This Christmas 2023, make your friends and family feel extra special – with SoGlos rounding up gorgeous Gloucestershire gift ideas from wonderful independent businesses across the county.
Christmas gifts from The Fairview Gardener
Gift idea
If you have a green-fingered friend or family member, why not surprise them with a gift voucher for Gloucester's award-winning garden centre, The Fairview Gardener, this Christmas?
These thoughtful vouchers can be used to purchase a wide selection of tools, potted arrangements, seeds and bulbs to help keep the garden in pristine shape; they can also be exchanged for a delightful afternoon tea at The Tea Room; or to buy clothing such as wellies, or scarves for keeping snug through the winter!
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Plus, The Fairview Gardener's gift shop — winner of the SoGlos Homes and Interiors business of the year in 2019 — offers a brilliant selection of handpicked items for loved ones, including pictures, seasonal gifts, local artisan crafters' work and other unique presents.
To buy
Visit fairviewgardener.co.uk or visit the store in person.
Christmas gifts from Ian Coley Sporting
Gift idea
For a Christmas gift that goes with a BANG, Ian Coley Sporting is offering gift vouchers for its clay shooting experiences and professional tuition at the renowned shooting school near Cheltenham this Christmas.
Gift-givers can choose from a range of all-inclusive tuition vouchers, catering for different abilities; while the Have-a-Go experiences are perfect for those who have never held a shotgun, offering a cost-effective way to try clay shooting for the first time — with a choice of 25 or 50 clays, costing £54 or £95. Suitable for ages 10 and above, they also make a lovely gift for a fun-loving family.
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Perfect for a thoughtful — but last-minute — present, Ian Coley’s gift vouchers can be sent directly to the recipient with next-day delivery options available.
To buy
Visit iancoley.co.uk/gift-vouchers.
Crafty Christmas gifts from New Brewery Arts
Gift idea
Showcasing a range of beautiful, handcrafted Christmas gifts from hundreds of UK artists and makers, New Brewery Arts in Cirencester's Christmas event, Joy!: A Seasonal Celebration of Craft takes place from Saturday 28 October 2023 right up until Christmas Eve, offering the chance to pick up everything from exquisite Christmas cards handmade by illustrators and designers, to luxurious homeware gifts like ceramics, glassware, jewellery and fabrics, made with love and designed to last a lifetime.
For an extra special Christmas shopping experience, New Brewery Arts is celebrating Museum Shop Sunday on Sunday 26 November 2023, with pre-bookable personal shopping experiences with its CEO and curator, Beth Alden, who will be on hand to help you pick out the perfect Christmas present, no matter who it is you're shopping for. It's also hosting its Making Merry event on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December 2023, with a craft fair, drop-in activities and live music to get everyone into the Christmas spirit while browsing its eclectic collection of handcrafted Christmas gifts.
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For creative gift givers that love to make their own presents, there's a whole host of festive workshops to try your hand at — like printing your own cards and wrapping paper; mastering the art of calligraphy on everything from baubles to crackers; and even making your very own silver jewellery — taking place on selected dates from Saturday 11 November to Saturday 16 December 2023, with prices ranging from £35 up to £95, depending on which workshop you choose. You could even gift a place on a workshop to a crafty friend or loved one with a New Brewery Arts gift voucher.
To buy
Visit Joy!: A Seasonal Celebration of Craft at New Brewery Arts from Saturday 28 October until Saturday 24 December 2023; to browse gifts online or to book a festive workshop, visit newbreweryarts.org.uk.
Christmas gifts from Cheltenham Racecourse
Gift idea
Treat the racing fan in your life with tickets to the home of jump racing this Christmas. Whether it's starting 2024 in style at the New Year's Day racing or going all out with a trip to the Cheltenham Festival in March, there's plenty of exciting events to choose from at one of the most iconic venues in the county.
There are options to suit most budgets, with the Best Mate enclosure offering fantastic views of the action at an affordable price; the Club/Tattersalls enclosures providing prime viewing spots, a chance to get close to the Winner's Enclosure, plus dedicated bars and restaurants; the sophisticated panoramic restaurant offering unrivalled views over the Winning Post from the fifth level of the grandstand; and even private boxes with their own balcony for up to 10 guests, for extra special experiences.
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As well as thrilling equestrian action, Cheltenham Racecourse's events have plenty of entertainment off the track, too, from live music and famous DJs performing in The Centaur after the racing, to family-friendly fun like circus performances, arts and crafts, face painting and bouncy castles — with under 18s able to attend for free with a paying adult, too. New for the 2023/24 season, there's also the new walk-in restaurant, The Mandarin, offering cosy Cotswold pub vibes and delicious, seasonal food.
To buy
Visit thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham.
Christmas gifts for your pets from Cotswold RAW
Gift idea
Cotswold RAW is playing Santa Paws this Christmas, with its range of nutritious raw food and treats giving dogs something to celebrate, which is not only delicious but good for them, too.
Working closely with its veterinary and nutritional consultant to produce delicious raw food for dogs, Cotswold RAW has created the ‘Three Bird Raw’ — packed with organic and free-range chicken and turkey, it’s a play on the traditional three bird roast that’s pawfect for Christmas Day.
The pup-passionate company also provides a broad selection of raw food and natural treats full of nutrients, which all make excellent presents for your pooch — including its warming and protein-rich chicken bone broth, flavoured with turmeric and parsley.
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It's not just dogs that can enjoy a Christmas dinner on Cotswold RAW this year, with the brand expanding its range to introduce raw food for cats. Ideal for the season, there's a turkey mince flavour that your feline friend can tuck into as you carve the turkey on the big day!
To buy
Visit cotswoldraw.com.
Christmas gifts from Cheltenham Animal Shelter
Gift idea
For a heart-warming treat that's not just for Christmas, give animal lovers the gift of sponsoring a pet pen at Cheltenham Animal Shelter.
The shelter, based on Gardners Lane, helps hundreds of pets each year, taking in abandoned, rehomed or mistreated dogs, cats and small animals. Each sponsorship helps towards the cost of providing everything a pet needs, including cosy bedding, food, toys and veterinary care — all helping to make the shelter's furry friends in need feel safe, comfortable and loved during their stay.
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A thoughtful present that lasts a whole year, you can choose if you want to sponsor a dog, cat or small animal pen and sponsors will receive regular pet updates about the animals in their pen, as well as a welcome pack, personalised thank you certificate and the shelter's newsletter.
The sponsorship can be given either as a recurring gift for £5 per month or purchased for 12-months as a single one-off payment of £60 — perfect for yourself, a family member or a friend! Cheltenham Animal Shelter also sells Christmas cards and a range of toys for pets in its shop, too.
To buy
Visit gawa.org.uk/sponsor-a-pet-pen or pop into the Cheltenham Animal Shelter reception on Gardners Lane.
Christmas gifts from Gloucester Quays
Gift idea
Can't decide what to buy? A Gloucester Quays gift card makes an excellent Christmas present, giving the lucky recipient money to spend at a choice of 50 designer and high street brands — all with up to 70 per cent off retail prices.
Fashion fans can treat themselves to a brand-new wardrobe from the likes of All Saints, Hobbs, Jack Wills, Joules, Levi’s, Ted Baker and Timberland; with Beauty Outlet, The Fragrance Shop and The Cosmetics Company offering an impressive array of bath, body, perfume and beauty products — plus the newly opened Claire's providing plenty of stocking fillers for little angels, too.
For sporty types, there’s Adidas, Asics, Gloucester Rugby, Mountain Warehouse, PUMA, Raging Bull, The North Face, Trespass and Weird Fish; there’s Denby, Le Creuset and ProCook for home and cookware fans; as well as Hotel Chocolat and Lindt for those with a sweet tooth.
Gloucester Quays gift cards can even be used in Cineworld and all the centre's cafes and restaurants, too.
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On top of all the fantastic brands and discounts available in store, Gloucester Quays also plays host to Winter Markets every weekend until Sunday 17 December 2023. Grab a hot chocolate or mulled wine as you shop for the most unique Christmas gifts in the county, with the south west's best producers, crafters and makers selling everything from artisan cheese and chutney to handmade tree decorations.
And if that wasn't enough, Gloucester Quays' much anticipated open-air ice rink returns from Friday 24 November 2023, providing festive family fun and a magical atmosphere.
To buy
Gloucester Quays gift cards are available to buy from Customer Services when the centre is open from 10am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday.
Christmas gifts from Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum
Gift idea
A Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum membership is a wonderful year-round Christmas gift for any outdoorsy person, with the famous Westonbirt Arboretum being home to a world-class tree collection, beautiful spring florals and spectacular autumn colour.
Costing £42 for single membership and £82 for joint membership, treat your loved ones a host of benefits, including:
- Free entry to Westonbirt Arboretum all year round, to enjoy the beauty of nature in every season
- Free entry for up to four children or grandchildren
- Discounts with local partners including Cotswold Outdoor and Go Ape
- 10 per cent off at the Westonbirt shop
- Early bird booking for Forest Live concerts and the ever-popular Enchanted Christmas trail
Plus, by gifting a Friend of Westonbirt Arboretum membership, you'll be supporting the important work of the arboretum to conserve, protect and research trees.
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Every single acre of Westonbirt Arboretum needs continuous care to keep it thriving for generations to come — and there's the option to Support a Square plot of the arboretum for £25 a year and even give it a name, which makes for a great Christmas gift if your special someone cherishes a particular part of the arboretum.
To buy
Visit fowa.org.uk/christmas. Christmas memberships need to be purchased by Monday 11 December 2023 for guaranteed Christmas delivery.
Christmas gifts from Slimbridge Wetland Centre
Gift idea
Treat wildlife lovers to a real feelgood gift this Christmas, with a year-long membership to WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
Giving members unlimited entry to Slimbridge for a whole year — as well as access to the other nine WWT sites, an exclusive welcome pack and latest issues of Waterlife magazine — an individual adult membership costs from £51, while prices start at £75 for a joint membership and £78 for a family membership.
Gift givers will be supporting a great cause, as proceeds from the membership programme help the WWT to fund crucial projects at Slimbridge and its other wetland centres, maintaining habitats for the return of beautiful winter birds such as geese, golden plover and Bewick’s swans.
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For creative types, a place on one of Slimbridge's upcoming craft courses makes a unique Christmas gift and something wholesome to look forward to in the new year.
Choose from willow sculpting, collaging and linoprinting workshops to encourage your artistic friend to try something new; while other top picks include a watercolour painting workshop that examines the magical process of metamorphosis through art, and a block printing course for quilters.
To buy
Visit wwt.org.uk/membership to purchase a gift membership, or wwt.org.uk/slimbridge/whats-on to book Slimbridge's craft courses.
Christmas gifts from Cowley Manor
Gift idea
A day spent unwinding in Cowley Manor's sumptuous C-Side spa is the ultimate gift for someone who needs a little rest and recuperation after the hectic festive season — with the Renew and Revive Day Spa package costing £155 per person.
They'll step into 2024 feeling rejuvenated, after enjoying full use of the spa and its award-winning facilities from 10am to 4.30pm. The package also includes a 60-minute treatment, with the choice of a lime and walnut body wrap, hydrating 'outer glow' full body treatment or 'tailored to you' facial, personalised to target specific skin concerns; a tasty two-course lunch; and a detox drink on arrival. Robes, towels and flip-flops are provided, too.
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Having undergone a huge refurbishment with the rest of the hotel, Cowley Manor's C-Side spa not only has a fresh look, but new and improved facilities too. Spa-goers can soak in the natural beauty of the Cotswolds, taking a swim in the slate-lined indoor pool which boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with views out to the trees; chill out in the steam room and sauna; while the most energetic visitors can even squeeze in a workout at the gym.
To buy
Visit cowleymanorexperimental.com/spa. The Renew and Revive Spa Day is available throughout January and February 2024.
Christmas gifts from Stroud Brewery
Gift idea
Stroud Brewery has an excellent selection of Christmas gifts for the beer lover in your life. Offering three-can gift boxes, four-can taster boxes and 12-can mixed cases and brews — spanning everything from the easygoing 2.6 per cent ABV Easy Peasy pale ale to the rich, roasty flavours of Big Cat stout — there's plenty to tickle the tastebuds of every beer aficionado.
For solid Stroud Brewery fans, there's beanie hats and t shirts so they can rep their favourite organic brewery wherever they go; for those who prefer experiences instead of physical presents, you can treat them to a brewery tour so they can get the inside scoop on how Stroud Brewery crafts its award-winning beers; and for the indecisive, you can't go wrong with a gift voucher, with versions to spend online costing from £10, or from £5 to spend in the taproom.
There's free delivery on all online orders over £50, too, with beer delivered in one to two working days.
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To keep you feeling merry and bright all through the festive season, Stroud Brewery also offers its delicious organic beers in a handy bag-in-box to take away. Its quartet of 'Bright Beers' — Budding organic pale ale; Tom Long organic amber bitter; O.P.A. organic pale ale; and Brewer's Garden pale ale — can be served in a five, 10 or 20 litre bag-in-box to pre-order and collect from the brewery. Prepared fresh ready for collection, these beers have already been separated from the cloudy living yeast, so they can be served immediately without the need for settling — and are about as close as you can get to a freshly poured pub pint at home!
To buy
Visit stroudbrewery.co.uk or pop into the Stroud Brewery Taproom in Brimscombe.
Christmas gifts from the Everyman Theatre
Gift idea
Treat a theatre lover to a thoughtful gift this Christmas, with an exclusive year-long membership to the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham.
The membership programme offers priority access perks for a whole year, including at least 24 hours advance notification of new events showing on stage; discounted tickets; exclusive special offers; and even a birthday gift. An individual priority access membership costs £45 for the year.
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Gift givers will be supporting a great cause, with proceeds from the membership programme supporting the Everyman Theatre in its commitment to ongoing community engagement. The theatre regularly works with local schools, libraries and youth theatre groups, as well as providing vital resources to local charities like National Star College, Gloucestershire Hospital Education Service and Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees, to help engage disenfranchised people with the arts.
To buy
Visit everymantheatre.org.uk/membership.
Christmas gifts from Longborough Festival Opera
Gift idea
If you're stuck for present ideas, why not consider the gift of opera? This Christmas, give loved ones the chance to experience opera in intimate and beautiful surroundings at Longborough Festival Opera, with a thoughtful gift voucher — perfect for the opera lover in your life.
Filled with poetic stories, dancing and singing, the unique summer festival takes place in a 500-seat theatre and welcomes opera performances created especially for the festival every year — all enjoyed against stunning views of the Evenlode Valley.
With the voucher, gift receivers could purchase a seat at one of the most popular operas of all time — Puccini's La bohème. The production will be running from Saturday 27 July until Tuesday 6 August, with tickets on sale in early 2024.
Gift vouchers are available in any amount and can be sent digitally — great for meaningful, last-minute gifts — or presented in a printed card. Plus, there's free postage on all orders placed before Christmas.
SoGlos loves
Alternatively, the opera lover in your life may enjoy a book about the history of Longborough Festival Opera. Recently published, Longborough Festival Opera: the first 30 years is packed full of anecdotes, recollections and photographs, from the early days in a stable yard to the triumphant staging of Wagner’s Ring cycle in a purpose-built theatre in the Cotswolds.
To buy
Call the Longborough Festival Opera box office on (01451) 830292 from Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm, or visit lfo.org.uk.
