Holidays Manchester Student-made

Shop small this Christmas: An independent Manchester gift guide

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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.

@officialuom

A Manchester Christmas gift guide by our student Imogen. Support independent businesses this Christmas 🎄✨ #manchester #christmasgiftideas #fyp #uom

♬ Bright christmas songs – Pad
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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

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

The Art Lover

Happy shopping!

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