“Good haul this year,” he informed Harry through a cloud of paper. “Thanks for the Broom Compass, it’s excellent, beats Hermione’s — she’s got me a homework planner.”

Ron Weasley, ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’

Last week, the Man of Kent and I were driving back from the shops, and I saw a house that had a Christmas tree up in the front room. It was 11 November. This week, my inbox is full of gift guides from various (book)shops and websites I like, some people I know have cracked open the boxes of mince pies, and I’ve already watched Bridget Jones’s Diary. Like it or not, the festive season is upon us. I had been thinking about a Christmas shopping post for a while, but seeing that tree last week was my signal to get a shuffle on. So, here we go.

I love Christmas. I love everything about it. The decorations, the music, the movies, the food, pantomimes, festive jumpers, mulled wine, mince pies, Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber in Die Hard (yes, it’s a Christmas movie – don’t argue), dreaming of a white Christmas even though it rarely snows in Medway. When it comes to the festive season, Buddy the Elf is my spirit animal:

“I planned out our whole day. First we’ll make snow angels for two hours, and then we’ll go ice skating, and then we’ll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookie Dough as fast as we can, and then to finish, we’ll snuggle.”

Buddy the Elf

One of my favourite things about Christmas is finding the perfect present for someone. I love that ‘Aha – YES!’ feeling you get when you have been racking your brains trying to think of what to buy and then bam! Inspiration strikes! Sometimes it hits you out of nowhere; sometimes, you just happen to see the ideal gift while you’re out and about, or idly scroll-shopping on your phone. But whenever it happens, it’s like accomplishment, relief and festive anticipation all rolled into one – lovely.

Now, I realise that I’m a bit unusual in this regard and that many people passionately hate shopping for Christmas presents. And I can understand that. Having to think up something to buy, the hassle of shopping/ordering, the cost, the wrapping, and all that on top of work, life admin, social obligations and everything else going on in December. It can feel like a real Christmas-spirit-sapping slog.

But help is at hand! Because I don’t just love finding the perfect presents for people I know. I also love coming up with ideas for other people who are struggling to think of gifts for the people they know. I’m actually really good at this. It’s like my superpower. A weird superpower that’s only handy around birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas, but still – I think it’s a good one. I like to wield my powers benevolently to help others who are stuck in the what-to-buy rut, so I’ve curated a list of some of my favourite independent places to buy gifts in Kent. Whether you’re struggling for present ideas for a loved one, or you just want to support local businesses this festive season, read on for inspiration!

Medway merch

If you want to bring some Medway magic to friends or family this year, the creatives at Medwayish have all sorts of locally-themed merch, from Thomas Waghorn mugs to Pentagon Centre prints, plus tea towels, books and more. For designs based on Medway and other parts of Kent, Faversham-based White One Sugar sell beautiful cards in the style of old travel posters, and you can buy their designs as wall prints.

Books, glorious books!

There’s no shortage of excellent Kentish bookshops to hit up if you’re shopping for bookworms. I wrote this whole post about them!

For foodies                 

The Man of Kent and I are big fans of The Cheese Room and Austen’s of Rochester. Both have a a splendid range of local cheeses, plus delicious crackers, chutneys and wines to go with them. The Cheese Room’s selection packs and gift boxes will certainly satisfy the cheese fan in your life. The lovely team at Austen’s take orders for hampers too, and sell other artisan food gifts. The Curious Cocoa Company’s beautiful gourmet chocolates will delight any chocolate lover. If you’re looking for something sweet that’s not chocolate, check out the incredible range of flavoured fudge, coconut ice and traditional sweets at The Candy Bar in Rochester.

For crafters and makers

Hometown and Store 104 in Rochester, and Unravel and Unwind in Gillingham, are excellent places to buy fabrics, yarns, threads and other haberdashery materials if you’re shopping for someone who enjoys craft projects. Unravel and Unwind and Hometown also host classes and workshops, which could be great presents if you need something for a crafter who already has everything.

Sparkly things!

If you’re looking for jewellery, the independent Jewellery Workshop in Maidstone has a beautiful range of contemporary and classic designs, as does Ortwin Thyssen in Canterbury. For fun, modern designs, mother and daughter team R&R has a fab range of acrylic jewellery based on science, space, TV shows, films, music and more. You can visit their shop in the Creative Quarter in Folkestone, or check out their Etsy store. Also from Folkestone, By Cally designs colourful silver and rubber jewellery with an edgy twist.

For the little ones

Unless they are old enough to tell you what they want for Christmas, the little ones can be the hardest people to buy for. (Until, of course, they get old enough to drive you bonkers by insisting there’s absolutely nothing they want for Christmas). If you need inspo for the kids, try Whirligig Toys in Canterbury – which sells model kits that would be ideal gifts for adults too – or Buttercup in Whitstable, which carries a gorgeous range of wooden toys, books, cuddlies and cute clothes.

Drink!

Kent is positively overflowing with local ales, wines and spirits. You’re spoilt for choice if you’re buying for a gin fan. You could go for Dockyard Gin from the Copper Rivet Distillery, Whitstable Harbour gin, or Japanese jin from The Foundry in Canterbury. The Copper Rivet Distillery also produces Vela Vodka, an English small-batch vodka distilled in Chatham.

For wine buffs, Dickens House Wine Emporium in Rochester has an impressive selection of wines and spirits, and their friendly staff are happy to advise if you need help choosing. Chapel Down’s award-winning wines are made from grapes grown in Kent, and its sparkling wines are particularly nice. It’s widely available in supermarkets and local shops, or you can order online. Corkk in Canterbury specialises in English wines, and sells gift boxes, subscriptions and gift cards.

For craft beers and ales, try out the selection of local brews at The Foundry, Tonbridge Brewery (which has been supplying the Man of Kent and Man of Kent’s Dad’s ales every Christmas) or the Westerham Brewery.  

If you’re after a stocking-filler, the Tiny Tipple Drinks Company in Maidstone sells a vast range of miniatures, as well as full-size wines, spirits and mixers.

Alternatively, if you want a gift that’s doable rather than drinkable, what about purchasing a brewery or distillery tour? The Copper Rivet Distillery, Chapel Down Vineyard, Shepherd Neame Brewery in Faversham and the Foundry in Canterbury all offer tours of their operations.

Comics and collectables

Comic book stores have sprung up all over Kent and Medway in the last few years, which is welcome news for those of us shopping for comic, manga, anime and sci-fi fans. Get Ready Comics in Rochester, Comics and Sci Fi World in Margate and Zuke’s Pop Culture in Chatham have all received the seal of approval from discerning comic fans I know.

Gifts for the home and garden

Canterbury Pottery’s hand-made ceramics make beautiful, unique gifts. They sell decorative homeware, crockery, planters, candle holders and more. Their mouse-shaped cheese dishes are a delight. Also in Canterbury, The China Shop carries a wide selection of well-known china, glassware and porcelain makers. It’s a great place to start if you’re looking for a new piece from a loved one’s favourite range. If you’re after something quirky, take a look at Flory and Black‘s contemporary homeware and lighting, or Fawn and Thistle for fun phone cases, tea towels and stationery. For scented gifts, Conway & Sons has a lovely range of candles, diffusers, room mists and other goodies from the Whitstable Candle Company, as well as coastal-themed products and seaside essentials.

Museums, galleries and charities

Museums, galleries and charities can be rich sources of unusual gifts. The Turner Contemporary and Hastings Contemporary gift shops are two I particularly like for arty presents with a local theme. The Kent Wildlife Trust shop has a vast selection of nature-related and sustainable gifts. All proceeds support the Trust’s work to protect local wildlife, and shipping is free! Why not show the animal-lover in your life how much you appreciate them by adopting a bison? No? OK, well maybe get them a nice sustainable travel mug or insect house instead then.

Experiences

Sometimes the perfect gift is a place to go or an activity to do, so here’s a few ideas for experience-based presents.

Board game fans will love Playopolis in Rochester. It’s got a massive selection of board games and a space in the basement with retro console games. You can buy individual visits or a longer-term membership. Escape rooms are great fun for teenagers and adult puzzle fans. My favourite is CTRL ALT ESC in Margate. They have several themed escape rooms, and an accessible escape room suitable for players with disabilities, plus they sell gift cards. And you can have a lovely day out at the seaside afterwards! If you need a gift for a cat lover, what about booking a trip or buying a gift card to Canterbury Tails Cat Cafe?

Pretty little things

If you’re looking for gift ideas that won’t break the bank, how about a beautiful Christmas tree decoration that can be used every year (Francis Iles in Rochester has a lovely selection) or an easy-to-care-for houseplant (cacti are a good choice). And don’t forget socks! They are practical, useful and don’t have to be boring! Kiss Kiss Heart has a range of colourful, interesting designs for men and women.

If all else fails

And finally, if you’re still super-stuck, you could go for a gift card for a local store, restaurant or attraction that your giftee will enjoy. It’s personal, it’s something they will use, and your hard-earned cash will be supporting local people and organisations. Just pop the gift card in a fancy envelope with a lovely note, stick a pretty gift bow on the outside, and you’re sorted.

Have I missed one of your favourite places to go Christmas shopping in Kent? Leave a comment and tell me about it!