GIRL ABOUT SURREY: The Shop Local Christmas Gift Guide 2020

Your guide to some of the best independent businesses within our county and community

One of the many things this year has highlighted is the importance of supporting each other. The financial impact of the pandemic has been devastating to small businesses and whilst times are hard, there are small steps we can take to support those who keep our communities thriving. All of these independent businesses have a face and a story behind the brand; they have been borne from an idea and created with passion and dedication.

In a joint venture, I have teamed up with Kate (Community Editor for Surrey Blogger Collective) to create this list of incredible small local businesses that we feel represent some of the best of our county and our community.

SAVE, SHARE and ENJOY!

Beauty and Self Care

The Beauty Bee studio Beckie offers an exciting range of facial treatments from her salon in Epsom. These highly efficacious, innovative treatments are the highly popular dermaplaning facial, bespoke, medik8 facial and professional peel, the highly effective microneedling treatment, dermalux LED, mesotherapy, body treatments and massage. The perfect present for a beauty enthusiast looking to up her skin game!

The Beauty Nest Natalie has been voted as the best beauty salon in Surrey 2018 & 2019, an impressive feat! A cosy and relaxing beauty room in the heart of Chobham village, Natalie offers eyebrow microblading, nail treatments, massage, waxing, lash treatments and beauty lab facials. The Beauty Nest Chobham is the ultimate in R&R.

Brows by Jennie. Jennie has set up her beauty boutique from her home in Shepperton, specialising in Lash Bomb Lifts, Henna Brows, Gel nails and Waxing. She is currently training in a new type of nail extension ready for reopening next month. Bringing you all the glamour without the salon prices, a visit to Jennie would be the perfect pre-Christmas prep.

Get Beautiful Laura offers fabulous treatments from her home in Shepperton. On offer are lash treatments, nails, waxing, brows and spray tans, all available with flexible treatment timings to suit your busy schedule. Laura is constantly increasing her skills base so keep your eyes peeled for future additions from this wonderful technician.

Healthy Skin Studio Vennie is extremely well versed in skincare. She is renowned for creating skin magic through her incredible bespoke facials and advanced skin therapy practice at her clinic in Richmond. Offering an in-depth consultation, Vennie tailors her treatments to best suit the needs of her clients. Vennie’s list of treatments is impressive and is a guaranteed winner. This would be the perfect present for a skincare enthusiast, or those with specific concerns.

Luna Skin Hayley at LUNA Skin in Leatherhead, offers a sanctuary of indulgence, calm and tranquillity in a luxurious shabby chic setting. Her studio is a place to unwind, restore and to heal specific skin and health concerns. LUNA bespoke Facials and Reflexology treatments take a holistic approach by treating the body as a whole and are committed to using natural, locally sourced and vegan friendly products. LUNA Skin offer gift vouchers and a new LUNA membership for discounted treatments and products all year round! Hayley is also owner of Lovelock Brides offering Bridal hair and make-up services.

Nailed It Beauty Rachel is an incredibly gifted beauty therapist, offering a multitude of treatments from her home studio in Surbiton. Expertly trained in Dermalogica products, Rachel will leave your skin glowing and totally refreshed through the use of facial cupping, light therapy and microcurrent technology. Rachel also offers waxing, lash lifts, gel nails, brow services and bridal make up. Kick off your festive season with the ultimate glow!

Norsworthys Led by female entrepreneur Sammy Jo, her award-winning luxury salon in Horsell offers some much needed “me” time from her team of highly trained specialists. Their Lacure facial will leave your skin nourished, nurtured and boosted. You can also enjoy a deeply relaxing massage, a wax and Jessica nail treatments to set you up perfectly for the party season!

Beauty by Rheanna Rheanna is highly skilled in facial massage using the glorious range of Elemis products. Your skin will radiate health and look visibly younger after your treatment. Rheanna also specialises in massage, gel varnish, waxing, tint, laser and spray tans. Currently based in Woking, Rheanna is also able to travel for home visits once restrictions lift. Vouchers would be perfect for someone looking to get their skin sparkle back.

The Reigate Osteopathic Clinic is the oldest established osteopathic clinic in the area, having provided quality care for over 50 years. They are currently still operating so if you are suffering from a poor workstation setup, musculo-skeletal issues, or are looking for help for a mother or baby, look no further than The Reigate Clinic.

Surrey Hills Reflexology Lou is a reflexology and massage goddess. Relieving muscle tension, sinus issues, hormonal imbalances, stress and insomnia with the touch of her hands, Lou will leave your feeling relaxed and re-energised. She can be visited at her therapy room in Bookham, or can offer home visits to those local to her.

Tranquil Therapies consists of a group of massage experts who offer on-site chair massages. Their aim is to promote wellness in the workplace through releasing tension. The 10-20 minute sessions increase productivity and mood, reducing repetitive strain injuries and irritability. Therapists are based in Farnborough, Basingstoke and Reading.

Business Support

Holly & Co Holly (co-founder of Notonthehighstreet.com) set up the Work / Shop in Twickenham to offer a relaxed and informal approach to small business coaching. They offer helpful advice and support at any stage, to enable you to build a business doing what you love. Holly & Co operates as a café and gift shop so has remained open during lockdown.

Charitable donations

DKMS Every 20 minutes someone in the UK receives a diagnosis of blood cancer. Blood cancer is the 5th most common cancer and only 30% of patients find a donor match in their family. The majority of patients rely on the Blood Stem Cell Donor register, yet only 2% of the population is registered. DKMS raises awareness of blood cancer, asking people to sign up to become a donor through their mail swab kits. DKMS pay the costs of adding donors to their registry as well as covering costs incurred by donors when donating.

Momentum Children’s charity Being told your child has cancer or another life-challenging condition is devastating. Day-to-day life is turned upside down. Momentum supports the entire family during times of unimaginable strain from all over South West London, Surrey and West Sussex. They support the children and their parents, but also siblings and grandparents too.

Reigate and Banstead Women’s Aid is a refuge charity based in East Surrey to help women and children restart a life free from domestic abuse. They enable women to rebuild their own lives using their own strengths and skills They make families feel welcome, included and safe.

York Road Project are dedicated to defeating homelessness and rough sleeping in Woking and the surrounding areas. As a direct result of the pandemic, they are currently supporting at least 10 clients into permanent accommodation and need your help to buy the much needed essentials of any home.

Children

The Natural Baby Box was created by Hannah after becoming a mum. Having studied mental health and child development, she creates luxury gift boxes and keepsake cases, together with beautiful playboxes that support early years learning, tailored to your baby’s age and development stage. Put together with love and attention to detail, every part of Hannah’s product has been chosen to reduce our footprint on the world and protect our children’s future.

The Baby Service is a boutique in Chobham (together with an online shop) set up by mummy Aman. Aman has carefully curated a beautiful range of baby gifts and products from predominantly independent brands in which she wholeheartedly believes and loves. Additionally, Aman offers a personalised shopping experience and concierge service for parents to be. Get 10% off your first order with this absolutely gorgeous company.

The Blossoming Birth Company is run by Julie, a hypnobirthing teacher with over 20 years midwifery experience. She also teaches baby massage, baby and toddler yoga and is a tummy time expert. Why not treat a mummy, or mummy to be, with one of her socially distanced face to face courses in the new year?

Bowsbybbauly Bárbara is a busy Brazilian mummy with two children living in Surrey. Her beautiful daughter Nina has Downs Syndrome; Bárbara set up her business after taking huge pleasure from making bows for Nina during lockdown and seeing the delight it brings her. Every bow Bárbara makes is hand made with love.

Busylizzy Elmbridge and other local Busylizzy groups offer pregnancy and postnatal fitness classes, together with baby and toddler classes; they are a great way to meet like-minded mums. Membership could be the perfect gift for mums to be or new mums; virtual classes and talks are being offered while Covid restrictions apply.

Flo&Fawn Fall back in love with nature with this wonderful WildSTEM letterbox kit full of quality natural play and learning activities. This is a monthly box full of seasonal nature projects to engage children to explore and interact with the outdoors in new ways. A subscription could be a wonderful gift for a child to continue to enjoy post Christmas. 

Jillytots Popular with many Surrey mummies, this fabulous little business deserves a shout out because Jilly makes discrete little tags for your buggy, or car seat, to politely remind well-meaning strangers not to touch your child. Her beautiful images captured here were taken by the talented Magically Wild Photography

Jobosbows. Jolene started making bows for her daughter and fell in love with designing and sewing. She wanted to find a way to show her daughter that it is possible for women to work and have a family. She now has her first range of dresses together with traditional style bows. Every dress and bow is handmade to order. In addition, every bow ordered is matched and sent to the Salvation Army.

Magical Makeovers Parties Hollie and Jane have created beautiful home pamper packs for children to enjoy. Ordinarily they offer professional pamper parties for children aged 5- 14 which are hugely popular and a great way to make memories. Lockdown may have thrown a temporary spanner in the works but they will be offering VIP Pamper Parties when we revert to the rule of six.

The Snug Shepherd was created by Adam, grandfather to twin boys who wanted to share what he has created for his grandsons. It is a family-run business dedicated to handcrafting well made, traditional English shepherds’ huts and muddy kitchens for children. They are perfect for encouraging outdoor play whatever the weather, and they are a place in which amazing memories can be made.

The Sussex Christmas Barn. Just over the border in Sussex is the stunning 18th century barn selling unique Christmas decorations and freshly cut British Christmas trees. Their onsite café is ordinarily extremely cosy but is now operating outdoors only, so do wrap up warm.

West Stanton is Hannah’s award-winning clothing brand for children ages 0-5. Their store in Cranleigh is bursting full of whimsical things for little people and is the perfect place to find unique and quirky gifts that you will not easily find elsewhere.

Yearn Baby Kids is a parent-to-parent marketplace to rent baby and children’s items from people, and small businesses in your community, or to make some money from items you no longer need. Yearn plant trees and save bees for each rental and also support a number of children’s charities. Why not rent a gift this Christmas, or think of Yearn if you’re having a clear out?

Fashion

Betty and Claude Ros runs this fashion friendly Boutique store in Chobham. Her collection of clothing cannot be found in a catalogue or in other retail stores. Ros brings you unique, inspirational clothing with limited availability for those that demand more style. She also offers her expert advice on flattering styles to assist your fashion needs.

The Gate Boutique is located in the picturesque town of Guildford. This luxury womenswear retailer offers eclectic and unique collections, creating an original, stand-alone boutique experience. The store prides themselves on their excellent service with their niche and international brands. Look no further than the Gate Boutique to uplift your seasonal style.

May Boutique London Enjoy 15% off when you subscribe to the newsletter, full to bursting with exciting and stylish womenswear. The shop, based in South West London, is an exquisite style emporium featuring carefully curated items for effortlessly stylish women. They also sell a great range of lifestyle gifts, an absolute winner of a Christmas present!

Nina Victoria is a personal stylist dedicated to making you feel confident in the clothes you wear. With a decade of experience in the fashion industry, Nina understands how clothes and style can affect our confidence and how others may perceive us. For anyone needing a bit of a confidence boost after everything this year has thrown us, a consultation with Nina would be a wonderful experience.

Food and Beverage

Basil and Blue Café is an independent coffee shop in Chobham offering specialty coffee, cakes and toasties. Locals have described the café staying open for takeaway as a little slice of normality. Do pop in and say hello while you’re soaking up some festive joy in Chobham!

Botanical Bubbles Bar Emily and Matt’s cocktail sharing boxes make a wonderful gift, or add a luxurious twist to a date night in. Their cocktail menus are bespoke, carefully curated and seasonally stylish. It’s a fun way to deliver the glamour of cocktails on a night out at home. This could be a perfect feature for New Years Eve celebrations from home!

Cellar Magneval is owned by couple Jo and Thierry. Sara remembers visiting when it first opened and it remains one of her favourites wine bars in the area. With expert sommeliers, the wine offering is exquisite as is their selection of cheese if you visit in the evening. Wine can be ordered for same day local delivery, or delivery further afield. Gift vouchers are also available.

Deli Class is a deli, shop and coffee bar in the bustling village of Horsell, bringing the very best of Italian produce and dishes to Surrey. A feast for the senses as you walk through the door; travel to Italy as you are greeted with authentic Italian charm, be amazed by the dazzling array of edible and drinkable Italian goodies on display, and let the rich aromas of Italian cooking surround you. The coffee is superb and the menu celebrates the cuisine of Puglia and South East of Italy and Sicily. They are open for takeaway throughout lockdown and their panettone is an absolute must for Christmas!

Denbies has been family owned and run since 1984 and has become one of the largest wine producers in the UK. Internationally renowned for its award winning sparkling wines, a visit to Denbies is a must. Monetary vouchers, gift experiences and wine and gift packages are available to buy in good time for Christmas.

The Goldfinch Kitchen Esther is well known for her natural and artistic cakes in which every detail is hand-made or home-grown. Festive macarons, including her much-loved ‘mince pie’, luxury bespoke cupcakes, super nutty brownies, traditional vanilla fudge, cake selection boxes and of course their signature Spiced Chocolate Christmas Cake are available to buy for Christmas. They’ll make gorgeous gifts or make your Christmas extra special!

Greyfriars Vineyard is a family run vineyard that specialises in sparkling wine that can be found in many of the South East’s finest establishments and beyond. Offering vineyard tours and tastings on their incredible viewing deck, Greyfriars has so much to offer. Vouchers for their tours are available to buy, as are their multi award winning wines; both would make the perfect gift this Christmas.

How to Cook Laura is a private chef, cookery tutor and supper club host, who is currently focusing her energies on her at home dining service. A seasonally inspired three course dining experience delivered for your pleasure within the comfort of your home. The portions are extremely generous and absolutely divine! Perfect for making that date night in extra special. 

The Little Pasta Company  Daniel offers a variety of pasta boxes but the Date Night Meal Kit for Two is a wonderful way to dine together. The ingredients are pre-weighed and scrumptious sides are also included. Never before has date night cooking looked so good!

The Little Spanish Pantry Estíbaliz’s family has owned their olive grove in Córdoba for many years and together with her English partner, she decided to start The Little Spanish Pantry to introduce premium quality extra virgin olive oil that you cannot find in supermarkets. They want to help people understand the versatility and great nutritional benefits you get from a pure variety. This focus on quality led them to consider other Spanish produce that they could share in UK.

Love2Graze Sima is an expert in platter presentation, elevating the tasting experience by feasting the senses. The Love to Graze platters are fantastic for a celebration, whether festive or something special at home. As Sima says, “Nothing brings people together like a nice platter.”

Pandibakes make seriously impressive cakes; cupcakes to be exact! The painstaking, intricate detail that is piped onto every cake bouquet is seriously impressive. You cannot help but be absolutely overwhelmed by the beauty of her floral piping. These make a great centrepiece but you can also order bespoke cupcake toppers to ensure they are in keeping with any theme.

Positively Delicious With an impressive CV that includes The Ritz and a TV appearance on Masterchef The Professionals, Cordon Bleu chef Jacqueline has set up Positively Delicious after hosting a number of online cook-alongs during lockdown. Jacqueline runs a number of interesting and fun cookery workshops in Guildford and Dorking that would make a wonderful gift experience!

Rameeza’s Repertoire Mum Rameeza has been cooking for as long as she can remember, learning as a child under the exacting eye of her mother. Rameeza now hosts cooking workshops which are fun filled, gourmet fuelled and relaxed. Whilst the workshops have been suspended for the time being, zoom workshops are being offered and gift vouchers for future events would make the perfect gift for an occasion everyone can look forward to.

Ruth’s Little Kitchen  was borne and raised from Ruth’s love of baking and cooking, with the aim of bringing people together to have fun and learn skills that last a lifetime. She runs classes from her cottage in the charming village of Brockham and also online; they would make the perfect gift for anyone who enjoys cooking, or to fall back in love with it.

Silent Pool Distillers are a group of friends who share a love of craft distilling. They create handcrafted artisan spirits with uncompromising quality. Located on the Albury estate in the Surrey Hills, beside the mystical Silent Pool, tours and events are regularly hosted (Covid permitting) and would make a great gift for a day out. Their beautifully designed eye- catching bottles look as good as the gin tastes, and would make a great gift for any lover of gin.

Gifts and cards

Apple and Clover cards Jo has created the most brilliant, whimsical range of cards. They are full of ridiculously sweet characters, guaranteed to bring a smile to all who receive them. If you are looking for cards with a difference, then her page is a highly recommended visit.

Apples and Pears cards and gifts This family run gift shop based in Horsell, sells a brilliant range of cards made in the UK. They also stock face masks, jewellery, and other home gifts full of love and humour.  If Sara is ever stuck for ideas, this is the place she goes and she is always guaranteed a warm welcome and a little chat with the owners for some inspiration.

The Berkshire Collective have launched their own range of luxury hampers this Christmas, supporting talented local suppliers. Their range varies in size and price, and features many sumptuous treats that would be very well received!

Bluebell 33 This quirky, brilliantly fun and creative boutique store in Weybridge, is a guaranteed Christmas present crowd pleaser. If you are looking for something different, a little unique, and highly appealing, then this is the store for you. They also stock a whimsical range of furniture and wedding presents.

Evie Loves Toast This incredibly popular store in Cobham is the ultimate in gifting essentials. Whether you are looking for children’s gifts, jewellery, clothes, beauty, or inspiration, this is the place to visit! Unsure what to buy that certain someone? Then ask Evie’s wonderful staff who are always happy to advise on their fabulous range. A total haven for Christmas inspo!

In the Box Gifts is a Guildford based company that has an extremely impressive online store. For the ultimate present you can either choose one of their perfectly created letterbox gifts, or build your own unique box of goodies! Their choice of gifts is inspired, affordably luxurious and presented so beautifully. A great gift for a lucky recipient at any time of the year!

Kirei Home This glorious store, with its roots in Leatherhead, sells furniture with a difference from around the world. The pieces are eclectic and unusual, stand out pieces that speak from themselves and make viewers take note. Furniture is the highest quality, hand crafted, artisan homewares. An absolute must visit for those wishing to add an extra special piece to their home.

Leith and Gray are featured for their brilliance in many big publications offering tailored boxes of gifts for all. You can select their carefully curated selections or choose your own box of goodies from their wonderful range. Their boxes are divine and the gifts inside are elegant and fun, catering for a wide audience. Receive 10% off your first order and check their page for upcoming Black Friday Deals.

A Little Gift From Home Sarah stocks a selection of beautifully hand-crafted gifts sourced from South Africa. Featuring gorgeous leather tags, card holders, vanity bags, placemats and prints amongst other collections, this online store offers something different for its customers. A true celebration of individuality with carefully curated products.

Little Print Room is a fabulous selection of prints created by a highly talented individual. The prints are fun, creative and incredibly appealing. Priced competitively, these would make a wonderful gift for a children’s room, to bring some festive cheer, and to adorn the home of a loved one. The Etsy site is a total must see for any inspiration.

Love Your Home Boutique. This family run business specialises in homeware and giftware for all seasons and occasions in Broxbourne. For those also seeking excellent festive décor to uplift their aesthetics, this is the site for you!

Lunar and Wild Steph has created an impressive range of ethical and eco-friendly, hand poured ritual candles, and botanical wax melts for your pleasure. Each ritual candle is created with coconut and rapeseed wax, scented with essential oils, and comes with an affirmation card, a crystal and a ritual. The perfect gift for those seeking inner peace and sanctuary during a difficult year. The wax melts are packed with wild flowers to delightfully scent your home.

Manns of Cranleigh This independent lifestyle shop in Cranleigh, stocks an inspired array of products. Festive décor, gifts for children, for her, for the home, they have your Christmas sorted! Their glitter wreath would beautifully adorn any home and their range of clothing is a must visit for anyone wishing to add to their wardrobe.

Montagu and Amber. These handpoured, sublimely scented, paraffin free candles are created with 100% natural wax. Their range of diffusers contain exquisitely scented essential oils and are produced with ingredients sourced from the UK. The range is made in Royal Berkshire, and would be a gorgeous present for many as the packaging is an absolute feast for the eyes!

Neptune Weybridge is an inspiration haven. The shop invites you into its comfortably cool interior, offering you ample ideas of how to elevate your home style. Their furniture is expertly crafted and accessories perfectly complemented. Their range is chic enough to easily fashion all abodes, but offers a delicate yet dynamic twist to add the right amount of flair.

The Packhouse This ridiculously stylish and oh-so-cool shop in Farnham, is an absolute haven for interior lovers! It’s almost impossible to browse the store and to not be tempted by one of their many alluring products from unique sellers. The perfect place to shop for the fashionable interior lover, or for those looking to gift something a little different.

The Silver Candle Company A luxury home fragrance company that specialises in 100% sustainable, handmade, hand poured soy wax candles. Anne’s concerns over the heath and environmental impact of burning paraffin led her to pursue this project of love. Her products are displayed in elegant packaging and have a long burning time, giving you better value for money.

Step 39 Weybridge This fun boutique offers a brilliant array of gifts, furniture and accessories in Weybridge. You can DM them with any Christmas present queries, or to place an order for any of their gorgeous products. A wonderful store for the style conscious, fragrance enthusiast, for fun children’s toys, and décor for the interior enthusiast.

Two Ducks  Claire is the proud owner of this Woking store and loves to solve your gifting and outfit dilemmas. They source the finest, most stylish and unique brands from across Europe. They have something for everyone, quirky, silly or beauty based, their range is fun with a flair. They offer a range of workshops too which are worth looking into once restrictions ease.

Winter Bear Home Based in Wimbledon, this store stocks vintage furniture full of quirk and character. Borne from a passion for discovering unique items in need of restoration and love, Sofie and Will sell homeware from a number of other small independent businesses, as well as refurbishing preloved pieces in the back of the store.

Interiors

Dominique Roberts Interiors. Dominique is a busy mum of two and interior design queen! She is delighted to be celebrating her 10^th year in business (and 20^th year in the industry) in the coming months, and this Christmas she is offering a beautifully wrapped voucher for a design consultation to go under the tree to inspire someone you love. 

Sophie Sews Sophie left a career in finance after having her first daughter. Battling with illness and the juggle that being a mum brings, Sophie followed her love for creating beautiful soft furnishings and setting up Sophie Sews. Having always dreamt of having her own shop, her beautiful store now sits proudly on Horsell high street and offers an incredible selection of fabrics for made to measure blinds, curtains and bespoke soft furnishings which would sit handsomely in anyone’s home!

Photography

Cheryl Catton Photography was borne from Cheryl’s love for photography and incredible eye for details. With a minimalistic and authentic style, she is passionate about capturing connections and emotions through her images. Cheryl is offering Christmas mini sessions once restrictions are eased, and vouchers can be purchased for outdoor and studio sessions.

This is by no means an exhaustive list and we would like to graciously thank all of these wonderful businesses for their contribution to this piece. We are incredibly grateful for the images they have shared to enable us to showcase their brilliance.

For a round up of Girl About’s favourite small businesses and local enterprises across the country, you can download the Girl About Gift Guide here

SAVE, SHARE, SHOP LOCAL and ENJOY!

Sara & Kate

Surrey Blogger Collective is an Instagram business account that connects influencers with brands for successful partnerships and collaborations, provides bespoke reviews for brands, holds events for skills sharing and general growth opportunities.

Girl About are a nationwide collective of women led by global travel industry experts and made up of women engaging their local communities across the UK with travel ideas, knowledge, inspiration, recommendations and resources.

RECOMMENDATION

This is a Girl About recommendation, this means that nothing has been gifted in return for a review. We only recommend places we absolutely love, and places that we know you’ll love too!