AN ALTERNATIVE GIFT GUIDE '21
I have always been rubbish at buying gifts. I remember once buying one of those perpetual-motion decorative gifts with two dolphins counterbalancing each other and swinging away. Without a motor. Without end. I still don’t know why I did that, and neither does my sister.
So when the opportunity came up to try to curate a list of great gifts you can buy for your loved ones this year, it was a must. But we aren’t talking about new slippers and one of those Lynx box-sets from Boots - I’m no longer 16 – instead, we are talking about one-off alternative gifts that you aren’t going to find being flogged down the boot fair on January 2nd. Neither will you likely be able to buy them from Amazon… Be warned, you might have to leave your home to go and get them, but we guarantee there will be no double-ups in your household. Items for all ages and tastes, and some for people with no taste at all.
Get stuck in.
JOE
Editor
Wooden Toy Vans and Cars
Moo Like a Monkey / moolikeamonkey.com / @Moolikeamonkey
There’s a huge range of Candylab wooden cars and vans available at Moo Like a Monkey in Folkestone’s Old High Street.
Candylab’s mission is to make the best wooden toy vehicles on the market. They’re gearheads, designers, engineers and parents and have all banded together to become toymakers. Stocked proudly by Moo Like a Monkey, a children’s shop offering a range of quality, diverse, eco-friendly and well-designed clothes, books and toys for little individuals. These wooden cars and vans start from £9 and are a perfect gift for the coolest kids (and adults) in your life.
Panettone Negroni
Cocktail In A Bottle / cocktailinabottle.co.uk / @cocktailsinabottle
Deal’s award-winning cocktail producer Cocktail in a Bottle has gone all out this year to provide a trio of indulgent Christmas cake-inspired cocktails, which include a Panettone Negroni, Stollen Manhattan and Caribbean Rum Cake Old Fashioned.
Available in three sizes - 500ml occasion bottles, 200ml hamper/gift set and stocking filler pouches.
Upcycled Suitcase-Bed
Not For Humans / @notforhumans_petboutique / @notforhumansfolkestone
Everybody adores their pets, right? Who doesn’t?
Well, the team at Not For Humans in Folkestone care about sustainability and the environment, too, so they would rather create something new from something old than it end up in landfill.
This pet-friendly bed was once an unused, unwanted little suitcase. It has been renovated and restyled with love and care by a local upcycler especially for NFH. So why not treat them to their very own beautiful suitcase bed?
EXCL. Discount — 'CENE15'
Instore for 15% off fragrances
Rosemary Benzion & Bitter Citrus
Foras / www.foras.shop / @shopforas
Folkestone’s Foras was started three years ago with the intention of creating a small and curated range of fragrances that were priced fairly and lasted well on the skin.
Founder and perfumer Alexander Verier has had a career spanning more than 15 years in the industry, working on hundreds of formulations and products.
The Rosemary Benzion is rich, dark and intoxicating, perfect for lovers of resin and oud-based fragrances. The idea of rich, warm and slightly boozy nights surrounded by log fires and leather armchairs was at the core of this fragrance but balanced to create something slightly more contemporary.
Bitter Citrus is a lively, light, citrus-focused fragrance with a slightly woody base that will refresh and intrigue. A blend of five outstanding citrus oils create the exciting top and core of this fragrance, while black pepper and coriander bring a zing that will wake you up and get you ready for the day ahead.
They are in 50ml glass bottles with weighted black caps presented in biodegradable printed gift boxes.
Beery Advent Calendar 2021
The Beer Shop Folkestone / Thebeershopfolkestone.co.uk / @beershopfolkestone
The Beer Shop Folkestone has launched its Beery Advent Calendar 2021 - perfect for fans of craft brews.
It will include a range of 24 unique beers for the countdown to Christmas from some of the team’s favourite breweries. Purchase on their website for £120.
Durance - Tomato Leaf
Sandgate Trading / sandgatetrading.com / @sandgatetrading
Tomato Leaf is one of more than 40 fragrances available in candles, reed diffusers and room sprays that make for perfect gifts.
Made in Provence, France, the full Durance home fragrance and toiletries range, along with a large selection of gifts and home accessories, is available at Sandgate Trading, 74 Sandgate High Street, Sandgate CT20 3BX.
Cookery Course
Kent Cookery School / kentcookeryschool.co.uk / @kentcookeryschool
Gifting can be tough these days - that is why gifting experiences has never been more popular.
Treat your loved ones to a cookery course at Kent’s top-rated Cookery School, where they can choose from 50 courses, including Weber BBQ Courses, Bread Courses, Couples Cooking and a wide variety of Street Food sessions. The classes are fun and hands-on and welcome all abilities. There is no washing-up, just great produce, lots of laughs and delicious food to enjoy! So think outside the box this Christmas and gift a memory, gift a skill, gift an experience at Kent Cookery School. Vouchers can be for any value or course and can be posted or downloaded.
Fruiting Bodies
Gretel Warner / gretelwarner.com / @gretelwarner.com
Kent artist Gretel Warner is exploring an interest in fungi and the relationship humans have with this magical and powerful realm.
The project is a celebration of the human body in its most natural form, unfiltered and honest - something she believes to be exceedingly important in today’s social media-crazed society.
HAIR CARE Gift Sets
Morgan’s Pomade / Morganspomade.co.uk / @morganspomadeofficial
Morgan’s Pomade has a wide range of gift sets this Christmas. There is something for the man who loves his beard and moustache, as well as the whole range of best-selling international pomades, spa and shaving gear and hairstyling products for all types of hair. Never fear, Morgan’s has a women’s range, too.
Faker Sports T-Shirt
Faker Supply / Fakersupply.com / @fakersupply
Faker Supply is an independent, self-funded project. Based in Canterbury, the brand works with designers from around the world to produce exclusive, sustainable fashion.
Mystery Vinyl Pack
Cliffs / cliffsmargate.com / @cliffsmargate
Cliffs stocks more than 6,000 used records and is constantly updating its stock, which is also available to view online. Covering everything from funk, soul, reggae, rock, pop, dance, hip hop and beyond, with prices starting at 50p - there’s something for everyone. Be sure to pick up a 7” mystery gift pack, which is a pre-wrapped package of 12 7” singles handpicked and wrapped in Cliffs wrapping paper.
Anatomical Heart Necklaces
Belladonna / Shopbelladonna.co.uk / @belladonna.uk
Belladonna’s Anatomical Heart Necklaces at £36 are a perfect Christmas gift - delicately handmade from layers of laser-cut etched acrylic and plywood.
Find them in Canterbury Whitefriars Christmas Huts, where they will also be showcasing eye-popping graphic prints in their homeware range of stools, cushions and lampshades.
Statement Furniture
Burley and Field / burleyandfield@gmail.com / @burleyandfield
Find something different this Christmas at Burley and Field. The unique new store is now open at 6 Lombard Street, Margate CT9 1EJ and full of luxury restyled vintage furniture, made-to-measure rugs, quirky curios and curated vintage jewellery. Fancy a bespoke piece? Commissions are taken and gift vouchers are available.
EXCL. Discount 'OLIVECENE15'
15% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER*
single estate extra virgin olive oil
Citizens of Soil / Citizensofsoil.com / @citizensofsoil
Citizens of Soil have brought to the UK an olive oil direct from the limestone hills of Dafnes in Crete. Championing independent farmers with the Amargiotakis oil - made from 100% Lianolia olives - the family business is determined to reintroduce the unique flavours of small batch olive oil. With a first-run limited release of 1,410 bottles, Sarah and Michael say they “want you to taste something you never would have had the chance to before”. Rescuing olive products from being sold into bulk blends and stripped of their identity - getting lost in complicated, global supply chains: “We want to break that chain.”
With a flavour profile of green apple, avocado and artichoke with a slightly peppery finish, this could be the oil to have for 2021/2022.
*Excluding Subscriptions
Oxford Rye
The Oxford Artisan Distillery / Theoxfordartisandistillery.com / @theoxfordartisandistillery
Oxford Rye is a unique spirit distilled from ancient heritage rye – a crop that used to be cultivated commonly across the English countryside in pre-industrial times. To qualify as a pure ‘rye spirit’ and not be a ‘rye whisky’, a liquid must be under three years old, which is the case here.
Twice distilled and then rested in American oak barrels to bring out its best characteristics, Oxford Rye (70cl) has an intoxicating aroma of sandalwood and vanilla, with nutty and spicy notes on the palate.
Oxford Rye can be enjoyed neat, with or without ice – or as a long drink, with ginger ale, a splash of Angostura bitters and a squeeze of lime. £40.
MIX & MATCH COOKIES
Milk & Cookie / Milkandcookie.co.uk / @milkandcookieuk
Margate’s Milk and Cookie is offering a box of six mixed cookies as the perfect holiday gift, or just a treat for you and your family. Choose from a range of more than 12 indulgent flavours made with Belgian chocolate and premium local ingredients. Dairy-free and gluten-free options are also available.
Blue Cage Ball
Half Decent Day / Halfdecentday.com / @halfdecentday
Limited-edition streetwear brand Half Decent Day - founded by Canterbury musician Sam Sure - has released its official ball of the Blue Cage basketball court in Deptford, London.
An indoor/outdoor elite-level ball, it is soft-touch composite leather with grey grip retention. Be a part of the culture and movement with this super limited-edition ball.
Wine Tote Bag
The Nectary / Thenectary.co.uk / @the.nectary
Wine gurus The Nectary have decided to take things into their own hands and created their first collection of wine tote bags.
Reusable and made of 100% organic canvas, because recycling is cool, the bags have six pockets and are spacious and structurally sound, so no need to worry about any spillages or snapping handles. All the designs are created in-house and in limited quantities.
Colin the Landfish
by Joel Pritchard and Ben Perrin / colinthelandfish.com / @colinthelandfish
Colin the Landfish is the main character of a new children’s book created by two best mates: written by teacher Joel Pritchard and illustrated by tattoo artist Ben Perrin. Their passions of song-writing and art have collided in telling the tales and adventures of Colin the Landfish and his friends as they embark on trying to make their world a better place to be.
Limited Edition Art
DONT WALK WALK / dontwalkwalkgallery.com / @dontwalkwalkgallery
These two pieces are exclusive published limited edition for Deal’s DONT WALK WALK Gallery.
‘Back Stroke’ — Limited edition print (37) by Paul Smith (23cm x 27cm).
‘Hit Me’ — 2nd edition A3 size (100) by Ghoulorama (John Rogers).
The print is A3 29.7 x 42cm and comes signed by the artist.
The Face Revival Set
Floragy / Floragy.co.uk / @floragy_skincare
A beautiful gift set from Floragy to create a restorative and balanced skincare ritual.
Select from a choice of three clay face masks and three face oils, perfectly packaged with a gentle facecloth to help you achieve that natural glow. Available online from £25.
SKATE BOARDS & accessories
Skate Pharm / skatepharm.co.uk / @skate_pharm
Skate Pharm has been selling skateboards, clothing and accessories on Margate seafront for the past five years.
Catering for all abilities it has the largest selection of decks and complete skateboards anywhere in Kent. It also stocks longboards, cruisers, safety gear and all the spares and parts you could ever need. Alongside the skateboards it has a wide range of clothing, footwear and accessories from brands including Dickies, DC, Polar, Thrasher, Parlez, Obey, Santa Cruz, Rip’n’Dip and Butter Goods.
Really stuck for a gift idea? How about a mystery Christmas stocking or a gift voucher! Open seven days a week 10am-6pm - 9/10 Marine Drive, Margate CT9 1DH, or order online.
EXCL. Discount 'KENT20'
20% YOUR FIRST ORDER
Artisan Butchers
Uncle Beef / unclebeef.co.uk / @unclebeefltd
Artisan butchers specialising in dry-aged beef, biltong and free-range lamb, pork and poultry, Uncle Beef strive to source the best farmed meat within the UK and the meats are from farm to your fork.
With new website launched on 1st November 2021, Uncle Beef will be offering free weekly deliveries in Kent every Saturday. You will receive 20% off your first order by using the code kent20.
Follow Uncle Beef on social media for great offers and special events.
LUXURY experiences
Albion house, Ramsgate / albionhouseramsgate.co.uk/gift-vouchers
@albionhouseramsgate
Built in 1792, the history of Albion House in Ramsgate is rich and colourful. Those who have stayed in the magnificent bedrooms even includes Princess Victoria shortly before she was crowned Queen.
The many original features of this magnificent have been maintained or restored during the sensitive 2014 refurbishment and the return of the luxurious Albion House to all its majesty has seen the introduction of Italian Carrara marble bathrooms, renewed sash windows, exquisite furnishings and the original cornices remoulded and replaced.
The clifftop location of Albion House affords it an incredible vantage point over the beach, a view that stretches right down to the Royal Harbour, while the modern Dining Rooms offer an exceptional menu harvesting the best local produce from right here in Kent.
This festive season, you can buy that special someone the gift experience of Albion House.
choose from:
Gift vouchers — £25» £250
Tea and Cake for Two — £10
Brunch for Two — £25
Dinner for Two — £70 » £95
Night in a Top Secret Room for Two — £139
Getaway for Two — £125 » £399
Kentish Christmas Hamper
Macknade / Macknade.com / @macknade
The perfect Christmas gift, this hamper (£60) from Kent’s food and drink experts Macknade highlights some of the very best produce the county has to offer.
Delve inside to discover wonderful treats from Goupie, Fudge Kitchen and the Zingiberi Bakery, plus Macknade’s own-blend No.1 breakfast tea to drink alongside. That’s not all. There’s also plenty of festive cheer included, with Christmas Ale from Faversham-based Shepherd Neame and Kent Cider Company’s Spiced Cider (delicious served warm on a fresh winter’s evening!). Delivery is available nationwide or alternatively you can order and collect at any Macknade store, including their latest opening in Tunbridge Wells. What are you waiting for? Order and browse more festive goodies from Macknade online.
Birch Gin
birchgin.com / @birchgin
It took a decade to perfect the recipe for Birch Gin. This luxury handcrafted gin is produced in micro batches
(some 200 bottles per batch) in copper pot stills using the one-shot method, distilling the exact amount of botanicals in one go and never adding concentrate or compounding afterwards.
Only 2-3% of the world’s gin is made using this method. The award-winning Birch Gin (50 CL, ABV42%) contains birch syrup among the botanicals, giving a slight smokey caramel end note as opposed to the usual bitterness of a London dry gin.
artworks, crafts and treasure
Walrus & Oyster Emporium (Canterbury) / walrusandoyster@gmail.com / @walrusandoyster
The Walrus & Oyster Emporium is a veritable feast of stunning artworks, crafts and treasure.
More than 100 Kent independents are showcased at 46 Burgate, Canterbury, offering the perfect unique personal gift for someone this festive season.
Open 11am-5pm Wednesday-Sunday. #supportindependent
CRAFT BEERS
Northdown Brewery / northdownbrewery.com / @northdownbrewery
NorthDown - it’s an English hop variety, a historical ale written about by Samuel Pepys, a vibrant high street of Margate and now an exciting Margate craft brewery.
It was founded in 2018 by husband-and-wife duo Jonny and Katie Spanjar, who were drawn to Margate for its coastal vibes, embracing community and bountiful history. But while everyone knows it for seaside fun, it also used to be a revered centre for brewing and NorthDown Brewery is injecting new life into this rich brewing heritage. NorthDown produces a variety of beers spanning best bitters, modern hazy pale ales and flavour-forward IPAs. Beyond making great beer, NorthDown Brewery aims to become a social and community-driven endeavour, welcoming all people into the fold of great local beer, supporting as many causes as possible and engaging with the breadth of local talent across Kent.
Reuzel Hair Products
FELLA / Fellahair.com / @fellahair
Canterbury and Folkestone barbers Fella are bringing in a new range of hair products to buy online and in-shop. Hailing from Rotterdam in The Netherlands, the Reuzel Clay Matte Pomade creates a touchable medium-hold with a matte finish and is used to manipulate the hair into any style (£18), while the Reuzel Surf Tonic spray adds grip and volume that exaggerates the hair’s natural texture, leaving hair with a matte finish (£15). Fresh.
FAIR TRADE Coffee + COFFEE CUP
Curve Coffee Roasters / curveroasters.co.uk / @curveroasters
Curve is a quality-driven coffee roastery based in Margate. Celebrating small producers with a seasonal range of exceptional coffees to support a fairer supply chain.
San Lorenzo, Colombia - is the house espresso staple, available all year around. This coffee is a regional lot, produced by the San Lorenzo group of indigenous producers based in the Caldas region, Colombia. With strong connections to their land, producers here believe it is their duty to protect it, cultivating coffee in harmony with their environment.
Expect a rich and syrupy body, dark chocolate and caramel notes. Great for espresso machines, stove-tops, Aeropess and cafetieres. Excellent with milk or on its own.
Chelbesa, Ethiopia - is one of Curve’s seasonal filters, showcasing the variety of flavours in coffee. This lot was produced by small growers of the Chelbesa village in Oromia region, Ethiopia, known as the birthplace of coffee.
Expect a light and floral cup with honeyed sweetness and notes of tangerines. Great for pourovers and drip filters, Aeropress and cafetiere. Best enjoyed black.
Handmade porcelain cup - Curve x Bridge McVey - made in small batches by Margate-based potter, Bridget McVey. Designed specifically to gather and intensify coffee aromas and make your coffee experience extra delicious.
PLANTS
Cactus Kiss / thecactuskiss.com / @thecactuskiss
The Cactus Kiss is a family-run business, with more than 20 years’ experience in floral design.
The shop is in the heart of Dover and boasts a cactus vending machine, lounge area, neon signage and a large range of house plants, from gigantic to miniature. The
Cactus Kiss also operates online shipping or delivering within three-five business days.
Lilac Hoodie
The Quarter Masters / www.qm.clothing / @thequartermasters
Catching our eye since 2013 with their beautiful tattoo-inspired art prints, along with their bold (often controversial) slogan tees, it’s the simple branded pieces - like this lush new lavender hoodie (£40) - that truly reserves a place for The Quarter Masters in our hearts as well as our wardrobes.
Devotees of the brand are now regularly spotted all over the country, and indeed the world, despite their tendency to favour word-of-mouth over more traditional advertising. They’re even fairly quiet on social media, apart from owner Colin’s coffee-fuelled antics on Instagram. Sometimes quality speaks for itself… and they’re happy to play the long game.
KENTISH CIDER
Nightingale Cider / Nightingalecider.com / @nightingalecider
Cider! Yes! Every drop of Nightingale Cider is the real thing… proper fine Kentish ciders and fruit juices.
It is available throughout Kent, in the Nightingale farm shop and online.
The Little Kent Cook Book
T Chislehurst Society / chislehurst-society.org.uk
The Little Kent Cook Book comprises 24 seasonal county recipes with drink pairings by food consultant Kay Coombs.
Locally-grown asparagus in the spring, then summer cherries, strawberries and tomatoes, plus autumn apples, pears and pumpkins. Kent dairy, local honey, shellfish and excellent beers, ciders and wine all feature in this fabulous little book (£7). All profits go to charity.
Natural skin care Products
Ginger Fox Natural Beauty / gingerfoxnaturalbeauty.com / @gingerfoxnaturalbeauty
Ginger Fox in Broadstairs champions the power of gentleness - in its approach to the skin, to yourself and to the planet. The skin is the largest organ of the body, and Ginger Fox’s naturally-sourced ingredients are specifically blended to work in harmony with it.
“We optimise skin health and cell function by providing blends of the right vitamins, nutrients and minerals to work in synergy with the skin, even the most sensitive."
Striving for zero waste - they are Strictly against animal-testing and the use of animal products.
WARM FASHION
Albion Stores / albionstores.co.uk /@albionstores
Albion Stores in Margate is known for picking out exceptional clothing and accessories but, with it being the festive season, we have picked out a couple of staple items for the winter.
Wally Socks from Howlin’ (£21.50) come in a soft blend of Merino wool, polyamide and elastane in a lovely purple colour way - made in Belgium with a smile.
Also from Howlin’ is the Falling Awake Scarf (£80) made out of 100% Scottish wool, it is fully knitted and hand-finished in Scotland. Finally, there’s the Hikerdelic Mother Earth Long Sleeve T-Shirt (£50). Manchester-based brand Hikerdelic draws inspiration from the pastoral beauty of the British countryside and the rich culture of acid house.
Cut from 100% soft cotton jersey, this tee is back to more of the bold prints, featuring its Mother Earth print and wording in a white colourway.
country park membership
Betteshanger Park / Betteshanger-park.co.uk / @betteshangerparks
Betteshanger Park is a 250-acre outdoor leisure facility offering everything from cycle trails and nature walks through to ticketed events and this year the team is offering its 12-month park membership for just £50.
The membership gets visitors
Free parking for up to two cars
(only one vehicle to be on the park at any one time).
20% off bike hire
10% off activities
10% off Betteshanger Park events
10% off children’s birthday parties
Priority event booking
PRE-ORDER
IN TIME FOR XMAS
Pattern #1 Motorcycle Conrod Bottle Opener
The Rag and Bone Man / theragandboneman.co.uk / @theragandbonemanuk
Working with a traditional British foundry specialising in iconic automotive restorations, The Rag and Bone Man in Margate has reworked some of their favourite components from their metal hoard into a range of sandcast aluminium cast iron accessories.
The bottle opener (£95) celebrates the shape of an early and rare classic British motorcycle conrod and is presented in a leather pouch inspired by the traditional motorcycle tool roll and is cast from grade 17 refined grey iron from a British foundry.
Whitstable Harbour Gin
The Whitstable Distillery Co.ltd / Whitstableharbourgin.co.uk / @whitstableharbourgin
Delicately crafted by expert distillers, this traditional small batch London dry gin is infused with sea buckthorn and samphire to give a modern twist and first-class taste.
With its first distillation in June 2021, Whitstable Harbour Gin is already proving to be extremely popular in bars and restaurants around the county and beyond.
It’s selling fast, so we would advise you to get your hands on a bottle while you can. Check out the website to find a local stockist or to buy a bottle directly.
the waste land MERCH
Albion Rooms / Thealbionrooms.live / @thealbionroomsmargate
Libertines fans who haven't yet managed to get down to The Albion Rooms hotel in Margate can still get a piece of it with the gifts that are now available in-house and online.
Take a swig of your favourite festive tipple using the Libertines and Waste Land Bar shot glasses (2 for £15) and the new The Waste Land T-Shirts (£20) available in black and white.
There are also gift vouchers available via our website to spend on rooms and anywhere on site.
HOT SAUCES, RUBS & CHUPS
Carrington Foods / carringtonfoods.co.uk / @carringtonfoods
Purveyors of amazing sauces and oils, Carrington Foods make for a spicy gift, from the BBQ Hamper box - complete with Hot Hop BBQ Chup, Chillichup Rub, Chilli Seas Salt and Piri Pepper Chup - to the hot sauce stocking-filler gift set, with Hot Hot Chillichup, Smoked Garlic Chilli Oil and Shut Up Chup.
The varied gift packs range from £6 to £20 so are perfect for stocking fillers, table presents and tree gifts. You can buy direct through the website or through some fantastic Kent delis and farm shops all listed on the site.
ESCAPE ROOM
The Bank Job Broadstairs / thebankjobbroadstairs.co.uk / @thebankjobbroadstairs