As Christmas creeps up on us, I thought I would put together a Winter shopping guide featuring our favourite places to browse in the area. I arrived in Mid Wales after 10 years working in the fashion industry in London, I was surrounded by an abundance of great places to shop, so coming to Powys was a bit of a shock....Luckily there are quite a few creative businesses and interesting places close by so you can still get your shopping fix in the countryside.
Hay on Wye.
Hay on Wye is the 'book town' famed for having lots of independent book shops, but that's not all it's good for Hay also has lots of great independent shops as well.
The Welsh Girl -1 St John's Pl, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5BN.
Julie the designer behind 'The Welsh Girl 'draws inspiration from her childhood growing up in the Black Mountains, celebrating heritage Welsh weaves and re-imagining these incredible fabrics. Julie creates timeless and versatile ponchos and accessories crafted from these traditional Welsh tapestries, each piece is hand crafted at her studio making every one unique.
Bartrums & Co Stationers. 2 Lion St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5AA
Bartrums is an independent stationery, fine pen and gift shop, they stock a wide selection of fine writing instruments and stationery goods, it even smells like an old stationers. On the main floor you will find office pens, pencils, rulers, notebooks, sharpeners, files and paperclips, all sorts of gifts for the hard to buy for and they also have a brilliant dedicated children's section. On the floor below is the hidden gem of the pen emporium where fine writing tools from all over the world are displayed in Edwardian cabinets alongside French leather goods, calligraphy supplies and an impressive selection of inks.
"A pen shop that I love dropping into to feed my pen addiction. It smells right, with that inky, papery smell all good stationery shops should have and they are just as happy to sell you a pencil as a finely crafted 18 carat pen" - Monty Don.
Booth's Bookstore 44 Lion St, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford HR3 5AA
This landmark bookshop, is packed with volumes sourced from near and far, with a selection of classics as well as those recently published. New, second hand and antiquarian books, are bought and sold in a wide variety of genres, ranging from literary fiction, culture and politics to fashion, photography, art and design, science, art, music and theology. The bookshop has a well stocked children's section together with a selection of gifts for book lovers. The kind of book shop you can get completely lost in, lots of comfy chairs to sit and read a few pages.
Welsh Lavender The Pavement,Hay-on-Wye,HR3 5BU
The Hay flagship store brings the spirit of the lavender farm to Hay. Cedar-clad walls and props made from repurposed farm equipment provide the backdrop for FARMERS’ range of body care products. You’re welcome to browse, try products or take a break from shopping with a perch upon our renewed bus seat found in Lampeter.Along with the body care products you’ll discover bespoke FARMERS’ tea towels, hats designed by Rachel Trevor-Morgan, milliner to The Queen from 2014 to 2022 and apparel by Emily James of Carpenter & Cloth.
Ludlow
Ludlow is a very pretty medieval market town situated about 35 minutes drive from us, the market runs on certain days selling local produce and antiques. We love to visit Ludlow and have a look around the shops, our favourites are;
Flower & Fable Quality Square, Ludlow
Jewellery that speaks the language of flowers...
Artisan jewellers, working together from their shop / workshop in Quality Square, Ludlow. This beautiful Jewellery Shop is not to be missed if you are taking a trip to Ludlow. A real gem selling hand crafted pieces and beautiful candles. Read our interview with Karen & Ben the founders here
Nina & Co 55 Mill St, Ludlow SY8 1BB
A collective shop in Ludlow offering vintage fashion and decorative antiques, find stunning mid-century furniture and more downstairs from one of our favourite dealers Sixth Link . Upstairs there is a whole floor dedicated to the most beautifully sourced vintage clothing.
The Period House Shop 141 Corve Street,Ludlow,SY8 2PG.
We love this shop and have sourced many of our lights from here, (the Swedish Ifo lights in the cabin came from here and were once used in a 1930's swimming pool). Holloway's Period House Shop sells carefully selected items from hand made in Herefordshire ironwork, cast copies of original hardware from Birmingham and the west Midlands to properly made working clothing and iron sheep fencing. They have the best complete lighting showroom for many miles around and carry top quality brands such as Farrow & Ball and Edward Bulmer paints and Vivraise soft furnishings.
Harp Lane Deli 4 Church Street, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1AP
Look for the buttercup-yellow sign swinging breezily above Harp Lane to spot this Shropshire delicatessen. Squeezed into a higgledy-piggledy medieval shop at the heart of Ludlow’s historic market square, Harp Lane is a truly splendid Deli, they have the best coffee around and a lovely little cafe where you can sit outside and people watch or they have a cozy room upstairs. The deli is stocked with a really wonderful selection of speciality foods, cheese, wine and bread. I cant resist their sausage rolls and little smoked salmon and gruyere tarts.
Presteigne
Presteigne is only 10 minutes away, a town and community in Radnorshire, Powys, Wales on the south bank of the River Lugg. Formerly the county town of the historic county of Radnorshire, the town has, in common with several other towns close to the Wales-England border, assumed the motto, "Gateway to Wales. It's a very pretty little town with an artistic community.
The Workhouse is family business in Presteigne that was started in the late 70’s and has evolved over the years as different family members have added their stamp to it.What started as a carpet repair business has evolved into a carpet design studio, carpet showroom, café, gallery and shop that includes many items they design and make. Inside you will find a focus on handmade, fair trade and ethical goods, products that are made to last, with an interesting design and thoughtful production methods. The families love of travel inspires and informs what they do from the food they serve in the café to the design of the buildings.
Virginia is a designer and retailer stocking a beautiful selection of new & vintage clothing brands. Her little shop is a treasure trove of carefully curated pre loved (and new) pieces. Inside find timeless classics from brands such as Toast and Maxmara, she also sells her own beautiful made to measure designs which you can find in the shop and through instagram. She is open by appointment during Autumn/Winter Mon- Sat contact via Instagram @virginia.stockley.number50
Courtyard Antiques London House,High street,Presteigne,LD8 2BE.
One of our favourite antiques shops, found on the high street in Presteigne, Courtyard stock a wonderful selection of antiques specialising in Welsh and early Staffordshire pottery. Country furniture and Art. They also organise the delightful antiques fair Antiques in Tents. which is well worth a visit if you are in the area.
Appledore Antiques 5 Broad Street, Presteigne LD8 2AA.Terry from Appledore has a wonderful eye and we have many beautiful items from his lovely shop on the high street in Presteigne, he stocks a selection of interesting textiles, furniture and decorative items for the home.
Leominster.
Leominster is our closest 'big' town, If you are looking to shop for antiques then this quaint market town won’t disappoint and will quite possibly provide you with that rare find or absolute bargain.
Anthemion Antiques 1 Church St, Leominster HR6 8NE
Anthemion sell antique and decorative furnishing items for interiors and gardens to include period furniture, paintings, ceramics, lighting, textiles, glass, garden statutory and sculpture. I'm still kicking myself for not buying a bird chair by Harry Bertoia which they had in the window years ago...
Drapers Lane Deli Drapers Lane, Leominster HR6 8NE
Drapers Lane Delicatessen is located in the old Leominster News building, with its 1940's green colour scheme, takes you back to somewhere between traditional high street shops of years gone by to the smart, metropolitan delicatessens you'd find in larger cities in the UK or Italy, France or Spain.
Started by Samantha and Peter Morgan in 2020, the vibe is relaxed, professional with an attention to detail and a respect for good quality ingredients and foods. The Delicatessen is many things: a charcuterie, patisserie, restaurant, hamper-maker, private caterer and coffee-shop that sells hard-to-find and speciality ingredients and accessories from home and abroad. Sit outside on a sunny day and watch the world go by.
The Retro Station Station Yard, Unit 11-12A/Station Yard Ind Est/Worcester Rd, Leominster HR6 8TW
Antiques and charity shops set on an industrial estate just outside Leominster, the place is huge and there are many shops to discover. They have a second hand bookshop and cafe on site too. It's not fancy but you can really find a bargain here, we never come home empty handed!
Merchants House 10 Corn Square, Leominster HR6 8LR
Cafe, with a walled courtyard, serve teas, coffees, lunches, snacks and cream teas. The antiques centre on the upper floor is home to several dealers supplying furniture, china, tools, books, materials and many other interesting items. It's the kind of place you could get lost in for hours.
Kington
Kington is our closest town just 2.5 miles down the road, a historic market town on the English/Welsh border, and though on the western side of Offa's Dyke, it has been an English town for a thousand years, a bustling market town with a country market every Friday. Part of the Black and White trail and known as the 'centre for walking' .
A traditional bricks and mortar shopping experience with excellent customer service. The Walking Hub only sell top quality brands, specially selected for performance, comfort and longevity, caring deeply about the environment and ensuring all of their labels have excellent eco credentials. The products are personally used and tested by the staff at The Walking Hub. With a penchant for unique brands especially light gear that allows freedom of movement.
The Fork & Chicken High Street Kington
The Fork & Chicken is the brain child of Hugh from Off Grid Gourmet the shop offers a wide range of smoked meats, including succulent ribs, delicious duck breast, and mouth-watering pastrami and salt beef. Additionally, they offer a variety of kebab skewers, iberico ribs, suckling pig joints and Wagyu brisket,
They also have plenty of delicious options for vegetarians as well as side dishes, salads and puddings.