Something I was trying to skive off doing this year, being time consuming, is a local Christmas shopping piece, but then this terrible roadworks situation occurred, and not knowing when it would end I invited local businesses with websites and/or delivery options to send us their links. Now we can happily declare DEVIZES IS OPEN, the roadworks greatly reduced, and congestion is back to its average levels, which I dare say could do with improvements, but it’s not so bad, and another story for another time!
DEVIZES IS OPEN!
Devizine!
Here’s a rundown of those shops and small businesses who dared opt for the challenge of being presented on this controversial website, (you know, you love it really, as long as you don’t take it too seriously!) and their links for home delivery or website ordering, just in case you’re thinking “I’m all in my cosy jimmy jams now and I’m staying that way till new year!”
Who knows, perhaps there’s gift ideas here, for the guys still running around like headless chickens. I know all you lovely ladies have it sorted, probably do your Christmas shopping in May; philistines! Where’s the fun/anguish/trauma in being so proactive?! Wait till Christmas eve, guys, it’s great for your stamina and blood sugar levels.
Before we begin, don’t forget the best place to start your journey into local shopping is the wonderful Devizes Retailers and Independents site at indevizes.org.uk where you’ll find much more info, even a map; the map I’d imagine is a real asset for the headless chicken running guys, save them from accidentally landing themselves in the pub!
Some listed here didn’t comment on the Facebook post, but I love them too much to miss them out, some have shops, some are online businesses, some have valid Christmas ideas, others I suspect are just in it for a mention, but we love them all the same!! Listed alphabetically for no other reason than to prove I know my a,b,c, here we go!
Beeze’s
Ah, handmade gifts a plenty, and the toy shop, Little Beeze’s next door too! They can deliver as far as Wroughton, you can pay them a visit in The Ginnel, Devizes….lovely place!
Dollies Dimples
Handmade in town, vintage inspired dollies in tins, dinosaurs in tins, stationery sets and lots of other goodies, Dollies Dimples products are soooo cute they make me go all squishy, and I’m a grown man, (apparently!) Dear Santa, please can you…..
The Giving Tree
Ah, the Giving Tree, fifteen years strong in the Little Brittox, wonderful gifts, lovely selection, and they can deliver within Devizes. Do you guys remember our 2020 Christmas Shopping challenge, when you found me a Galileo thermometer? See, Devizes, got it all, even a Galileo thermometer!
Gourmet Brownie Kitchen
The way to man’s heart, or anyone’s with brownies this tasty! You’ve been in there, I know you have, probably have a loyalty card! We love the award-winning Gourmet Brownie Kitchen, we love them there brownies!
Hannah Cantellow Studio
Okay, if I give my better half a tea-towel for Christmas……yeah, I think you know where I’m going to end up, move aside Rover, I’m pitching up in your kennel tonight! But you have to see local printmaker Hannah Cantellow’s definite Devizes tea-towel designs, they are rather special. If I had one of these I’d want to keep it, and never wash the dishes with it at all….hey, now there’s an idea!!
Looking to open a printmaking studio near Devizes next year, Hannah Cantellow plans to offer Studio Memberships, Presses & Equipment and Courses & Workshops.
The Healthy Life
With a wonderful Christmas gift shop upstairs, this longstanding eco-friendly shop in the Little Brittox, Devizes, always wins our heart. We’ve mentioned them recently, They also have a delivery and online service too.
Hollychocs
Okay, so our very own Wilma Wonka, Holly didn’t respond to our callout, too busy to be scrolling Facebook, I guess, but we cannot have a local shopping article without our mentioning Poulshot’s award-winning chocolatier; we would love you Holly if you didn’t make chocolates, we’re smitten that you do! You can find Hollychocs at the Poulshot Lodge, or go to her website, here.
Kittags
Made it Poulshot, Kittags supply personalised luggage tags. They claim they are “loved by the military, blue light services and many a parent who has suffered lost school bags!” Mate, I’ve been there; tempted to attach some to the actual child too sometimes!
Pins & Needles
Local designer and owner of Pins & Needles Vixter Woolista has a fabulous range of accessible crochet and knit kits, patterns and gorgeous hand-dyed yarns. On her website, you’ll find special deals and clearance bargains from Pins & Needles, that are no longer available on general sale in the bricks & mortar shop…. and get knitting; I could do with a new Christmas cardy!
Pins & Needles (Devizes) – a little shop with a big heart and winner of the 2020 British Knitting Awards for best yarn shop in the south west, has a HUGE amount of stock, and a knowledgeable, enthusiastic team.
Roses Ironmongers
Easy to spot when they put a lawnmower on the balcony over the shop! Roses is Devizes’ historic ironmongers, and you can buy literally everything in there; just ask. But they do also have an online presence too, which you can find here.
Shire Garden Machines
Sister to Roses the Ironmongers, Shire Garden Machines have everything to keep your garden perfect all year around, from mowers and tractors to leaf blowers, chainsaws and hedge-trimmers to fuel and spare parts for your garden equipment. They also service all your garden equipment. And there it is, get your hubby a chainsaw for Christmas, he’ll love you forever, it’s a bloke thing!
Find them at Roses Yard, Gains Lane, or online here
Stove Hunters
Okay, look, I’m grateful if I get a Lynx Deodorant set for Christmas, but a restored bespoke French stove is pushing my luck. Maybe not a Christmas shopping item, unless you’re either exceptionally showy, or want to treat yourself, which I think is a necessity too, but we love these classic stoves from the Stove Hunters, who are similar to the Bounty Hunters, just less coconutty!
You can find them online here, or visit them at The Old Granary on Roundway Hill Business Park, Hopton Road, Devizes. And if you do buy one, can I come over for a baked potato? Yes, baked beans AND cheese on it, I’m not a savage!
Sun Flower Macramé
Knot a lot of people know this, (see what I did there?) Catherine, from Potterne, knots macramé home décor, and also has kits available for you to try your hand at macramé too! Look at this splendid Christmas tree, makes a great decoration, I’m not one for neon flashing lights visible from the moon, these are far nicer; great for your nan too!
Vinyl Realm
The way to any music lover’s heart, vinyl. The toys I got for Christmas when I was young, (and believe it or not, I was, once) are but a fleeting memory, whereas my first long-player, Absolutely by Madness, I still have. Even if you’ve not got a record player, they do these too, and repairs, all the kit you need, expert advise and stacks of records.
I’ll be honest, when I handbraked turned my milkfloat into the snowy St John’s Street many moons ago, and popped into meet Pete and Jackie a day before they opened, I fell in love with what they were doing, but, being what I deemed, niche, I admit, I gave the shop a time limit. But today, still going strong, moved to a larger location on Northgate Street, you can’t miss it, all yellowly façade, Vinyl Realm, you rock!
That’s all happy shoppers, have a lovely time shopping, I’ll be snoring the theme to Airwolf in the corner! Oh, and if I don’t get the opportunity again, have a merry Christmas and Happy New Year, but I’m sure I will….
devizine.com 