With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we understand how hard it can be sometimes to think of a gift for that someone special in your life.
As raising costs continue to affect all of us in many ways, we’ve put together a list of gifts that are not only affordable but also help support the fantastic local businesses we have here in the North East too.
You can click on each link to take you directly to the product page where you can purchase the gift or alternatively, feel free to pop into their stores or give them a follow on social media to find out where else you can purchase these wonderful gifts.
FOR HIM
Northumbrian Pantry's chutney & preserve selection is the perfect gift for any man on Valentine's Day. With a huge variety of flavours such as tomato & pepper, spiced beetroot & apple, red onion relish, pickled cucumber plus many more, there is something to suit every taste.
Their award-winning chutneys are made with fresh, local ingredients and are perfect for adding a touch of flavour to any meal, giving you a real taste of the Northumbrian Countryside. Whether your man is a BBQ enthusiast or a cheese lover, these chutneys are sure to impress and they also make a great addition to any romantic meal, whether it's a homemade dinner or a picnic on the beach. Our favourite is the ‘Cheeseboard Selection’, which you can find here:
https://www.northumbrianpantry.com/product/cheese-pairing-selection/
2. Cullercoats Brewery Gift Set
As far as local breweries go, they don’t come much better than Cullercoats Brewery. Our Coastal neighbours have been brewing their fine ales and craft beers for over a decade now so it’s no wonder you’ll find them on the taps & shelves of hundreds of pubs and shops throughout the North East.
We have worked with owners Bill & Anna now for over 2 years and we have tried pretty much everything that they have to offer and we absolutely love it! Our personal favourite is the Shuggy Boat Blonde, a multi-award winning refreshing blonde beer with a perfect smooth finish. Check out their full range on their website. If you want to buy your man a variety of their beers, you should opt for the 3-beer gift set, which you can find here:
https://www.cullercoatsbrewery.co.uk/product/gift-box/
It is also worth noting that Cullercoats Brewery donate 3p per pint sold to the RNLI and have thus far donated over £60,000. Simply astonishing!
3. Cullercoats Coffee Gift Card
Staying in Cullercoats, if you’ve ever been in and around the area then you will be sure to have come across Cullercoats Coffee - the home of the infamous yellow cup! With their new cafe now open on Front Street in Tynemouth & Bistro in Whitley Bay, alongside exciting plans for future growth in the local area, this truly is a coffee shop like no other. They are now offering exclusive Cullercoats Coffee Gift Cards, which you can treat your man to his favourite brunch, coffee, a bottle of wine or even some of their fresh, distinctive hoodies! Have a look on their website for more information and be sure to give them a follow on their aesthetic social media channels!
https://www.cullercoatscoffee.com/
4. Calder’s Kitchen Gift Set
One of our favourite local family businesses, Calder’s Kitchen is quickly becoming one of the region’s most popular condiments brands.
With their full range of piccalillis and chutneys available on their website, you’ll be sure to find something for the special man in your life. If he likes something that packs a punch, we recommend their Chillilli or Sillylilli, a modern, spicy twist on their classic family recipe. Check out their full range here:
https://calderskitchen.co.uk/collections/home-made-piccalilli
5. Coastal Hampers - Hampers for Him range
Last but by no means least, we can’t write a blog on Valentine’s Day gifts without mentioning our own fantastic hampers. We have our full range of Valentine’s Day hampers for him now available on our website.
As always, all of our hampers are full of products from local businesses in the North East and in our Valentine’s range you’ll be sure to find something for the special man in your life. From mouth-watering local chocolates, speciality roasted coffee, delicious biscuits, a full range of men’s pamper products plus much much more, take a look at our Valentine’s Day range here:
https://www.coastalhampers.co.uk/collections/valentines-day
Our personal recommendation would be the Men’s Pamper Hamper which includes a range of pamper products and local treats & goodies.
FOR HER
1. Colliery Soap Studio Soap
Operating since 2017 by owner Rachael, Colliery Soap Studio is a local, artisan soap producer in Durham. They have a full range of soaps available to purchase on their website, with a brand new range being released in February, just in time for that special day. All of their soaps are locally handmade in the North East, giving that extra special touch to a gift for that special lady in your life.
2. Awesome Botanical Gift Set
Founded during the pandemic, Awesome Botanical has gone from strength to strength since starting out in owner Natalie’s spare bedroom in Gateshead. Working alongside ourselves on our NHS projects (click here to find out more), Awesome Botanical has always been a key local business that we love to include in our hampers.
Now with their own premises and extensive new range, you’ll be sure to find something to suit your loved one this Valentine’s Day. We love their Starter Bundle which includes a range of their most popular items. You can find this on their totally Awesome website here:
https://awesomebotanical.com/products/starter-bundle
3. Pure Scent Northumberland Gift Set
If you’ve ever been to Tynemouth Market at the weekend, then there’s no doubt you would have seen this amazing local business there.
Owners Tracy and Norman make their full range of candles, wax melts, perfumes and fragrances from their home in Cramlington and showcase them to the hundreds of people that attend the market every weekend. They have a wide variety of products and scents and you will be sure to find a truly unique Valentine’s Day gift for your lady here. Look out for their canopy if you’re heading over before the 14th!
4. HotPodYoga Whitley Bay
Now this is one we think everyone has to try at least once. Whether your partner is a complete novice or a full-time Yogi, HotPodYoga is something everyone should try at least once. From their cool studio in Whitley Bay, they offer classes and taster sessions from professional trainers and teachers. They have their £15 intro offer, which makes a perfect gift for your partner this Valentine’s Day. Be prepared to break a sweat though, temperatures can reach up to 37 degrees! They also have a studio in Newcastle. Check out their website here:
https://hotpodyoga.com/pt/studios/whitley-bay/schedule/
5. Coastal Hampers - Hampers for Her range
Of course we couldn’t not mention ourselves when it comes to Valentine’s Day gifts. This will be our 3rd successive Valentine’s Day now and we think we have just about perfected our range this time.
With something to suit all budgets and styles, we have the perfect gift for any special lady in your life. From hampers full of local chocolatey treats, to mini pamper hampers full of the region’s favourite products plus much more, you’ll be sure to find something to put a smile on the face of your true love this Valentine’s Day. Find our full range here:
https://www.coastalhampers.co.uk/collections/valentines-day