At Love Basingstoke we love to shop local and support local businesses. It’s good for our community, economy and best of all you get to buy special unique gifts for your nearest and dearest. If you are looking to support Basingstoke and Deane businesses and give the gift of local this Christmas, then this guide is for you. 

Where to shop 

Browse or shop online from the comfort of your own home on The Borough Basket, a directory of local businesses, makers and creators selling fantastic Christmas gifts.  

The popular Malls Christmas market is back and open daily until 24 December with lots of opportunities to purchase gifts, recharge with a traditional hog roast from Gourmet Grill or donuts. 

In Festival Place, there are a fantastic selection of independent businesses to explore. Grab a bite to eat at these festive pop-ups, which can be found outside by Superdrug, Tesco and Metro Bank. These include mouth-watering cheeses at The Cheese Hut, sausage selections at The German Bratwurst Hut and the opportunity to build your own Belgian Waffle at the Waffle Hut.

You will also find shops in Overton, Chineham Shopping Centre and Viables Craft Centre. 

Christmas gift inspiration 

Food and drink treats 

Perfect for stocking fillers or teachers gifts, The Homemade Brownie Company has a range of Christmas inspired brownies, which includes a host of traditional festive flavours including a Gingerbread Blondie, Christmas Cake Brownie, Stollen Blondie, Chocolate Orange Brownie and Salted Caramel Brownie. Also available are Christmas special brownie boxes online, individual brownie gift bags and even gift cards for any brownie lover in your life. 

Longdog has created a festive three pack of Ruddy Elf, a popular rich seasonal ale which would make a lovely Christmas gift. Also available to purchase are a wide range of other three pack ale choices to explore, such as Black Crow made with locally grown Fuggles hops or Golden session with its subtle citrus taste. A Longdog Gift card is a great gift, so that your loved ones can treat themselves all year round. Also available on the gift section of the website is a lovely Longdog pint glass or the thoughtful gift of making a donation to local charity Basingstoke Food Bank, who do incredible work helping those in need.

Experiences 

If you are perhaps looking for something a little different this year or don’t want to give more ‘stuff’ then what about a gift experience? There are plenty of local options to give loved ones a bit of pampering or an experience they won’t forget. Here are just a few: 

You can purchase gift vouchers for Exciting Escapes located in Basingstoke town centre. The voucher can be for money off any game or the whole value of an experience in any of their games.

Gift vouchers are also available from Oakley Hall Hotel. They can be used for afternoon tea, overnight stays, a three-course meal and Clay Pigeon Shooting.

Send your loved one for an unforgettable experience at the Gorilla Spirits distillery in Upton Grey, with many gift options to offer such as, a distillery tour and tasting, cocktail masterclass or gin school! 

Give the gift of relaxation and pampering from Basingstoke Wellness with a beautiful gold embossed voucher each with their own gold foil gift boxes.   

For the creatives in the family, Hampshire School of Jewellery offer jewellery making classes from their Basingstoke studio, including one-off introductory classes such as ring making and using Silver Clay as well as longer courses. They have classes available to book into March next year but also offer gift vouchers as the perfect present if you are not sure when they will be free or which class they would prefer. Prices for gift vouchers start at £25.

For a truly unique and memorable experience Whitchurch Silk Mill is offering the chance to purchase an individual weaving experience, involving a private tour and the chance to speak to the specialist weavers/tacklers. Gifts cards are also available to spend on purchasing something really special from Whitchurch Silk Mill shop, such as their beautiful silk scarves, ties and throws.

Jewellery, clothing and skincare 

If you are looking for a pampering gift for a loved one take a look at the natural handmade honey skin care from A Basket of Bees made locally in Old Basing with Basingstoke Honey and Beeswax. 

You can find handmade sterling silver Jewellery from Laura Lewellyn Design. Designs include Christmas tree earrings which are perfect for day and night throughout the festive season. Each Christmas tree has a lightly hammered finish that will sparkle in the light.  Topped with a gold or silver plated hematite star bead, these unique pieces are a great gift this festive season. 

Kids will love these engaging word search 'IMAGINE' T Shirt' s from Identity Papers, where they can use a washable pen to highlight a new character of their choice every day of the week, perfect for little imaginations to go wild!  

For quirky and fun stocking fillers or gifts under the tree, See Scents has a vegan friendly bath bomb in the guise of a lump of coal, or choose an adorable fresh and minty snowman soap. For those more creative, there is the opportunity online to create your own bath potions or to purchase a beautiful Jack Frost or Christmas Fairy gift box.

Decorations and Cards 

Make your tree sparkle with a beautiful robin from Laura Llewellyn Design, a special addition to your Christmas tree decorations. 

We love these handmade decorations from Bag De Vie. Not only will they look great on the tree but with personalisation available they make great gifts.

Other ideas

Perfect for a thoughtful gift, take a look at these handmade Cotton Makeup Bags from Holly Parkhouse Design, which can be used as a pencil case or makeup pouch. Holly also offers a special festive sheet of Christmas stickers, which are great to add some Christmas spirt to your letters, cards or as a stocking filler. 

Bring the beauty of the natural world into the homes of your loved ones and chose from a selection of gifts from Jeremy Rossiter Art, such as mugs showing stunning coastal views and teas towels displaying vivid poppy fields. From chopping boards, to place mats, cheese boards and compact mirrors, there is something to suit everyone’s needs.

The Milestones Museum gift shop is full of special and unique items so be sure to check it out for a whole host of gift ideas. Choose from educational and informative gifts, to nostalgic and collectible items for those who may have lived through the periods of time their many items represent and reflect. The Milestones online gift shop has classic and timeless items such as a Fenton limited edition bear, with its own certificate of authenticity or ride-on cars perfect for little ones this Christmas.

Thank you for shopping local this Christmas. 

Please note the inclusion of any business within this listing should not be seen as an endorsement of their services. While the information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information.

December 2023