With the festive season fast approaching, independent businesses need our support more than ever. Luckily, shopping small is a great way to find unique gifts, and Manchester is packed with options.
Whether you have everything wrapped by December 1st or prefer a last-minute dash into town, these suggestions will help you cover everyone on your list.
The Foodie
- Double oven glove- Bee print (The Neighbourhood Threat, £24.95): Cook in style with these Manchester inspired oven gloves.
- The Manchester Cookbook, Second Helpings (Manchester Museum, £14.95): Recreate your favourite dishes from Manchester’s pubs, cafes and restaurants at home.
- Salvi’s Deli Giftcards (3 branches across Manchester): Treat them to an Authentic South Italian meal brought to Manchester – hopefully they’ll take you along…
- Pasta Making Class (Food Sorcery, Didsbury, £85): Perfect homemade pasta whilst drinking wine and doing plenty of taste tests. Other classes are available that cover a variety of cuisines and diets.
- Chocolate Manchester Bee (Cocoa Cabana Chocolatiers, West Didsbury, £4.99): Chocolate and the Manchester bee, what’s not to like?
The Environmentalist
- Sass & Belle SS Grey Water Bottle (The Dispensary, Salford, £10): Stylish and practical, you can’t go wrong.
- Mama Moon Bath Melts (Earth Friendly Rocker, Afflecks, £5.99): These vegan and plastic free melts are a perfect gift for self-care.
- Baby Baggu Reusable Grocery Bag (Deadstock General Store, £10): A practical but pretty gift that comes in a variety of patterns and colours.
- The Forager’s Calendar (Oklaholma Manchester, £12): This seasonal guide to natures harvest is perfect for anyone green-fingered.
The Sport Billy
- England Rugby Legends Art print (Designed by Homeless Ghost prints, £15): Represent your favourite team on your wall.
- Yoga Class (Yoga Soul, NQ. Classes from £12 or a 30 days for £30 offer): A great introduction into yoga with a variety of friendly and fun classes.
- Manchester City Poster (Panic Posters, Afflecks, £3.99): A great stocking filler or secret Santa option, jazz up your flatmates’ plain bedroom walls.
- Base Bar (£30 per session): Eat, drink and swing in this cool bar.
The Crafty One
- Alena Ruth Tufting tufting workshops (various prices): Learn how to tuft, creating wall hanging, rugs, mirrors and more in a fun one-to-one workshop.
- Crafty Socks (Thunder Egg, £9): A cute stocking filler to show off their crafty side.
- Pottery Painting (Pottery Corner, Chorlton, pieces starting from £13): A fun afternoon of creativity, take your own food and drink and enjoy.
- Handmade, crafty bracelets (Stacey Hill Jewellery, Manchester Craft and Design Centre): Gorgeous handmade jewellery you won’t find anywhere else.
The ‘No need to buy me anything’
- Manchester Mosaic Bee Tote Bag (NQ Gallery, £13): Perfect for shopping in style, this bag could also be a great eco-friendly alternative to wrapping paper.
- Handcrafted Soap (The Manchester Soap Company, £5): Everyone needs soap! Especially handcrafted, uniquely scented soap.
- Pet Portrait (Message @papdoodles on Instagram! £10 for digital print, £15 for physical): Send in a photo of your pet for a unique illustration. A really unique and special idea that you could even use to get printed onto t-shirts etc.
- Money Tree (Glass House Manchester, £14.95): A worthwhile investment, plants are a great gift for anyone and everyone.
- An Introduction to Manchester Craft Beer Box (Hip Flask Delivery, £20): For those who have high beer standards, a great taster collection.
The Music Lover
- Manchester Music Map by Sue Wills (NQ Gallery, A4 £27): This iconic print is perfect for any music lover.
- Alan Gregory Music Shop Gift voucher: Let them pick out their own gift with a voucher.
- Live Jazz Music (Haus Fallowfield every Saturday, free!): Treat them to a meal or some drinks and enjoy a budget gift together.
- Blind Pack of 3 tapes (Mars Tapes, £6): A fun stocking filler, play tape roulette and see what they end up listening to.
The Bookworm
- Didsbury Village Books: An affordable, vast collection of second-hand books. Pick out something you know they’ll love and protect the planet.
- Skeleton Leather Bookmark (Oklaholma Manchester, £9): Let this cute skeleton mark their place.
- Paramount Books (Shudehill, Manchester): Another great selection of second-hand books. This place is really eclectic and filled with cheap gems.
- Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo (Chorlton Bookshop, £8.36): Get the British Book Awards 2020 fiction book of the year from an independent Manchester business.
- Free Film Screening experience (Café Blah, Withington): Which is better- the book or the film? Find out at Café Blah’s weekly free cinema screenings. Buy them a drink and treat them to a memorable and affordable night.
The Fashionable One
- 70s Style Statement Earrings (A Curious Collection Withington, £25): These gorgeous earrings will complete any outfit.
- Carhartt Acrylic Watch Hat (Steranko Didsbury, £20): A staple for the cold Manchester winters, this hat comes in a variety of colours.
- Rainbow Peacock Cotton Bag (Oklaholma, £8.50): A much cooler upgrade from a Tesco bag for life, shop in style.
- Our Hearts all Beat the Same Graphic T-shirt (Feel Good Club, £24.99): A great ethos and cool graphics.
The Art Lover
- Art Print- A4- Dave Draws Doodle Print Manchester (A Curious Collection Withington, £15): Perfect for any proud Mancunions.
- The Whitworth Institute Jigsaw (The Whitworth Gallery, £20): Perfect for a cosy winter night with a jigsaw and hot drink.
- Painting Workshop (Art Float, from £22): A fun and immersive experience, help them to become the next Bob Ross.
- 2022 Art Calendar (Chorlton Bookshop, prices in store): A practical but beautiful gift that comes in a large variety of styles.
Happy shopping!