Bath is justifiably renowned for its magical Christmas market, which sees thousands of visitors flood to the city to explore the two hundred timber chalets stocked with festive gifts and cheer.
Many local residents, however, eschew the market in favour of the exceptional independent shops which make a Bath unique shopping destination all year round. This blog guides you around some of our favourite independents, who we think will solve any Christmas shopping conundrums this year.
Rossiters of Bath is an essential starting point for anybody planning an excursion around the city’s independent shops. Situated on Broad Street for over 50 years, the department store is a treasure trove of interconnecting rooms, each filled with homewares, toiletries and fragrances. Shoppers can also cross several items off their Christmas lists at The Loft, where shelves are stacked with an array of gifts, clothes and accoutrements.
Book lovers spend many happy hours nosing around Bath’s independent book shops, but those in search of gifts for literature lovers should look no further than Mr B’s Emporium, whose Reading Spa vouchers entitle the recipient to be plied with cake, coffee and a towering stack of books handpicked by a Mr B’s bibliotherapist.
Bath is a city with a burgeoning reputation as a gastronome’s delight, with high quality independent restaurants and foodie boutiques around every corner. Many restaurants, such as Acorn Vegetarian Kitchen and Hudson Steakhouse, offer gift vouchers that would be sure to prematurely end any New Year’s diet. Richard Bertinet’s cookery school, The Bertinet Kitchen, offers classes and vouchers for cooks wishing to hone their culinary expertise.
For those wanted to stuff stockings with edible offerings, The Foodie Bugle sells delicious artisanal treats, San Francisco Fudge Factory offers decadent handmade confectionery and The Bath Fine Cheese Co. provide hampers crammed with delicious cheeses. Meanwhile, a hamper of craft beers picked from Independent Spirit‘s vast selection would quench the thirst of any microbrewery fanatic.
A locally produced piece of art makes a unique gift and Bertie & Jack, whose stall can usually be found on Burton Street, make customised colourful ‘cut-out’ wall art. For artwork with a local theme, visit Flamingo in Widcombe whose varied and imaginative gifts include prints depicting well-known areas of Bath.
Whether they have been naughty or nice, every boy and girl will be expecting to find an exciting parcel under the tree on Christmas morning. In Spotty Herberts and My Small World, Bath has two innovative independents that will certainly cater for the youngsters in the family.
No shopping trip to Bath is complete without a visit to its many boutique clothing and fashion stores. Start with Grace & Ted‘s award-winning designer re-sale store for unusual and genuine designer clothing, and then to Walcot Street stalwart The Yellowshop for authentic vintage clothing. Nearby Sisi & May offer the finest in contemporary women’s clothing, whilst you will be sure to find glamourous jewelry gifts in The Silver Shop and Alexandra May.
Bath is fortunate to be rich with high quality independent shops and boutiques. Why not treat your family to an independent Bath Christmas this year?
These locations have been added to the Reside Map of Bath, which plots all of the sites of interest that are mentioned in our blogs.
Toby holds a Level 3 ARLA Propertymark qualification and runs the 'engine room' at Reside, making sure that properties are perfectly-presented and that they are let quickly at a good rent. When not working, Toby is happiest when enjoying a day's cricket.
