CRAFTS WITH HERITAGE

Machine-made, mass-produced products have a lot to answer for, their accessibility having sidelined the skills and artistry of handmade, traditional craftwork, once a rich source of industry. However there is a resurgent interest in all things hand-made and in restoring older items to their former glory. Here we talk to six specialists who all work with their hands and for whom every new project is a fresh hand-crafted journey

Willow baskets do not pollute the oceans, they are incredibly long-lasting and can be composted at the end of their life. A basket can be made with a few simple tools and some willow.

Baskets can be made from hedgerow materials for simple rustic baskets. However using locally sourced commercial willow from the Somerset Levels it is possible to create more complex and traditional English baskets as our ancestors did, with different willow varieties providing beautiful rustic colours.

Basketmaking pre-dates pottery and has assisted mankind in gathering food and materials for thousands of years. It has been said that humans have an intuitive ability to weave a basket, just as a spider weaves its web or a bird makes a nest.

Recently it has been challenging to obtain home-grown UK willow due to the increasing interest in basketmaking and the demand for willow coffins.

My goal was, and remains, to keep the traditional basketmaking techniques alive and to enable rural crafts to continue to provide an active place in the modern plastic age. There are some types of baskets that are on the heritage crafts endangered list and without a few basketmakers keeping the craft going, it could be lost forever.

The main appeal is being able to create something beautiful with your hands. I get great satisfaction from walking through Bath and saying “I did that!” when we pass a building that I have worked on, much to my family’s annoyance!

Being methodical is the most important skill. Most people imagine it’s a big, satisfying flurry of creativity, but the reality is it’s more like a dusty factory where you have to go through the correct process or things will go wrong. Good hand and eye coordination goes a long way, too.

Stone masonry is one of the oldest crafts in history, dating back to the Stone Age. Many of the tools I use today have not changed for thousands of years. We still follow the architectural styles of Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome and we use the same basic principles.

As with most old crafts, it’s the time and cost involved with stone masonry. With so many mass-produced materials around now, there are a lot of cheaper alternatives. They’re not as good though!

These days, with the advent of CNC machines, some of the bigger companies only have a couple of masons in the workshop to tidy up anything the machines have missed, but it would be a great shame to lose the skills. I think it means so much more to people to look at a wonderful building and know that the stone was shaped and laid by skilled hands, not by a machine.

As a horse owner I wanted a career in leather. I subsequently qualified as a saddler, but found my real passion lay in creating and repairing a variety of pieces that have lasting appeal and function.

The earliest leatherworking tools date back to the Stone Age. Looking specifically at saddlery, the Worshipful Company of Saddlers is one of the oldest livery companies in London with the earliest surviving record from 1160AD.

Sadly there are only a few tanneries left in the UK, so sourcing some types of leather can be difficult, especially when trying to match up colours and substance.

I feel the sustainability of good leatherwork is very important. If an item is well made, it’s usually repairable, and so with care it can last for many years. I see this with many items that arrive at my workbench.

I start with whole hides of leather and I hand-cut, hand-stitch and hand-finish each item. I have a treasured head knife for most cutting work and most often work is double hand-stitched for strength.

It’s about working with your hands with lovely tools in a natural material. As a dyslexic boy, the only book in the school library that was of any interest to me was Tippings’ Grinling Gibbons and the Woodwork of his Age, a large book with great black-and-white photographs of fantastic woodcarvings.

You really have to think and work in three dimensions. You have to understand outline and shadow and you have to think ahead to find and process the wood to a state when you can start carving it. From that point it is a very immersive process, and with a good piece of wood and an interesting subject it can be a total joy.

In some cultures, such as Maori, Haida, or Yoruba, the craft of woodcarving goes back in an unbroken tradition to prehistoric times, and it remains central to those cultures. There are also the medieval wooden Stave churches in Norway, where the construction techniques are known to have been used for buildings from the Viking Age.

In England the woodcarving trade as it once existed has shrunk to critical levels because much cheaper carving has been imported from factories in Indonesia, China and India. On top of that modern technology means that with 3D scanning and CNC work some aspects can be made without the use of traditional carvers. Woodcarving is also associated with the folk tradition. As an individual woodcarver working in architectural woodcarving and in restoration, I have never regarded it as a reliable engine of wealth. Running carving classes, working on individual commissions as well as carving my own art works means I am busy, but not wealthy!

Because it is so versatile. In what other craft can you produce lasting sculpture out of a living material with such a range of a scale, from Japanese netsuke to Haida nation totem poles? In an environment that is moving so far away from nature, woodcarving can seem a bit folksy, but imagine if you were living in a plastic box on Mars how it would feel to be carving a piece of wood into the shape of a bird.

I originally studied Mandarin, but chance led me to a job running an antiquarian bookshop in Bloomsbury next to the old British Library, where I enrolled on a part-time bookbinding course and I was immediately hooked. Over 25 years later I am still as passionate about it.

Bookbinders are said to need to be more accurate than brain surgeons. It is imperative that the book looks beautiful and that it functions perfectly. The skills range from leatherwork to gilding, dyeing to painting, sewing to boxmaking. I oversee the whole process from proofreading, typesetting and layout, to printing and binding, from one-offs to runs of up to 500 or more.

The book structure, or codex, that we are familiar with has been around since Roman times and in the UK the monasteries were producing similar bindings around 700AD. The bone folder is one of the earliest tools used by humans, and the materials, such as leather, vellum and gold, have remained unchanged for centuries.

Many predicted the death of the book, but sales of physical books have never been greater. However, there are now no full-time courses in bookbinding in the UK. I teach in colleges and schools to promote bookbinding and open students’ eyes to the joys of making with your hands. I am delighted that, from 2023, Bath Spa University will be running an open module in bookbinding available to all students.

Making with our hands is part of what makes us human. Crafts have a hugely beneficial, therapeutic effect, improving mood and lowering stress. As our world moves further into the digital, having tangible objects becomes more meaningful. Making beautiful books is socioculturally and artistically important; it is a protest against the digital and against globalisation, against everything that is poorly, and massproduced. It’s the same thing that William Morris was protesting against in the Industrial Revolution.

To be able to manipulate a cold, hard material into pretty much whatever shape you like. While doing a degree course at Wolverhampton Polytechnic in 3D Design in Wood, Metals and Plastics, I quickly gravitated to the metal workshop.

For millenia prior to the machine age and the advent of the electric welder during World War I, most ‘crafted’ ironwork was made by blacksmiths. The seven key skills of the blacksmith were fire-welding, drawing down, upsetting, punching, cutting, twisting and bending; with all those elements mastered, literally anything is possible in iron.

Archeologists believe that iron was discovered by the Hittites of ancient Egypt somewhere between 5000 and 3000 BCE. In the UK we have been working iron since c. 750 BCE

Plenty! A society that forgets that mastering a craft such as ours takes many years and thinks that cheap machinemade, mass-produced imports can replicate the subtleties and creativity of the human hand and spirit is a hard thing to fight.

We have been producing ironwork for millenia, and to properly care for what we have, then we need to retain the skills that made it.

From a practical point of view, we need it in our lives –we all touch and feel something made of iron on a daily basis. Pretty much any functional item the blacksmith used to make can now be made by machines. What the machine is yet to replicate is the soul of the maker, and as long as we seek the imperfections and perfections of the hand, then hopefully we will still be needed. ironart.co.uk n

The festive season is upon us so let’s express our love and appreciation to those who have been in our thoughts all year. Here’s a wondersome show of gift inspiration from the finest local ateliers, stores and online retailers. You know the drill, scan the QRs for some pronto gifting

Celebrate the season with stylish Dents’ gloves, gifts and head turning accessories. Whether it be winter essentials or a special gift for a loved one, you will discover a dazzling selection of gloves, accessories, gifts, handbags and much, much, more. We love this pair of Bella long-sleeved satin opera gloves , £20 and available in a wide range of colours. Dents Factory Shop, Furnax Lane, Warminster, or shop online at

dents.co.uk

Commission a contemporary styled dog portrait painted by award winning artist: Tracey Bowes. Her works are personalised by using styles and colours to suit her clients. Tracey combines her design skills with her traditional fine art practice to create breathtaking pieces. Prices from £25.

thefineartistshop.com

Bath based creative photographer Helena M captures the beauty of family life. Treasured times from maternity and newborn, the whole family or intergenerational portraits, she captures natural moments within the setting of Bath and surrounding areas. Helena M is now offering luxury gift vouchers in time for Christmas. Vouchers start at £50* *Prices and availability are on her website

HelenaMphotography.com

These long silver penguin earrings with seaside charm are a wonderful creation made by Helen Noakes jewellery, £125. They are just one of the fantastic items by many talented artists and designers whose work is on show and available to buy at Bath’s contemporary arts & crafts gallery, Gallery Nine –Well worth a visit.

Gallery Nine, 9B Margaret Buildings, Bath.

gallerynine.co.uk

Offering high-quality, beautifully designed jewellery, Jody Cory is an established independent designer goldsmith with over 30 years experience, and her shop in Bath is not only home to her work but also displays a range of wonderfully inspired pieces by many local and national designers. Not only are there beautiful pieces on display to cater for all budgets but Jody’s fine individual creations and her commission work makes her shop a popular destination for the highest quality jewellery. Shown here is a stack of dazzling coloured diamond stacking rings. Prices start from £485. They are available in 9ct yellow and white gold . Visit Jody Cory, 9 Abbey Churchyard, Bath.

jodycory.co.uk

Since opening in Bath in 1985, The Dressing Room has maintained its reputation as the ‘go to’ place for the finest in lingerie, beach and nightwear. Featuring lingerie brands such as Marie Jo, Aubade, Prima Donna, Empreinte and Lise Charmel (amongst others) the shop also has a wide range of basic t-shirt bras and invisible briefs. The beachwear collection features brands including Melissa Odabash, Maryan Mehlhorn, Aubade, Prima Donna, Rosa Faia and Nuria Ferrer, whilst nightwear comes from Hanro, Louis Feraud, Diamond Tea, Marjolaine, Luna di Seta and Lise Charmel –to name but a few. Shown here are pure silk pyjamas from Marjolaine, £395.

With experienced and professional staff ready to help you, why not pop in for a look

7 Quiet Street, Bath BA1 2JU dressingroombath.com

The sensual fluid shape of the Cobra candleholder is undoubtedly one of Georg Jensen’s most recognisable and iconic designs. This set of three candlesticks – small (160mm), medium (200mm) and large (240mm) – form a beautiful natural group that, like a cobra, seem to sway this way and that. Made from stainless steel with a mirror-polished finish, the three candlesticks are durable, weighty and stable. £184 for set of three. Mallory, 1-5 Bridge Street , Bath.

mallory-jewellers.com

In a collaboration that sees a percentage of profits going to the Amy Winehouse Foundation the Roberts 'Amy' celebrates the life and legacy of one of Britain's most beloved musicians. Inspired by the outfit Amy wore to perform at the 2008 Brit Awards, the reimagined Revival iStream is truly an expression of the artist's iconic style. Bold leopard print front, deep red back panel and engraved details on the handle anchors make this a Revival that looks as good as it sounds. Available from Moss of Bath –the city’s premium audio visual retail specialists. 45 St James's Parade, Bath.

mossofbath.co.uk

The Orangery beauty salon in Bath is one of the city’s most respected salons and the highly qualified team offer a full range of the very best in treatments. Ever popular at Christmas are their beauty care gift vouchers which can be redeemed on the full range of treatments at the salon as well as skincare products. Beautifully presented they make a lovely gift of ‘you-time’ for someone you love. The Orangery, 1 Argyle Street, Bath.

theorangerylaserandbeautybath.co.uk

They are challenging, addictive, and make a delightful, grown up gift. If you are familiar with Water & Wines then you’ll know they create next-level jigsaw puzzles that will take you on a journey through the world of wine. This new Champagne region puzzle is the latest addition to a delightful collection and will make the perfect gift this Christmas. Curated in collaboration with Master of Wine and champagne specialist Essi Avellan, the puzzle highlights the main regions of Champagne, the Grand Cru villages, and the region's rich history. Learn as you play as the puzzle box also features lots of information about champagne-making and food-pairing tips! The puzzle itself is beautifully illustrated by hand. Pick them up at Harvey Nichols or order your puzzle and see the full series at:

Having worked with a number of the west country’s top goldsmiths and jewellers, Susannah Way creates her own range of contemporary jewellery. Her designs are charming and inspire - We love this mushroom print pendant, inspired by the preciousness of mushrooms and their mutually beneficial relationship with trees. It is available in 9ct gold £439, or silver with gold plate £149 and in sterling silver £99. Visit her Etsy online shop (SusannahWayJewellery) or find more details at:

swayjewellery.com

Always a popular destination for gift ideas, The Silver Shop of Bath never fails to inspire. This classic sterling silver Entwined necklace, £65 and earrings, £42 with their beautiful sloping twists and turns really caught our attention. The perfect gift for someone special this Christmas.There’s plenty of other ideas to be found too. Shop at 25 Union Passage, Bath.

thesilvershopofbath.co.uk

Thomas Fortin menswear brings to the world its hand-finished accessories crafted from beautiful fabrics woven and printed in England. Shown here: a blue Walking Canes scarf with 100 tassel fringe, £165, 128cmx24cm (fabric length). This unique in-house design depicts a drawing of 3 gentleman’s walking canes laid over the trademark Thomas Fortin circular repeat design. The 100% silk twill is printed in England. The silk is cut and made into a scarf with 50 knotted tassels added on each end. The variations in colour in the thread pick out the blues pinks and yellows of the scarf design and give the final 13cm fringe a very fullbodied feel. It is part of a range of scarves and other men’s silk accessories which can be found online at

thomasfortin.com

THE LAMORNA CANDLE BY CREAM CORNWALL

Inspired by Lamorna Cove this lovely candle is infused with myth and magic from the far southwest of Cornwall. The intoxicating blend contrasts fresh sea sprays with masculine wood notes and amber musk conjuring up the smell of this magical place, transporting you straight to the waters edge. Lamorna is one of Cream Cornwall’s most popular fragrances - it's warm yet fresh and everyone loves it. Visit the store at 29, Milsom Street, Bath.

The south west’s leading designer jeweller, award-winning Nicholas Wylde has been designing original, high quality jewellery since first opening his Bath store in 1987. Nicholas Wylde is a perfect destination for anyone looking for that unique piece of jewellery to add that extra special sparkle this Christmas. 12 Northumberland Place, Bath BA1 5AR

nicholaswylde.com creamcornwall.co.uk

If you subscribe to our weekly newsletter then you’ll be very familiar with Daniel McCabe’s regular review of some of the coolest and most inspired magazine reads he sells at his excellent shop, Magalleria. Magalleria is a unique store selling one of the largest collections of international, independent and niche magazines in Europe. It imports magazines, journals and zines from all over the world, with many exclusive to its range. Perfect for gifting and finding new and delightful reads this is the place to pick up a gift card and let the print lover find their magazine nirvana. Magalleria, 5 Upper Borough Walls, Bath BA1 1RG

magalleria.co.uk

Hats off to Up to Seven! Designed and handmade at their workshop in Bath, these adorable, roll-edged hats are all knitted in anti-tickle wool, and can be machine washed at 30 degrees. Available in five sizes (and also in navy), they are priced at just £16, making them the perfect gift. They can be matched with Up to Seven’s beautiful handmade cardigans, baby shoes and mittens. Up to Seven, 6 Pulteney Bridge, Bath.

uptoseven.co.uk

The Gold & Platinum Studio is one of Bath’s most beloved independent jewellers. On display in the studio are many unique and beautiful pieces while upstairs in the workshop client commissions are being designed and created by a team of highly skilled goldsmiths. The studio is owned by renowned goldsmith and designer Michael Parsons. Michael has always been fascinated by gemstones and is a qualified gemmologist. He specialises in sourcing gemstones and crafting bespoke, one-off fine quality pieces. Shown above is a Watermelon tourmaline ring in 9ct gold, £1650. Visit the Studio at: 19 Northumberland Place, Bath or shop online

DELIGHTFUL HANDMADE JEWELLERY BY CAMI-LOU

Camilla Frayling is a jewellery designer and maker from Bath with over ten years experience. Camilla now runs her own small business, Cami-Lou Jewellery Designs where she uses precious metals, semi-precious and precious gemstones creating fabulous, interesting pieces with beautiful textures and lovely detail. Shown here, 9ct yellow gold and sterling silver handmade organic arch style earrings with tassel. £75

See more on Instagram: camilou_jewellerydesigns or visit her online shop at: www.camiloujewellery.co.uk

The perfect present! Help care for animals as well as supporting the Wild Place’s conservation work across the globe by adopting either a European brown bear, giraffe, ring-tailed lemur or a zebra, £30. For all the details visit:

wildplace.org.uk

Custom prints of original paintings by local artist David Ringsell will give you a different perspective on the striking classic architecture of the city. Shown here: Heaven and Earth, a stained stone chimney stack contrasts a distant St Michael's Church. There’s also a special offer on art prints , 15% up to 25th December. Get a beautiful and affordable contemporary Giclée art print of an original painting. A2, A3 and A4 sizes Buy online with coupon code XMAS. The full gallery of David’s artwork can be found at:

real-images.com

The perfect Christmas gift or treat for yourself. This incredible duo from Baed Natural will revitalise your body care routine. Luxurious and replenishing for silky smooth skin. Lansdown Body Duo with lavender & orange, £33. Baed Natural also has beautiful body care products named after many of Bath’s areas, so if you’re more Larkhall, Bear Flat, Bathwick or Camden (to name a few) then there’s a scent just for you.

baednatural.co.uk

Established in 1979, Ellis and Killpartrick is one of the south west's leading independent opticians, and as well as a loyal following of patients the shop boasts a fabulous display of designer sunglasses from the most desirable brands. How about a pair of Oakley Jawbreaker sports glasses in polished white and neon green with green mirror lenses. The ultimate sport design! £170.

With so many elegant designs in both sunglasses and in the optical collection Ellis and Killpartrick are well worth a visit. 18 New Bond Street, Bath.

ellisandkillpartrick.com

SHELL STONE EARRINGS BY ICARUS JEWELLERY

Icarus Jewellery is an independent shop founded by talented designer Dilek Koroglu. Her silver pieces are thoughtful, intriguing, and beautiful. We love these Shell stone wire hooked sterling silver earrings priced at £135. see these and many more beguiling designs at the shop on 3 Pulteney Bridge, Bath.

icarusjewellery.com

Shown here is a stylish pan for gently warming brandy over a candle. Made in London in 1795, £795. Life is good. Visit Beau Nash, Bath’s specialist antique silver shop to see this and an ever impressive range of beautiful and interesting artefacts to treasure and enjoy. Happy gifting! 31 Brock Street, Bath.

beaunashbath.com

New for the 2022 festive season, these cute festive printed tights feature robins, pine cones and holly. Perfect for the Christmas season! Available in two colours. Top quality, made in Italy. £12.99. Buy from Flock 12 – 13 The Corridor, Bath

flockbath.co.uk

The Bath Framer, owned by Kelly, is a friendly boutique picture framers that has a beautifully quirky front-of-house and a workshop, stacked with all kinds of frames. It’s a joy to visit not only to see beautiful print and frames but also to watch how frames are created. As well as a bespoke framing service, there’s an whole selection of unique cards, gift wrap and some very interesting traditional brass stationery (shown above) –perfect gifts for a maker or creator.

14–15 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath BA1 6AD

thebathpictureframer.co.uk

Shindig Festival 2023 has you covered this Christmas! Give the gift of a magical experience you and the whole family will look forward to. Enjoy four days of world class music and arts from 25 to 28 May, in the heart of the Somerset countryside.

Simply give this gift tag to your loved ones and pay later (kids under 12 come free!). To share the love this Christmas, Shindig will make a donation to local charity Boys In Mind/Girls Mind Too, when you use code SUPPORT at the checkout.

In the words of Jazzie B from Soul II Soul, Shindig is “…a proper party for proper party people!”

shindigfestival.co.uk

This sterling silver bangle by Honey Willow can be personalised with names, dates, messages or phrases, £90, it is hand stamped with up to forty characters. An intimate gift that really can mean something. Visit the store at: 8 Pulteney Bridge, Bath

Everyone loves the Urban Garden on the edge of Victoria Park, it’s always packed with beautiful, interesting things and with an extended range of festive gift ideas they have really got Christmas covered. Get your Christmas tree there too. The Urban Garden, Marlborough Buildings, Bath

theurbangarden.org.uk

It’s Saqua Beauty and it can be found in The Corridor. Under the direction of Swiss beauty expert, Sevcan Caglar - a biologist aesthetician she specialises in skin care, delaying ageing and creating younger looks - Saqua offers a full range of high quality beauty treatments as well as skin care products. They make great gifts and a good opportunity to pop in and see Saqua for yourself. Shown here is: the REFINE Youthful skincare set by Image, normally £199 RRP, you can pick one up at Saqua for just £125, saving £64. Saqua, 18 The Corridor, Bath

saqua.co.uk

BEADED BRACELETS BY JIYA

Handmade in Bristol, Jiya is a collection of semi-precious, pearls, gold, silver and beaded jewellery, with colour and craft at the heart of everything they create. All jewellery is designed and handmade by local artisans. Shown here is the easy to wear and well-boho Havana bead bracelets £25 each or just £95 for a set of five. Order online

jiyajewellery.co.uk

TEXTILE ART BY CAROLE WALLER

Silk scarves are lovely gifts at Christmas and Carole Waller’s pieces are completely unique handpainted originals. Prices range from £65 - £195 and her Christmas collection is inspired by the soft earthy tones of the North Yorkshire moors - and an unusually colourful croquet game played there last summer! Make an appointment to visit Carole at Waller&Wood on Box Road where her studio and showroom can be found between Batheaston and Box - or choose from the selection online

carolewaller.co.uk

Artisan Homeware is an independent Bristol-based homewares business bringing traditional craftsmanship to contemporary interiors. They sell handmade Boleslawiec stoneware from Poland, UK-made luxury merino wool blankets and cushions and a huge range of fairtrade and eco-friendly Fairtrade Christmas decorations from just £5.95. Shown here: Medium Lasagne dish £61 artisanhomeware.co.uk

FABRIC DESIGNS BY ISABELL BROWELL

With an interior design background, Isabell Browell’s love of fabrics was the motivation to learn the art of lampshade making. Using handwoven Ikats from Uzbekistan and vintage silk sari fabrics from India, Isabell aims to create lampshades which make a statement and transform a room. She can also offer a bespoke lampshade service for specific interior room schemes. Isabell is based in Bath. Shown here: a black /red and a red/ivory Ikat cushion, 10 x 24 inches (80% silk/20% cotton mix), £69 each, and a 14 inch green/blue/ivory silk Ikat lampshade, £160. Isabell’s lovely products can be viewed on her website:

browellinteriors.com

Every baker needs a home for those prized loaves. This breathable linen bread bag handprinted by designer Lauren Holloway will become an essential kitchen accessory, available in mustard, green or grey, £32. See this and many more fabulous, sustainable bags and accessories by Lauren Holloway on her website.

laurenholloway.uk

Homefront Interiors in Margaret's Buildings is one of Bath’s most appealing independent shops offering a carefully curated treasure trove of beautiful sustainable living and artisanal homeware products from local artists and makers. Shown here are Nkuku Ngolo T-light lanterns - the medium size is priced at £28. Just a few of the many beautiful things you can discover at this superb shop. Homefront, 10 Margaret's Buildings, Bath. homefrontinteriors.co.uk

It’s Christmas all wrapped up! Check out these super-soft, merino lambswool christmas throws (£112.00) to help you wrap-up warm and cosy this Christmas. You can visit The Natural Blanket Company’s Christmas chalet in Milsom Street (opposite Waterstones) until 11th December. See these beautiful blankets and many more online.

thenaturalblanket.co.uk

Coopers Home Appliances are one of a few specialist retailers (globally) awarded Premio Partner status by SMEG. You can now enjoy the full range of large and small SMEG appliances –including high-deisgn special editions by Dolce & Gabbana as well other item not normally available such as the SMEG pots and pans collection. Cool and covetable, and a must for 'Foodies' who love spending time creating great things in the kitchen. See inside front cover for a special offer too. Coopers Home Appliances 13/15 Walcot Street (opposite Waitrose), Bath

Single Variety Co’s Fruit Preserve Gift Box contains four Great Taste Award Winning preserves, all handmade in their family run jam factory in Bristol. Maravilla Raspberry, Seville Marmalade, Passionfruit Preserve and Ben Hope Blackcurrant Preserve, all made with much more fruit and less sugar than traditional jams. A perfect gift for any food lover! £22.50. Available online at:

Thatchers are unveiling a Christmas surprise –their very first Thatchers 12 Days of Christmas Cider Gift Box. Available online and from the Thatchers’ Cider Shop at at Myrtle Farm in Somerset, the 12 Days of Christmas Cider Gift Box contains a selection of Thatchers’ family favourites all made on the farm. It costs just £34.99 (plus delivery if ordering online). In the best traditions of Christmas gift boxes, it’s a complete surprise as to which of the ciders you’ll find when you open each door. But in true Thatchers style, there’s a Somerset cider for everyone included. Happy Christmas.

thatcherscider.co.uk

£25 per adult. This is a great gift for anyone that likes the outdoors and has a competitive streak. Try out different types of axes, play competitive games, enjoy the woodland scenery, and go full Viking just outside of Bath! Find this and many more gift ideas at

yuup.co

Like sloe gin, this damson gin is hand made in the traditional way; in small batches, using hand-picked British damsons and a moderate amount of sugar to produce and intense, fruity dryness. A thoroughly festive and traditional tipple (try saying that after a tot or two!) 70cl bottle, £35. Order online or see local stockists

6oclockgin.com

From £10 per adult. Bristol’s favourite pop-up food and comedy festival has just launched in Bath to banish the January blues! Independent Bath venues will be serving up delicious food whilst guests are entertained by a surprise comedian. Great fun. Find this and many more gift ideas at

Vist Francis DIY in Moorland Road for a wide variety of the best festive fairy lights from the Noma lighting range - Noma’s products are very low use energy and many have easy timers. Francis also have a range of battery operated fairy lights. So no need for a bleak house - we think this Dickensian snowman will cheer things up nicely Rather dapper, he measures 1 metre, with 120 warm white and white duo LED’s, 10 metre cable and easy timer, £129.00. Plenty more in store visit: Francis DIY, 39 Moorland Road, Bath

francisdiy.com