1 – PO7 and PO16, and collection is from PO4.
Read my post about Mooreish here
Sweet Science Patisserie
Sweet Science Patisserie is hugely popular across Portsmouth & Southampton – and I’m a huge fan! We’ve had two deliveries, both of which have included unique and delicious sweet treats. Deliveries will be running every Saturday as normal until 23rd December, and will be daily in the week between Christmas and New Year. Collection orders are available daily as normal, and the menu changes regularly.
Say Cheese Cake
Who doesn’t love cheesecake?! Say Cheese Cake is a small business based in Portsmouth started earlier this year, run by owner Penny. She has a huge range of bespoke flavours available and is offering a Christmas cheesecake box for £15 which will include 6 cheesecake pots. Alternatively, you can order larger cheesecakes in the Christmas flavours, which would be more like the below.
The Garlic Farm
The Garlic Farm, located on the Isle of Wight, has been one of my favourite local foodie businesses for years. They sell an enormous selection of garlic products, from mayonnaise to garlic-infused vodka & beer – there’s something for everything in their online shop and everything I’ve tried of theirs has been fantastic.
Coffee Enthusiasts
Hampshire is home to a host of fantastic small batch coffee roasters – many of which I’ve already written about here. So, if you’ve got a coffee lover in need of a Christmas gift, you’re truly spoilt for choice!
Here are a few of my personal favourites for coffee – all tried & tested at home.
Moon Roast
Moon Roast, a small batch coffee roasters based in Alresford, produce some excellent coffees from their rural location. They have a variety of coffee blends available from their online shop, along with brewing accessories & a coffee subscription club. The subscription would make a great Christmas gift! Read my post about Moon Roast here
Use code BREWATHOME for 10% off your first order
DT Coffee
More well known as Coffee Lab, DT Coffee have a huge selection of small batch coffee on their online shop – anyone who has visited a Coffee Lab will know how good their coffee is! You’ll find plenty of coffee, accessories and even some barista courses all on their website.
Sunday Coffee Roasters
Sunday Coffee Roasters supply excellent coffee blends from their Portsmouth base. Starting from £6.50, their coffee tastes fantastic and is great value for money. Read my post about Sunday Coffee here
Ridge Roastery
Launching earlier this year, Ridge Roastery is a small batch coffee roasters based in Waterlooville. The founder Jake is currently away researching new coffee blends, but will be reopening his online shop soon ready for Christmas orders. The coffee is all excellent & is my current go-to!
SORoast
A small coffee roasters based in Southampton, SORoast sell a curated selection of coffee in their online shop. If you’re shopping for someone who drinks a lot of coffee, they have a 3 month gift subscription available for £20.85 which is excellent value. Read my post about SORoast here
River Coffee
River Coffee supply some seriously good coffee – without a doubt one of my favourite coffee roasters! In their online shop you’ll find a range of blends, branded merchandise, brewing equipment and their new compostable espresso pods.
Free nationwide delivery for orders over £22.50 – use code FREESHIPPING
Forest Edge Roasting Co.
Based in the New Forest, Forest Edge Roasting Co. roasts a variety of special blends which are all available online. You will also find brewing equipment & Keepcups on the website, so if you are considering buying these have a look at the website and support a small biz.
Bubblehead Barista
A brand new business is launching in time for Christmas, so of course I had to include it in this guide! Based in Portsmouth, Bubblehead Barista will be stocking speciality coffee, portable coffee brewing equipment, mugs and merchandise – all of which would make excellent gifts for a coffee enthusiast! If you’re planning on purchasing an Aeropress this Christmas, he will be stocking these – so make sure to check the website when it is live.
The website goes live on 27th November – you can shop online here
Festive Tipples
Another thing that Hampshire has an abundance of is gin distilleries – there are so many different craft distilleries to choose from! I’ve sampled the majority of Hampshire gins (my bar cart is jam-packed with them) so I feel like I’m somewhat of an expert – so here are my personal recommendations for Christmas gifting.
Plus, all of these gins come in beautiful bottles – especially the Mermaid & Twisted Nose gins – making them perfect as a present.
Twisted Nose (Winchester)
Twisted Nose is a firm favourite of mine, distilled with watercress and housed in a beautiful bottle perfect for gifting.
Mermaid Gin (Isle of Wight)
Mermaid Gin is a firm favourite of mine – I always make sure I have a bottle on the go & an extra bottle as a back up! The beautiful savoury flavour & local Rock Samphire as a key botanical make this a very special gin – and the beautiful bottle makes this an excellent gift. They have a gift set for Christmas including two of their glasses, which would be a brilliant present.
HMS Spirits (Portsmouth)
HMS Spirits have several fantastic nautical gins available – I have the Mary Rose gin which is excellent. For Christmas they have launched their Gingle Balls sets, perfect as a gift or for decorating the tree!
Portsmouth Distillery
If you love gin or rum, there’s something for you from Portsmouth Distillery! Handcrafted, small batch gins and rums are available from their online shop, alongside merchandise and distillery tour tickets. They also have cider cans available! We have the Cinnabar rum on our bar cart and it’s beautifully unique.
Free local delivery available to PO post codes when you order online
Hogmoor Distillery (Bordon)
Hogmoor Distillery produce a range of gin & rum from their base in Bordon, including a charity gin & plenty of gifts too. In their online shop you will find a variety of gins, rums, accessories and even vouchers for their gin classes. There’s a lot to choose from, and some great gift options for the gin lover in your life!
Hambledon Vineyard
If there’s ever a time for sparkling wine, it has to be Christmas! My personal favourite sparkling wine – which just so happens to be produced in the village where I used to live – is from Hambledon Vineyard. I’ve written several posts about the vineyard & their beautiful wines, and I am most definitely a fan!
Hambledon Vineyard have a few sparkling wines to choose from, starting from £30. All of them are truly delicious – my preferences are probably the Classic Cuvée & the Classic Cuvée Rose. Shop online here.
Read my post about Hambledon Vineyard here
Isle of Wight Cocktail Co
Newly launched earlier this year, the Isle of Wight Cocktail Co. is a great business selling pre-mixed cocktails – currently offering bottles of Old Fashioned & Bloody Hell Mary (which is the hot sauce base, doesn’t contain the alcohol). The bottles are all screen printed by hand & I absolutely love the concept of the company.
Bottles of Old Fashioned are 500ml and cost £22.50. Shop online here.
Moon Valley Cider (Petersfield)
Cider lovers, I’ve got you covered! Moon Valley Cider sell a small range of sparkling ciders from their base near Petersfield, using apples from Hampshire & Sussex.
PIG BEER (New Forest)
Located on a former pig farm in the New Forest, PIG BEER create unique beer with their microbrewery & hop plantation. A small range of beers are available from their online shop for just £2 each – these would be a great gift for someone who loves craft beer!
Staggeringly Good Brewery (Portsmouth)
If you’re after a ridiculously unique & unusual selection of craft beers, Staggeringly Good Brewery have got just the thing for you! Quickly becoming one of the UKs top craft breweries since starting up in 2015, Staggeringly Good have have dinosaur themed beers that are fruity, chocolatey and all sorts of other weird & wonderful things. There’s also merch available on their website and gift cards available if you simply can’t choose.
Free UK mainland delivery on orders over £30 & free local delivery to PO1-PO6 on orders over £20
Fallen Acorn Brewing Co (Gosport)
I absolutely love the packaging & witty names that Fallen Acorn Brewing Co have for their beers! Revenge of the Sith Faced & Not with that Oatitude are two of my favourites – but there are plenty to choose from. They have a huge selection of beers in all sorts of sizes on their online shop, alongside guest beers & merchandise.
Southsea Brewing Co (Portsmouth)
Situated within the walls of the iconic Southsea Castle (what a cool place to house a brewery!), Southsea Brewing Co brew small batches of high quality craft beers. They have a large selection available from their online shop, alongside gift ideas like this 3 can set – perfect if you can’t decide which to choose.
Free delivery within Portsmouth for orders over £20
Unity Brewing Co (Southampton)
Featuring pastel packaging and a range of craft beers, Southampton based Unity Brewing Co have a curated selection of beers for you to shop from. Plus, they’re offering 10% discount to ease the blow of 2020! Beers start from £3.40.
10% off your first order with code TOGETHERTHROUGHBEER
Homewares
Port & Lemon
One of my favourite discoveries this year, Port & Lemon is a fantastic business based in Gosport selling prints, homeware & stationery. I love all of the designs on the products and their coastal themes, one of my favourite products being the ‘Choppy Today’ kitchen board (which I actually have in my kitchen as I type!). There are plenty of great options for gifts, with products starting from £3.
The Dancing Woodman
The Dancing Woodman creates a huge range of products, all using refurbished wood. He’s based in Southampton and has plenty of furniture and other items available in his Etsy shop.
Sunny Honey Candle Co.
Candles always make a good gift (for loved ones or for yourself!) and I’ve ordered a few from Sunny Honey Candle Co. to give as presents this year. I love that the scents are inspired by local areas – the owner Laura has such a unique gift offering that I think would be perfect for anyone! As you can see, I ordered several candles as well as some wax melts – each candle is £12 and comes beautifully packaged.
Compass Candles
Compass Candles specialise in making candles from bottles, which is a brilliant idea – I think we’re all guilty of hoarding pretty bottles every now and then, so this is a great way to give them a second life. Bottle candles start from £19.50, and they also have normal candles available.
The Hambledon
Known as Winchester’s independent department store, The Hambledon houses a beautifully curated selection of homewares, clothing and other assorted bits. It’s a pleasure to shop in store under normal circumstances, however all of their stock is online and there are plenty of things that would make great Christmas gifts.
Free shipping on orders over £50
The Consortium
This is always one of my favourite shops to browse when I visit Winchester – The Consortium is home to such a unique range of antiques, homeware, stationary and all sorts of other interesting things. You’re bound to find something for a loved one (or for yourself!) here, so have a browse of their website.
Rose Clover
Who doesn’t love a good houseplant? Rose Clover is a beautiful shop in Southsea stocking an enormous range of high quality plants, pots and accessories. If you’re shopping for a gift for a plant lover this Christmas, they also have gift vouchers available.
Get free shipping on orders over £40 with code FREESHIP40
Clothing & Jewellery
Bay Tree Gallery
Bay Tree Gallery have a selection of sweatshirts and t-shirts which I absolutely love! Featuring their Vitamin Sea Southsea prints, these are great value for money and would make a good Christmas gift. I have the grey hoodie & blue t-shirt, both of which are favourites of mine.
Strong Island Clothing Co
If you’re local to Portsmouth, you’ve probably come across Strong Island Clothing Co before! We have a few t-shirts from them and all of their clothing is premium quality. I love their new Fark design t-shirt, and their hoodies are perfect for gifting.
Free delivery on orders over £15 & 10% off your first order with code SICCOHEY
Spott & Herbert
Spott & Herbert stock a cute range of sweatshirts & tops, featuring slogans that I think we can all relate to! Their sweatshirt-in-a-bags would make excellent gifts and there are lots of colour combinations to choose from.
Bohemian Betty
Based on the Isle of Wight, Bohemian Betty stocks a beautiful selection of handmade jewellery. I love the coastal themed pieces and a few of her items are on my own Christmas list! Everything is excellent quality and if you can’t decide what to get as a present, gift cards are available.
Gnarly Tree
Based in Chichester, Gnarly Tree create hand-printed sustainable clothing with an outdoorsy feel. I absolutely love everything in their shop, especially their sweatshirts – anything from here would make a great present.
For the Bookworm
Winchester Guidebook
What a gloriously yellow book! The Winchester Guidebook contains information on the city’s independent businesses, from foodie spots to shops. This would make a great gift to anyone who loves the city!
Pigeon Books
If you’re buying some books as presents this Christmas, make sure to have a look at Pigeon Books! They have a great selection of new releases, fiction, non-fiction, LGBT+ and other books available, all with delivery from their online shop. Read my post about Pigeon Books here
Arts & Crafts
Lucy Loves This
AD – this product was sent to me in exchange for inclusion in this guide.
Lucy Loves This is a brilliant design studio based in London, started up by book cover designer Lucy Stephens. Now, I know they aren’t based in Hampshire – however, they do have some brilliant Hampshire-themed prints which I absolutely love!
They were kind enough to send over one of their brand new prints for me to include in this guide, which features lots of locations across Hampshire in their signature line drawing style. The Hampshire letter print is absolutely beautiful, and comes framed or unframed (with unframed delivered in time for Christmas!). This print is taking pride of place in our house next to my desk, and this would make a brilliant present! There are also lots of other UK locations in the letter print series, so head over to the website and have a browse.
Amy Harwood Illustration
Amy is a fantastic artist based in Southampton who has an online shop bursting with cute stationery items – as well as offering online workshops which are brilliant. I ordered a few bits from Amy last year for Christmas presents (& for myself), including the 2020 Dinosaur Calendar – everything is excellent quality & very affordable. Her online workshops are also brilliant fun and start from £5 for a ticket – this would make a great present for a crafty friend. Amy also has gift vouchers available, starting from £5, which can be redeemed against any of the items in her shop or against a workshop.
Strong Island
Yes, I’ve included Strong Island a second time – but I absolutely had to share this print in this guide! I love all of the Strong Island designs, and their prints are all excellent quality & locally printed. This one is my personal favourite, and their prints also come with the frame & brass nail.
Free delivery on orders over £15 & 10% off your first order with code SICCOHEY
Camilla’s Creations
DIY Christmas wreaths are one of the best at home Christmas experiences (in my opinion) and they’re brilliant fun to create. Camilla’s Creations, a florist based in Hambledon, are selling three varieties of DIY Christmas Wreath making kits, each costing £40 & containing everything you need for your festive front door. I’ve ordered the Wild Woodland kit for myself & I’m very excited!
Bay Tree Gallery
Bay Tree Gallery has a huge selection of Portsmouth-themed prints available from their online shop, with many of them on a 2 for £15 offer. I particularly like the below prints – but there are plenty more to choose from!
Love Southsea
Love Southsea is well known across Portsmouth, regularly hosting markets which feature local independent businesses. They have a huge range of products in their online shop, including art prints created by local artists. One of my favourites is this seahorse print – which is on offer if you buy 3 of their prints.
Southsea Macrame
DIY craft kits make excellent presents, and this kit from Southsea Macrame is a great one! Included are all of the materials you need to make your own macrame plant hanger, all for £10 plus postage.
You can order from Southsea Macrame on Instagram here
You’ve finally arrived at the end of my Independent Hampshire Christmas Gift Guide! I know this was a long post, but there are so many fantastic independent businesses across Hampshire that I wanted to include.
Hopefully this guide inspires you to shop from local small businesses this Christmas – and, if you aren’t based in Hampshire, many of these gift ideas are available for UK wide delivery.
If you do shop from any of the businesses listed in my Independent Hampshire Christmas Gift Guide, I’d love to know – so please do send me an email or a message on social media!
