Last year I decided that I was going to do all, yes all, of my Christmas shopping in Penrith. It was actually quite easy because we have so many interesting independent shops here. Even easier because I was able to do all of my ‘female relatives and friends’ shopping in one shop, and that shop was Victoria.

The swag included: necklaces and earrings, a notebook with an embroidered cover, scarves and mittens.  Then there are the clothes. Victoria stocks Fairtrade and organic cotton clothing in the most beautiful jewel-like colours. These are very special clothes; ethically made, distinctive and stylish.  Since Victoria’s clothing is well made and good quality it also lasts; I am still wearing a skirt bought from Victoria close on 10 years ago, and my favourite blue cardigan is not far behind.

A final tale from last Christmas – I put my Victoria bag down in our shop and somebody else picked it up by accident. I hadn’t even noticed it was missing until I had a ‘phone call from Victoria.  The people who picked it up realised it wasn’t theirs, but saw the Victoria label on the bag and took it back to the shop. They remembered me buying the necklaces, earrings and so on and took the trouble to hunt me down. That’s local service.

Victoria Clothes and Gifts, 53 Castlegate, CA11 7HY

01768 840994

Nominated by Liz Tipping, The New Hedgehog Bookshop www.hedgehogbookshop.co.uk

Photo by John Burrows Photography

If you’re inspired by programmes like Masterchef and GB Bake-off, you’ll love browsing Sands kitchenware department for new gizmos to brighten up your kitchen and make light work of cooking and baking. Or maybe you’re looking for a great wedding, birthday or kitchen gift?

From functional to frivolous, there is a wide range of kitchen ware to choose from, including the addictive and colourful Joseph Joseph. Sands giftware department houses a huge collection of Border Fine Arts gifts, the fun retro of Orla Kiely as well as the traditional china and glass ranges such as Royal Crown Derby and Waterford Crystal.

John and Sandra Siddle opened Sands in 1976 and still play an active part in the business, which their son Dale now manages. For Dale, being surrounded by the best in cookware is a far cry from his time as a Scots Guardsman in Northern Ireland, when his kitchen equipment consisted only of a mess tin and a Thermos. Dale says “When I first set up home for myself, I bought a load of cheap equipment that didn’t last – my aim for Sands is to make sure I get in products that do last, but are still good value.”  His friendly team are always happy to explain how things work, and recommend the best product for the job in hand.

Sure, you can get kitchenware online (and Sands have an extensive web catalogue), but there’s nowt to beat picking things up, and trying them out.

Sands Giftware, 16 Devonshire Street, Penrith CA11 7SR

01768 865783

www.sandsgifts.co.uk/

Nominated by Ali Turnbull, www.fit-to-print.co.uk

Photo by John Burrows Photography