Shop indie and local with our guide to some of Herefordshire’s most unique destinations for gifting and your own home this Christmas.
Warehouse 701, Hereford
Much more than just an architectural salvage yard and antique centre (though all that is a constantly changing source of inspiration), you’ll also find Warehouse 701 Home in the vast barn on this large eclectic site.
Literally packed to the rafters with delicious new home and garden items, you’ll find gifts, accessories, tableware, pet accessories, food and drink treats and more in the vibrantly displayed rooms that are an onslaught to the senses.
While you’re there, replenish yourself with breakfast, brunch, light lunch or even just tea and cake in The Shed coffee house located at the heart of the site. At this time of year the fire will be roaring and the comfy chairs beckoning… you’ve shopped hard, you’ve earned it.
Oakchurch Farm Shop, Staunton on Wye
Known throughout the county as The Harrods of Herefordshire, push aside your idea of out-of-town shopping in a soulless mall on the edge of somewhere and head to Oakchurch, where there’s little you can’t buy.
This is destination shopping; a go-to retail experience at any time of year, but especially at Christmas when it’s the perfect one-stop shop for all your seasonal needs.
Aside from the vast festive food hall, an inspiring selection of lovely things for home and garden, as well as fashion, jewellery and handbags, will solve your gifts-for-the-grown-ups puzzle, while the children’s department offers traditional toys, games, wooden jigsaw puzzles, books for all ages, and well-known names like Lego and Jellycats as well as a huge selection of farm toys. And their Christmas decorations department is HUGE!
Philip Morris, Hereford City
A jewel in Hereford’s retail crown, the ever-expanding Philip Morris is one of the city’s flagship independent retailers.
The store has been a fixture on the county’s shopping list since the 1800s, when it started life as an ironmongers, growing over the years to become a hugely popular country living and department store in the heart of the city.
Family run as it has always been, Philip Morris sells everything for every room in the home , from quality kitchenware, china and cutlery to linens, clothing and footwear and garden, dog and shooting accessories, bags, luggage and more. Find everything you need for comfortable country life featuring luxury stalwart and emerging superior brands, including their very own house design Albert & Maurice.
Holloways, Suckley
Become enveloped in the converted hop kilns and stunning, glass-fronted Gallery Showroom, where you’ll discover contemporary country living furniture collections for every room in your home, as well as your garden. Anyone with a love of interiors will welcome a gift with a difference from Holloways extensive selection of hand-picked cushions, throws, feature mirrors, artwork and ornaments for the interiors connoisseur.
Christmas at Holloways is always a magical time of year – time for friends and family to reconnect, to eat, drink and be merry. The Glasshouse café is running a deliciously seasonal Christmas Shoppers’ Menu, with all the joy of the season, homemade cocktails and lots of festive fizz. Plus during December there’s a Festive Lunch Menu, perfect for groups of friends or colleagues to celebrate together. Booking essential – click here to make a reservation.
In the showrooms, shelves laden with perfect presents, trees twinkle with pretty lights and beautiful decorations, and their Neptune store-in-store is full of tableware, glasses, cutlery and accessories for your Christmas guests.
The Shop at Coo Corner, Fownhope
The Shop @ Coo Corner’s owner Victoria Cooper has a passion for design with sustainability – for reusing, reworking and upcycling. So you’ll find not just gifts, but refill stations, not just beautiful tableware but pre-loved clothing.
Along with creative Christmas decorations, this beautiful little shop promotes local makers and worldwide fairtrade artisans across a wide spectrum, and you’ll literally find something for every member of the family. From newborns to great grandparents see clothing, toys and games, fashion accessories, gardening goodies, kitchen gadgets, ceramics, homeware, candles and wax melts to yoga mats, bodycare, gift cards and jewellery .
“Upcycling is about designing stuff that I feel has a value in terms of usability,” says Vic. “Price, too, is very important, and the emphasis is on accessibility to everybody. It’s about finding something for everyone.“
And they serve great coffee and cake too in their little nook, to refresh you to go round again and see the things you missed in your initial excitement.
Aardvark Books at Brampton Bryan
There’s nowhere better to go to browse the laden literary shelves than Aardvark Books. Nestled amidst a magical circle of hills in the Marches enter an Aladdin’s cave of new, second-hand and rare books, CDs, maps, musical scores, DVDs, greeting cards, gifts and more. From children’s to crafts, fiction to food, history to horoscopes, there are books on every subject under the sun, for everyone on your Christmas list! Whether you’re looking for a famous author, a forgotten favourite or something out-of-the-ordinary, Aardvark has or might be able to get it.
The roaring woodburner and inhouse café with sumptuous cakes might have you hiding out there until New Year!
Labels Shopping Ross on Wye
Another of Herefordshire’s great out-of-town shopping destinations, Labels Shopping has women’s and men’s fashion and accessories (including bowler hats!), homeware and soft furnishings, travel items, fabulously fragrant candles, diffusers and room sprays from family run Herefordshire producer Whax, everything you need for the kitchen including the highest quality cookware from The Cookshop, and a gift shop with cards and gifts not just for Christmas but for every occasion.
Make a day of it and include a stop for lunch at M&Js at Labels or a sandwich from the newly revamped deli – a tempting menu will ensure you’re fully re-charged for more shopping!
Old Chapel Gallery, Pembridge
Another unique and magical location, Old Chapel Gallery, located in Pembridge in the heart of rural north Herefordshire’s picturesque Black & White Village Trail, is firmly established as a centre of excellence for casual browsers and serious collectors alike.
Lovers of contemporary British arts & crafts can find work by local and nationally established artists and makers, alongside the innovative work of talented newcomers. See garden sculptures and objets d’art, textiles, jewellery, ceramics, art, glasscraft, and lots more.
The ‘Winter Curiosities’ Christmas Exhibition runs until the end of the year and can be seen at the Gallery or Online. All prices include postage and packaging.
Open Wednesday to Sunday. Other times by appointment.
The Nest at Little Verzon Farm, Near Ledbury
Well known as a foodie destination for its café, deli and farmshop, and as the Home of the Handmade Scotch Egg Company, The Nest at Little Verzons Farm is also an emporium of artisan made homeware. With locally crafted tea and dinnerware, chunky chopping boards, home scents and fragrances, you’ll be ticking off your list in no time.
Look out for regular seasonal and pop-up events, there’s always something going on in their 7 day opening times.
The Hop Pocket Shopping Village, Bishop’s Frome
Welcome to a world of independent shopping under 5.5acres of rustic farm buildings and hop yards, and a lovely day out for the whole family.
Famed for its craft and gift emporium, the Hop Pocket has evolved to offer fashion for all ages, a beautiful luxury furniture and homeware store, huge toys and games department, with its well-known garden centre and fantastic food hall and wine shop perfect for those festive purchases.
The Hop Pocket’s vast Restaurant opens out to a children’s play area for fine days and the free parking is a real antidote to town centre queues.
Family run for decades, they have an experienced eye for individual items that you won’t find in mainstream retailers. You’ll love a festive family day out here or on-stop shopping day to finish your present buying.
JB Gaynan & Son, Ledbury
J.B. Gaynan & Son is a family run, independent jewellers and the longest established retail shop in Ledbury.
They stock a large selection of silver and gold jewellery, fine china, silverware, crystal, clocks and watches, with a FREE GIFT WRAPPING service and wherever possible FREE ENGRAVING on any gifts purchased from instore. Jewellery repairs are carried out on site in their own workshop and they have a valuation service, next day restringing and glass and metal engraving service.
As the generations have passed, the business is now in the charge of highly talented granddaughter, Karen, who herself crafts a beautiful range of bespoke jewellery. We also love their ‘Ledbury’ range of home fragrances and candles.
If you’re looking for a gift to treasure forever for any loved one, JB Gaynan will give you exceptional customer service and choice.
Hay Markets, Hay-on-Wye
Trading for over 700 years, Hay Market Day is a vibrant local street market held in the centre of Hay-on-Wye, every Thursday throughout the year (and now monthly Saturdays too).
Recently in receipt of the Best Market in Wales award from Slow Food UK, discover an abundant showcase of independent traders spreading through the town. You name it’s here; artisan food and drink producers, craftspeople, antique traders, flea and vintage, fishmonger, hot food, to plants and cut flowers and much much more.
EVERY Thursday 9:00am to 2.30pm you’ll find unique gifts for everyone and meet the people that create them, plus larder specialities that will make your Christmas taste particularly indulgent.
Newent Plant Centre, Nr Ledbury
There’s still time to get your perfectly formed Christmas Tree (with a little sapling for every purchase) and festive wreaths, plus winter plant gifts; think Cyclamens, Pansies and Violas, Hellebores, Lillies of the Valley and even winter Camellias amongst others, and Newent Plant Centre has it all.
Of course it’s a good bulb planting time too, which is the gift that that keeps on giving when they bloom in the spring/summer and remind the recipient of the thoughtful person who made their world a little brighter long after the tinsel is forgotten.
Ludlow Distillery, Ludlow
More famous for their spirits, we had to give Ludlow Distillery a shout out for their new gift range of scented candles and home fragrances in Pink Lady, Dark & Stormy, and Citrus Spritz. We’re also loving their leather gin coaters and the sets of 4 glass swizzle sticks.
All you need now is a bottle of their gin … good job they do gift packs of those too!
LOCAL AUTHOR BOOK GIFTS
We have some highly talented writers in and around Herefordshire and a book from a local author is particularly meaningful, and another way to support a local business.
Here are some we think you’ll like:
Hard Work But Glorious by Clare Wichbold
By it here
Grasping the Nettle and Diary of a Modern Country Gardener by Tamsin Westhorpe.
By them here
Foodies Across The Pond by Herefordshire’s Jane Raven (Myrtles Kitchen) and USA’s Lisa Seigle.
Buy it here
Bill’s Kitchen by Bill Sewell
By it here
For more great places to Shop, Eat and Enjoy this festive season check out our big Christmas page.