Local Luxury Gift Guide - Small Business Gifts Made Within 30 Miles of Monmouthshire
Shopping sustainably can be a minefield of greenwashing, guilt trips and marketing falsification can't it? It's easy to feel overwhelmed. Really, shopping more consciously with sustainability at heart should be a joy. It should be a wonderful opportunity to discover artisans making beautiful products and talented local makers creating works of art.
Shop Local
There are lots of different opinions on sustainability but one thing people agree on is that shopping locally is a good move. Even better if something is made and sold locally. Imagine, if you will, living in the regency ear. You would buy you ribbons, bonnets and shoes from your local dress shop, only occasionally heading into a big city for goods. That sort of balance is so much healthier for our planet and for our communities.
Luxury Gifts, Made Locally
With that in mind we've curated a gift edit of luxury presents, all costing £30 or less, made within 30 miles of our Monmouthshire farm. So, if you live in South Wales, Bristol, Somerset or the surrounding then you can shop away knowing you're investing locally and buying with a conscience.
Hale Organics Scots Pin and Cedarwood Beard Oil - £18
Emily, of Hale Organics, is really properly lovely and so are her skincare creations. She’s based just over the water in Bristol but hikes into the countryside to forage for her natural ingredients. This beard oil is the perfect way to upgrade a gentleman’s beauty regimen. Oh and why not order her Get Glowing Highlight Balm too? It’s top of our wish list.
Monmouth Houseplants Dried Pastel Bouquet - £6
Abi at Monmouth Houseplants has an incredible selection of houseplants. It’s a genuinely dangerous shop for me to go in as I inevitably leave with three new plants! This mini dried flower bouquet is really cute and would work well in most people’s homes so makes a safe bet. Plus, it can’t be killed!
Anna Jones Blue Splatter Espresso Cup - £26.50
There’s something just so irritable about a good splatter on a ceramic isn’t there? The lovely Anna is based in Bristol and makes the most beautiful mugs and espresso cups. The blue splatter has stolen our heart but check out her gorgeous speckle range too. We obviously both have a love affair going on with good ceramics but honestly, it’s incredible how something as simple as a handmade mug can transform your daily cup of tea or coffee. I can think of few better gifts to give than a handmade mug.
Hairy Jane Hair Perfume With Heat Protection - £12
Hairy Jane hair products are made in Bristol and, honestly, I’m tempted to order everything. First up I’m definitely swapping over to their gorgeous looking shampoo bar. This, a hair perfume with added heat protection, caught my eye. It sounds like a fab present for a teen or tween with a penchant for hair styling to me.
The Good Wash Company Natural Body Lotion - £18.50
OK, you’ll have to forgive us, the brilliant Good Wash company are actually based in Barri which is just over 40 miles from us. But, they had to be included. This is a company with real heart that makes truly luxurious products (because shopping sustainably shouldn’t mean missing out on luxury). Good Wash are changing the world ‘one wash at a time’. They’ve already provided over 75k of funds, since launching in 2019, to brilliant charities and organisations across Wales.
Warmlii Cherry Stone Thermal Pillows - £15
I will be genuinely disappointed if I don't find a Warmlii under my Christmas tree. Before you skip ahead writing this off as yet another wheat/oat bag these are far superior. Unlike the oat bags which cool down too quickly and end up smelling like old porridge, these recycled cherry stones hold their heat and mould to you perfectly. They are don't have any scent so you can add essential oils to your heart content.
Wild Grove Felted Soap - £6
Wild Grove make the most incredible smelling, zero waste and biodegradable soaps. We love that they come wrapped in felt which acts a gentle exfoliator when you shower. Genius!
Jessica Thorn Ceramics Plaque or Mug - Range of Prices
Forgive us for including another ceramic option but the mugs and plaques available on Jessica Thorn’s website right now are just too good to ignore. The Bristol-based ceramist has our full attention with her seriously captivation still life plaques. Admittedly the one we’ve fallen for (pictured) costs £45 but there are a range available and of course, some gorgeous mugs too.
Great House Farm Stores Ceramic Match Pot - £24
Forgive us for blowing our own trumpet but, come on, this match pot is seriously beautiful isn’t it? It’s a best seller for the second year in a row. Our match pots have a strike pad on the base and we will top up bundles including more of our colourful matches and fresh strike pad. We have it on good authority that they make brilliant gifts. Perhaps for the friend who has everything…? We’re confident they don’t have a match pot as beautiful as this.
Monmouth London Dry Gin - £15.99
Speaking as a certified spirits expert (check my WSET Level 2 qualification in Spirits!) and a die hard martini drinker, Monmouth’s London Dry Gin is a truly brilliant gin. We’re all a bit over the gin fad now, aren’t we? This restrained but truly luxurious blend of botanicals from Graham and Tracy at Monmouth is the answer. Plus, it’s all distilled down the road in Monmouth by a truly lovely pair.
Opt for the 20cl bottle as a great small gift, stocking filler or secret Santa option.
Marches Deli Cheese Selection - Range of Prices
Tom, at Marches Deli, is easily the most knowledgeable cheesemonger we’ve come across. He is passionate, genuine and friendly and lights up if you go in in search of cheese. Pop into Marches Deli in Monmouth and ask for his expert help putting together a cheese selection for a delicious gift. The deli is also seriously well stocked with other goodies.
Peski Studio Risograph Print - £18
Kids can be so hard to buy for but these fun, colourful prints from Peski studio are a great option. We love this tiger one but there's a huge range, printed by the talented guys at Peski in Bristol.
Wendy Calder Scraffito Vase - £22
Wendy is one of the brilliant potters behind our candles pots so we may be a little biased but we think she’s a hero. She’s based in Bristol and makes a range of gorgeous, very giftable ceramics. She’s one of the most technically precise potters we work with and every piece she makes is always impeccable. This vase would make an elegant gift and will spread some Spring cheer in the depths of Winter.
Kontext Coffee Taster Box - £16.50
After moving to Monmouthshire from London I panicked, genuinely panicked, about the lack of good coffee shops. Everything I tried was barely drinkable. Until I stumbled into Kontext Coffee and sampled one of founder Katja’s flat white. I swear I could hear angel song the moment I sipped it. Katja then tell me where else I could find brilliant coffee (Tom, at Marches for example). Kontext have a number of brilliant, liftable options including their coffee taster box. We love that Katja has a strong focus on sustainability, and it’s not just green washing, Katja is constantly looking for ways to champion sustainabitly in coffee production.
Helen Round Reusable Bamboo Face Cloth - £5
Abbie, who has really sensitive skin, says these are the softest face cloths she's ever used. Quite the accolade! At £5 this would make a great stocking filler or secret santa. Or, pair it with a luxurious face cream for an indulgent gift.
Wye Valley Sparkling Mead Selection Box - £20
My husband has become a mead devotee and after stealing a sip or two, I can see why. Mr Day used to manage cocktail bars and is a drinks enthusiast so you can take his seal of approval with some weight. The mead from Wye Valley Meadery isn’t your usual syrupy type of liqueur but rather a light, sparkling, dangerously moriesh tipple. I’d recommend the 6 bottle gift pack that allows you to sample all of the flavours. Another reason to love Wye Vallery Meadery? It’s run by very lovely brothers Matt and Kit and we all know the best businesses are run by siblings…
Bristolmade Bath Salts - Drift Deeply - £18
Lisa, founder of Bristolmade, started making her own beauty products to ensure they were free from any and all nasties. We love the sound of these drift deeply bath salts. They’d make the perfect gift for someone who needs a touch of encouragement to pause for some self care!
Lost and Gounded Beer - Mixed Pack - £20.95
So we might have been swayed by the brilliant label designs but we’ve also heard rave reviews about Lost and Grounded beers. Brewed in Bristol and with an extensive range, we’d opt for the mixed pack to make a delicious gift.
Jayne Groves Original Linocut Print - £18
We sell a range of beautiful linocut prints from Bristol-based artist Jayne Groves. We love her depiction of our farm driveway here. Is there anything more compelling than arriving on that road home? This would look gorgeous as part of a gallery wall.
Vin Van Cwmru Red Wine - £18
Founded by the lovely Sara, Vin Van Cwmru are on a mission to champion Welsh wine. Which, by the way, is delicious and plentiful - who knew? Why not introduce the wine buff in your life to a new tipple.
Harth Winter Solstice Hot Chocolate - £6.95
Have you noticed that hot chocolate is having a bit of a moment? No longer just beloved of 14 year-olds, craft hot chocolate, made by people like Harth, is on the up. This is beautifully packaged, sustainably made and we love the sound of the spiced winter solstice blend.