40 Christmas Gift Ideas from Derbyshire Independents

AD* Welcome to my fifth Derbyshire Christmas gift guide! Every brand featured is locally based and independently operated. All have an exceptionally high quality offering and exemplary levels of customer service. The vast majority are female founded and have a strong commitment to sustainability – businesses with heart and soul that I am truly proud to support.

* Contains mentions of sponsors, some of my freelance clients and very occasional affiliate links.

Emma Britton

Emma Britton Decorative Glass Designer is a proudly Buy Women Built Business, whose beautiful botanical designs bring a little luxury, and the joy of everlasting blooms, to everyday living. All of Emma’s signature floral glassware is decorated and hand-finished in her Derbyshire studio. 

From the foxgloves, hydrangeas, sweet peas and poppies of Emma’s debut splashback collection to the structural, geometric beauty of the dahlias, canna lilies and digitalis firebird in her Exotic Floral glassware, Emma’s skill of bringing favourite garden flowers into the home all year round means her designs are much loved by keen gardeners.

The exquisitely glamorous Silver Birch and Exotic Floral crystal champagne coupes are always a favourite for gifting (and, like many of her products, I love that they’re available individually as well as in sets).

Dainty, vintage style vessels, perfect for a special dessert, making a gorgeous gift for those who love to entertain or for people who don’t want drinkware.

In addition to her durable crystal glassware, Emma also sells a range of designer tea towels and trays featuring bright, cheerful, hand painted flowers inspired by family memories and British suburbia. 

Abbey Perfumery

Abbey Perfumery hand-crafts high-quality, vegan and cruelty-free fragrances. Founder, Jess, has always had a passion for perfume. This interest crystallised after seeing loved ones impacted by dementia, and the power of scent to evoke memories. Now a busy working mother herself, Jess is also a firm believer in the confidence boosting abilities of a spritz of a favourite scent.

Established in 2020, the brand is named after Beauchief Abbey, just outside the Derbyshire border, where Jess grew up. Abbey Perfumery offers gender-neutral and inclusive fragrances and there’s a strong commitment to sustainability.

Choose from over a dozen perfumes from deep and dark scents such as Bramble Smoke through to warm and woody e.g. Woods of Oz or the light and floral e.g. May Flower. The discovery gift boxes are grouped by fragrance family, allowing the recipient to experience a selection of scents. Can’t decide? The Bestsellers gift box or The Perfume Library are the perfect introduction and would make delightful gifts.

By HeatherMay

By HeatherMay is a female founded and family-run business selling artisan home fragrance products including candles, wax melts, reed diffusers (including a fabulous ‘Build Your Own’ option!), oils and fragrance hangers. Everything is vegan, handmade and UK sourced – including a wide range of products from other small businesses,

Perfect for Christmas is this charming, life size gingerbread wax melt. Handmade in Heather’s Amber Valley studio, and scrumptiously scented with the irresistible aroma of freshly baked gingerbread, a symphony of warm notes of ginger, cinnamon and maple syrup.

By HeatherMay also run a whole range of fun and friendly creative workshops in everything from candle or jewellery making to pottery, with gift vouchers available.

Rosie Yates

Rosie Yates is a talented illustrator who beautifully uncovers the intriguing and hidden elements of everyday, mundane life. Based at Banks Mill Studios in Derby, Rosie is co-creator of Roam to Roam, a digital magazine exploring destinations around the UK in her signature style of illustrated maps.

Sophie Armishaw

Sophie Armishaw (they/them) is Derby-based abstract painter creating work centred around colour and the expression of self through colour. I adore Sophie’s cheerful, rainbow coloured palette knife paintings which are available to buy from the gift shops at Derby Museum and Art Gallery and the Museum of Making in the Silk Mill. They are also open for commissions.

Read the Lovely Local Indie guide to the best Christmas Events in Derbyshire

Park Designs

Inspired by nature, the great outdoors and National Parks, Park Designs offers a huge range of high quality giftware. There’s a huge variety of choice of gifts that would delight anyone who loves nature, outdoor pursuits or just the Peak District as a whole (and a range of other National Parks).

From soft snuggly hoodies to Fine Bone China mugs celebrating the geographical contour lines of over thirty favourite places across the UK, as well as a range of outdoor pursuits such as hiking and swimming, there’s something for everyone at this Hathersage-based shop and gallery.

Perfect Peaks Patisserie

Fun fact, Anastasia at Perfect Peaks Patisserie was one of my very first paying clients. I’ve loved watching her brand go from strength to strength. This year alone, she’s provided the macarons for a Molly Mae party, been featured in a range of glossy magazines and won a prestigious Great Taste award from the Guild of Fine Food for her hazelnut latte macaron.

I for one, am not surprised. Anastasia’s commitment to quality shines through everything she does. Reducing sugar content where possible and insisting on premium, natural ingredients, the flavour profiles of her macarons are unmatched. The limited edition, seasonal flavours are always firmly on trend (Dubai chocolate anyone?). DM to order.

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The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop

The historic building, situated in the heart of the pretty Peak District market town of Bakewell is home to a deceptively large gift shop bursting with artisan produce, but there’s also an extensive online store. Post one of their award-winning Bakewell Puddings – made to the original recipe from the 1800s – or splurge on decadent hampers and Derbyshire Beer Gift Bags. There’s also a dedicated Christmas Gifts selection, full of festive goodies.

Read my ultimate Derbyshire festive food guide for the best places to eat and drink this December

Memorable Experiences

I’m a firm believer that a well chosen gift voucher is a wonderful gift. It gives the recipient chance to treat themselves, allowing them to choose something they’d most enjoy or maybe need.

Gift cards or vouchers are also a great way to support your favourite independents, and don’t have to be for physical things – gifting an experience might lead to the fondest memories.

For instance, female-founded Pub Tours sell beautifully designed and presented gift vouchers for their multi-award-winning tours of the Peak District’s best pubs.

My favourite photographer, Helen Rowan sells gift vouchers which are probably most often bought to capture cherished family memories – but there’s no reason they couldn’t be put towards a branding shoot that might just be the turning point for your entrepreneurial partner or friend.

And for the busy and the stressed out? What could be better than time away together? (Or perhaps a solo night away is your idea of heaven?) Check out Wild & Other’s stunning, sustainable holiday cottages or if you’d prefer to gift a physical voucher, The Hut in Eyam’s are presented prettily.

Fischer’s at Baslow Hall not only sell vouchers for use in their divine restaurant or hotel, but it’s also possible to gift a place on one of their popular Foraging courses.

Making your own vouchers can be a lovely way to gift something personal. Get the felt tips (or Canva) out and get creative. ‘This voucher entitles you to a hike and coffee and cake at Hobbs.” Or a trip to a favourite farm shop, breakfast in bed, a day out somewhere lovely or whatever would bring them joy.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this year’s Derbyshire Christmas gift guide.

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Prefer to go shopping?

Here’s my guide to the loveliest places for a festive shopping trip.

Need more inspiration?

This edition is designed to sit alongside the Christmas gift guides I’ve written previously, so please do check them out for more ideas:

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