Shop local this Christmas

It goes without saying that this has been an incredibly tough year for everyone but let’s hope that next year is going to be much, much better.

Something really good which has happened this year is the strong sense of community which has shone so brightly up and down the country. Here at Burts and Townhouse, the support we have received from our local community has been just incredible and it has made a world of difference to us. Thank you.

We always love to support our local independent shops and whilst Christmas is going to look and feel quite different this year, we would encourage all of you to support local shops and businesses as much as you possibly can. There are some fantastic local shops offering brilliant service, interesting quality products and the warmest of welcomes.

Here are just a few of the lovely independent businesses in Melrose who have put their thinking caps on to come up with some inspirational and unique gift ideas for Christmas and beyond.

If you can’t visit them in person, many of them have online stores or you can contact them on Facebook or even the good old telephone if you prefer!

 

DELICIOUS ADVENT CALENDARS FROM MELROSE

Simply Delicious are offering a range of delicious advent calendars this year! These sweet and chocolatey advent calendars have been produced right here in Melrose and the contents inside are either individual chocolate figures hand cast in the shop or filled with the most popular sweets that are sold in jars by this much loved Melrose institution.

There are 3 Delicious options to choose from:

Milk Chocolate Figure Advent Calendar filled with over 150g of quality, solid milk chocolate figures handmade in Simply Delicious at only £8.50 * they can also make a vegan dark chocolate version.

Sweet Advent Calendar – for an alternative advent calendar, a calendar filled with traditional Scottish made sweets – Soor Plooms, Hawick Balls, Sherbet Lemons, Irn Bru Rock, Cola Cubes, Pear Drops to name a few. Two sweets for every day of Advent. £8.50

Handmade Chocolate Advent Calendar – filled with handmade chocolates all made at Simply Delicious. £24. (as these are filled chocolates with no preservatives)

The calendars will be ready from 16th November, with the Handmade Chocolate Calendar ready from 23rd November. Local collection from Simply Delicious in Melrose or they can be posted out to your colleagues, family and friends if required.

Place your order on www.simplydeliciousofmelrose.co.uk or pop into the shop.

SIMPLY DELICIOUS OF MELROSE
13 Morow Gardens, Melrose TD6 9LA

 

HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS!

Natural Crafts specialise in traditional and artisan crafts which are inspired by nature; dried petals, moss, seashells, tree bark, wood slices, this is definitely a craft shop with a difference.

But with their popular workshops not happening at the moment, it is still possible to unleash your creativity with craft kits and gift products that are made using the natural products that they produce or sell.

These craft kits are produced in-store and are made from materials that the shop supply, all 100% natural materials are used, providing great fun for yourself and your children. The candle making kit from sister company Blackadder Candles make the ideal gift for budding candle makers and enthusiasts as well as other products such as bamboo ducks which also make excellent gifts.

NATURAL CRAFTS
10 Buccleuch Street, Melrose TD6 9LE

 

TRULY BESPOKE CHRISTMAS HAMPERS

The Country Kitchen Deli are a well-established and very highly regarded delicatessen in Melrose, known for their friendly and knowledgeable staff who are passionate about delicious food.

Offering high quality produce, with a large proportion of products stocked in the Deli being sourced within Scotland and from local producers. In addition to a substantial range of world cheeses, there is also a selection of the finest British charcuterie. They also stock a full range of speciality coffee, offered as beans or ground on the premises.

With Christmas Hampers going to be even more popular than ever this year, why not support fantastic local Deli’s such as The Country Kitchen Deli instead of just clicking on a well-known High Street chain for something impersonal and mass produced. You will be able to treat your loved ones, or yourself, to a hamper that truly is bespoke, brimming with fantastic locally sourced produce that has been chosen by you.

COUNTRY KITCHEN DELI
1A Market Square, Melrose TD6 9PQ

 

GIFTS FOR THE GARDEN

In a year when everyone fell in love with their garden again, a totally unique gift for the garden might provide the inspiration that you have been looking for?

Henderson’s Garden and Home Store offer a unique shopping experience with an eclectic and ever-changing collection of vintage garden furniture, stoneware and architectural gems that sit alongside a carefully curated range of individual, unique and quirky pieces for the home.

Owners Hamish and Kate Henderson take great pride in offering individual customer service. Their knowledge of their products is far reaching and they enjoy nothing more than being able to share some of this with their customers. Henderson’s also offers product sourcing for anyone in search of a particular item and has its own door to door courier service to deliver these pieces.

If you are unable to visit in person then the website gives you the opportunity to shop from the comfort of your own home. There is also a lovely Christmas section on the website which features seasonal wreaths, foliage, candles and fragrances.

HENDERSON’S
High Street, Melrose TD6 9PA

 

SARAH IS A STAR

‘Always so nice, great clothes & styling advice. Excellent customer service. Always find something a little bit different. Well worth a visit to Melrose!’

Sarah Thomson Melrose is an independent clothing boutique in Melrose. The business has a clear aim of bringing a selection of wearable and different brands to the Scottish Borders and beyond with fantastic customer service at the heart of the business as these customer reviews clearly indicate.

In what has been an incredibly tough year for retailers, Sarah has done an amazing job of looking after her customers by modelling clothes and providing fashion and styling advice on her Facebook page.

SARAH THOMSON
High Street, Melrose TD6 9PB

 

PICTURE THIS

In the heart of Melrose, The Gallery Melrose is a fairly recent addition to the town but has very quickly become popular with visitors and locals. Displaying original art, quality prints, sculpture, jewellery, wood turning and glassware.

New for Christmas 2020 are portrait commissions by local artist Meriem Yahiaoui now available on request. Meriem excels in both people and animals and can work from both live sittings and photographs. Price start from £300 and are arranged through The Gallery Melrose

THE GALLERY MELROSE
The 23 Market Square, Melrose TD6 9PL

 

BURNING THE CANDLE

Love Scottish have a new flagship store now in the heart of Melrose. Not only stocking their own “Handmade artisan scented candles made exclusively in the Scottish Borders” you will find the full range of soy wax candles and reed differs, along with wonderful gifts and homeware accessories.

Well done Lesley the shop is a fantastic addition to the Melrose shopping experience.

LOVE SCOTTISH
10 High Street, Melrose, Scottish Borders, TD6 9PA