According to The Independent, almost half of small business owners say that if everyone in their local community just spent £5 extra per week with small businesses it would help to keep them open in the long term.

Luckily for us, our neighbouring towns and villages are brimming full of fantastic independent shops selling everything from crafts and gifts, to food and drink. We’ve rounded up some of our favourites to inspire your Christmas shopping and support local business owners at the same time.

Food & Drink

Our region is spoilt for choice when it comes to incredible, award-winning restaurants and food and drink producers.

Dine In…

If you’re staying at home this year but fancy a break from cooking, our events catering partners have the perfect solution.

At Home has a choice of pre-prepared, restaurant-quality menus which you simply heat up at home and won’t keep you too long in the kitchen missing the festivities. You can even order a traditional 3-course Christmas lunch with all the trimmings and a party option for New Year. Set menu includes starter, main course, sides, dessert and mince pies at £85.00 per person.

Two Many Cooks, have shops in Reigate and Dorking, offering ‘Food to Order’ with lots of comforting dishes like coq au vin and a deluxe fish pie, savoury tarts and tempting desserts perfect for a special occasion, last minute guests or just because you need a break!

Food for Occasions insanely popular Salted Caramel Brownies are now available to order in packs of 6 for home delivery anywhere in the UK for £18.00 (including postage). You can even add a gift card and message.

Foodie gifts

Steve Drake’s award-winning Sorrel restaurant in Dorking is worthy of praise indeed. Gift vouchers are available so you can treat someone to an unforgettable experience. There’s also a selection of gifts available to order from the website for nationwide delivery comprising of three wine offers (from £130-£292) reflecting the best of the Sorrel cellar, along with moreish umami supercharged miso fudge, and exceptional Difference Coffee, considered amongst the finest in the world.

One of our client’s is the brilliant Artisan General Food Store with their unrivalled selection of interesting and luxurious produce. We especially love the range of Fetcham Park Hampers which make fantastic gifts for clients or colleagues. Owner Steve Reice is truly passionate about seeking out the highest quality suppliers and produce. The range is truly mesmerising.

Artisan General Store Hampers – The Fetcham Park House Signature Hamper (supplied in a Straw Filled Box) £170.

Rococo Winter Spice Truffles (196g) – £21.95 A taste of wintertime. If ever a chocolate embodied the festive season it is the Winter Spice truffles. These milk ganache truffles are well balanced with a hint of warm spices. Presented in a very special Rococo Christmas box.

 Rosebud Preserves – Fruits for Cheese – £13.95 – Three special and delicious preserves, perfect for cheese, in their new medium sized jar.
Includes Smoked Apple Butter (105g), Damson Fruit Cheese (113g), Pear & Brandy Conserve (113g).

Harrogate Candles – Mood Candles Gift Set – £48 – This Mood Collection Gift Box contains one of each of the 10cl Mood Candles. This beautifully presented gift set represents The Harrogate Candle Company’s unique daily regime of aromatherapy candles to enhance specific moods at different times of the day. (These are stunning and the set I use in my home ?)

Applegarth Farm has a fantastic deli and restaurant. They recently launched an Applegarth at Home service where you can have ready-made meals, larder goods and a whole range of delicious produce delivered to your door. Their Christmas hampers, gift range and gift vouchers are fantastic for foodies.

Perhaps one of Surrey’s best known exports of recent years, Silent Pool Gin has a lovely range of botanically-inspired gifts including innovative liquid garnish mists designed to enhance your drink, glass tumblers and a variety of gin gift packs. We particularly love the beautiful copa glasses.

Festive Foliage

Fetcham Park takes Christmas seriously and Bloomingayles has surpassed herself this year!

If you’re yet to adorn your door this year, Little Green Door Flowers provide the lovely weekly Reception flowers at the House and can create gorgeous Christmas wreaths too. We highly recommend Kate; her arrangements are always fresh and contemporary.

Gifts

There are so many independent shops to choose from it’s hard to hone down the list to just a few. Nest in Ripley is fantastic for always finding something new! They have a unique selection of treasures, from furniture and home accessories to book, jewellery, fragrance and much more. Products are sourced from around the world but all reflect the Nest ethos of stylish, uplifting, warm and witty.

In Farnham, our go-to is New Ashgate Gallery and Shop, full of unique ceramics, artwork, sculpture and textiles. You can also shop online here.

Unique experiences

Goodwood has come up with some interesting gift ideas for motor racing enthusiasts. The Dukes of Richmond have enjoyed a long association with the family behind Glenfiddich whisky, and to commemorate this shared history, they have created a very limited edition bottle exclusively for GRRC.

Take to the skies for an unforgettable Goodwood Flying Experience. With beautiful views of the coastline and rolling hills of West Sussex and Hampshire, there can be few experiences more memorable than a flight in the skies above Goodwood. Choose from lessons, adrenaline or historical flights and more.

If you’re a Goodwood member you can enter their Christmas Competition to win a pair of tickets to the 2021 Goodwood revival. Competition closes 24^thDecember and the winner will be drawn on 4^thJanuary. Enter here.

Out & About

Take a trip to Petworth…

Picturesque Petworth is one of the jewels in Sussex’s crown. The pretty historic streets are laden with antiques and gift shops. You can spend a lovely few hours meandering the cobbled streets finishing off your Christmas shopping. A few of our favourites are Tallulah Fox for furniture and homewares and The Hungry Guest Shop, a fantastic deli, butchers and fishmongers, also with delicious hampers and kitchen gifts.

Image via Tallulah Fox

Image via The Hungry Guest

Image via The Hungry Guest

Sprigs the florist is renowned for excellent seasonal bouquets and is selling door wreaths for Christmas. The Petworth Bookshop made national headlines recently with an article in The Times about how the shop is expanding to larger premises during the pandemic – one of 2020’s small business success stories. There’s an exhaustive range of reading material here with everything and anything from fact and fiction and an impressive children’s and young readers’ section.

Wintershall

A seasonal favourite! While Wintershall’s annual nativity cannot go ahead this year, you can still join in with this festive tradition. Join Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem on the Nativity Walk at Wintershall.

The real Christmas story will be told as you walk through the beautiful grounds of the Wintershall Estate. Meet the Shepherds watching their sheep, spot the Angel as you climb the hill and help the Wise Men find the star. A truly unique and magical experience for families. There are pre-booked timeslots adhering to Covid 19 guidelines.

From 18-21 December. Visit https://www.wintershall.org.uk/nativity-winter-walk

 HM Royal Chapel Carol Concert

On Monday 21^st December at 6:00pm, join Historic Royal Palaces for a special online-only broadcast of a traditional Christmas programme of Nine Lessons and Carols from the royal chapels at the heart of the palaces. Performed by the musicians of the chapel royal at Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London, and with readings by some special guests.

Watch here

Doing your bit for a local charity

Every December we support local homelessness charity Transform by hosting a drinks reception after their candlelit carol service in neighbouring St. Mary’s Church. Sadly, this year we are unable to do this and Transform are instead holding a virtual carol service. You can support them by visiting the link here: https://justgiving.com/campaign/COVID19support

Their emergency appeal is asking for help to support socially excluded, vulnerable and homeless people in Surrey and surrounding areas during the Covid-19 crisis. Your generous donations can help us to provide: essential food, healthcare items and medicine, additional hygiene and personal care products, and technology support to help people stay connected with any friends or family.

Perennial, based in Leatherhead, is the UK’s only charity providing free and confidential advice, support and financial assistance to people of all ages working in, or retired from horticulture. This help extends to spouses, partners and children. They have a wide selection of lovely gifts for gardening enthusiasts with proceeds going to the charity. Visit the shop.

Recently eminent historian, writer, garden designer and former Victoria and Albert Museum Director Sir Roy Strong CH FRSL marked his 85^thbirthday by donating The Laskett gardens to Perennial. The Garden Museum in London has commissioned an interesting 25minute film about this which you can watch online for £5.  Watch here.

Happy shopping and stay safe!

COVID-secure workplace in Surrey

If you’re still working remotely and need somewhere to escape to and work, free from distraction, over the Christmas break, trial one of our COVID-secure offices at Fetcham Park.

For only £150 (+VAT) per week (Mon-Fri) you will have your own desk in a modern, spacious private office with unlimited wi-fi and plentiful parking.

For more info contact hello@fetchampark.co.uk