Sponsored by
Laura shows you how to shop local in Belper this Christmas
WE are lucky here in Belper. We have a great selection of independent shops, which are staffed by friendly, helpful people who are very knowledgeable about their products.
This helped a lot as I set out on my quest to Christmas shop for my entire family here in the town centre.
I started out with the most difficult presents I had to buy – my boyfriend, my dad, and my grandad.
My first port of call was Liquid Treasure, on King Street, which turned out to be a goldmine for gifts for men.
I found a Classic Ales of England set – comprising 12 real ales for 20 – which the majority of pub-loving dads will adore. It gives them an excuse to crack open a bottle early on in the big day. It would be rude not to enjoy the gift at the earliest opportunity after all.
In Liquid Treasure I also found a great gift for the man who has everything – a professional wine-tasting glass. With a couple of nice bottles of wine this 5 gift will make him feel like he knows what he's talking about.
Owner Julie Wyllie said: "We have a lot of people coming in looking for presents at this time of year because we stock some quite unusual things."
The shop also offers a gift-wrapping service.
A trip to De Bradelei Mill, on Chapel Street, ended my search for presents for both my grandparents. My grandad would love a set of golf-themed cuff links. Costing 9, they are sure to make him feel smart and a pack of handkerchiefs at 5 would finish the gift off nicely. For my grandma, who always likes to look smart, I found a great black and grey Espirit scarf for 15.
Children's Choice furnished me with gifts for my baby niece and young nephew. I found a soft photo frame, made by Galt, for 10, for my niece, after learning that babies respond well to seeing photos of loved ones.
Lego is still a popular gift for young boys, according to staff at the Bridge Street shop. I decided on an 8.99 Star Wars-themed Lego set in the end, but the shop had a wide selection of other kits, suitable for children aged between seven and 14.
Next stop was Ultra Violet, on Bridge Street, to look for something for my awkward teenage sister. The shop, which caters for alternative tastes, provided a showcase of sparkly jewellery for pierced belly buttons, for various prices. I also fell upon a range of bags with interesting designs for just 8.99 each.
Kalico, on King Street, provided a good choice of gifts. I found a lovely scarf for my auntie, for just 6.99, and a wide selection of necklaces starting at 3.99. In a nice presentation box one of those would make a lovely present for my best friend.
The pets were sorted with a quick trip to Dolittles pet shop. The store, on Strutt Street, sells a range of pet stockings, with toys and treats for cats and dogs. Prices start from 1.99.
Owner James Dodes said: "The stockings are what most people get for their pets."
My brother, who is a bit of a bookworm, was easily sorted with a trip to the Belper Bookshop. The King Street shop stocks contemporary novels, as well as having shelves flushed with books on local history, walking, hobbies, and cooking.
It would have been possible to find a present for everybody I knew in there. My sister and my mum proved a little difficult, but I persevered, and found a beautiful pair of solid silver spiral earrings for my mum in David Nidd jewellers, on Bridge Street.
For 20 I thought they were good value, and my mum deserves it – she will be cooking the Christmas dinner!
I headed to I Should Cocoa, on Strutt Street, to hunt for my sister's present.
Some very tasty looking chocolates greeted me as I walked through the door of the chocolate shop. I decided on a beautifully-presented box of 12 chocolates for 9.95 eventually – well, it is Christmas and a time to indulge.
Overall I think my local Christmas shop has gone quite well, with 139.95 spent in total I found gifts for all my family very easily, and found some interesting presents in Belper's wide range of shops.
If people took the time to use our local shops to do their Christmas shopping I think they would be pleasantly surprised.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Belper
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light snow
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
