Local Christmas Shopping - Gift Experiences

Looking for slightly different gift ideas for your loved ones this Christmas?

There’s a great range of businesses that offer special gift experiences across Alcester, Bidford-on-Avon and the surrounding villages.

Some of these businesses have had to stay closed during lockdown, so buying vouchers and gift experiences is the perfect way to support them this year, and will give them (and gift recipients) something exciting to look forward to when they’re able to re-open in the not-too-distant future.

Go Cotswolds

 

Local tour company, Go Cotswolds offers award winning small-group minibus day tours that are a fantastic way of exploring the beautiful countryside and picturesque villages across the county borders. It’s a great value way of playing tourist on your own doorstep and discovering facts you never knew about the area.

If you think your loved one would enjoy a bit of booze with their views, buy a voucher for the Brewery & Pub tour, which includes a tour & tasting around Purity Brewing Co., lunch, a drink and a talk at a historic country pub followed by trips to Chipping Campden and Ebrington.

Private tours are also available to book on request.

Find them on Facebook.

Honeybourne Pottery Studio

 

This family-run pottery studio on Honeybourne High Street offers classes for all ages and experiences, so a gift voucher towards one of their fantastic workshops would suit anybody who fancies having a go on the wheel. Vouchers are valid for 2 years from purchase date.

Before lockdown, I’d been lucky enough to visit with a large family group (remember those blissful, pre-COVID days?!) for a 90-minute taster session, which was the perfect amount of time to make and decorate a small pot each. My two children, then aged 4 and 6, had a whale of a time, as did the rest of our all-aged group.

We also visited at a later date for an autumn half term clay modelling session, making some fantastically spooky coil pot monsters. Whilst these modelling workshops aren’t happening at present, it’s worth keeping an eye on their social media pages for updates on when they’re able to run again. Fingers crossed that it’s soon!

Find them on Facebook

All Things Wild, Honeybourne

 

Anybody living with children around this neck of the woods will know and love this fantastic attraction.

Thanks to a vast outdoor space, it’s proven to be a great location for socially distanced family fun when allowed to re-open after lockdowns. You can treat loved ones of all ages to gift vouchers or rather special “Wild Experiences”, which can range from farmyard encounters for younger children to the Keeper for a Day experience, for over 16’s.

For smaller budgets, day entry gift vouchers or animal adoption packs are also available and would be met with much excitement from young recipients.

Find them on Facebook

Butter Street Bakery, Alcester

 

I’m going to be slightly over-effusive and say that if you’ve not yet tried one of Butter Street Bakery’s infamous cruffins, you haven’t lived (unless you have a gluten allergy or intolerance, in which case there’s other delicious goodies available for you). This wonderful little bakery in Alcester is partly responsible for lockdown weight gain in our household.

If you know someone who would like to learn some baking skills from owner and trained chef, Nelson Mansfield, you can book them in on one of his bread or pastry baking courses (children’s courses are also sometimes available) or purchase gift vouchers to put towards a course. Gift vouchers might be the best option currently as at the time of writing, and for obvious COVID-related reasons, there’s a smaller selection of scheduled courses available to book.

Find them on Facebook

Bidford Gliding & Flying Club

 

Do you know somebody special with a head for heights? Why not give the gift of flight with a voucher for Bidford Gliding & Flying Club. Setting off from their beautifully situated airfield, partway between Bidford and Honeybourne, your loved one would be able to enjoy an introductory gliding session with a qualified instructor as well as full membership to the club for a further 28 days.

Find them on Facebook

Artbase

 

Another gift idea for creative types!

Run by artist friends, Georgina and Beth, Artbase has navigated the challenges posed by lockdowns by offering their fabulous classes via Zoom. Not only can you purchase vouchers to help adult friends or family create beautiful pieces of art, but there’s also classes especially for children.

Pre-lockdown, Artbase would run popular holiday clubs for children and also after-school sessions. My son (aged 6 at the time) has attended some of the latter and we now have some really lovely, bright and rather impressive artwork on our living room walls. Georgina and Beth really know how to bring out the best in their students, and offer classes covering a range of subjects, utilising different mediums.

Find them on Facebook

Crafty Gal

 

Since the first lockdown in March, ‘Crafty Gal’ has sadly had to stop running her workshops at her own lovely little studio in Marlcliff. However, the good news is that you can still learn how to make gorgeous needle felted characters at Bonds Lifestyle, Dodwell. Denise, who runs the workshops, guides participants in the creation of wonderful dogs or woodland creatures over the course of a day (10.30am - 4pm).

You can purchase a Crafty Gal gift voucher from Denise’s web store (or perhaps buy one of her own creations), and the recipient can then choose the workshop for themselves at a later date.

Find them on Facebook

Rebecca Tracey Perfumed Workshop @ Bonds Lifestyles, Dodwell

 

Rebecca has her own, exquisitely stylish concession at the Bonds Lifestyles store, where you can purchase her products for yourself or as gifts.

What would be a wonderful and unique gift idea is a voucher towards one of her aromatherapy workshops, in which your loved one will have the opportunity to learn more about essential oils, their origins and how to blend them to create a signature scent. They will even get their own aromatherapy roller ball to take home as well as coffee and cake during the workshop.

Find them on Facebook

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Written by Amy James, The Connection Magazine.
Featured header photo by Taylor Heery on Unsplash

If you would like to find out more about how to get your business featured in our recommendations, or to book advertising space in our printed bimonthly publication, please email: [email protected]