Valentine's Day gets a bit of a bad rap as a slightly cheesy, pointless exercise in consumerism, and it's understandable why. It seems like aisles of supermarkets start to swell with sentimental pink and red products before our Christmas trees have even hit the pavement.
Often people assume that Valentine's Day, like Halloween, is an American affectation, but we've actually been celebrating it a lot longer than you may realise. The first written record of February 14 as a day of romantic celebration comes courtesy of Chaucer in 1375, and by the middle of the 18th century, it had become typical for friends and lovers of all classes to trade tokens of affection.
Although Valentine's Day in 2023 is big business, you don't need to buy into the cliches to share a bit of love, and fortunately, Bristol is a city bursting with artisans and businesses producing unique and original wares that can help show that special someone just how much you care.
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There are plenty of independent business across the Bristol region offering beautiful, delicious, quirky and classy gifts.
BristoL'eclair
Why say it with roses when you could say it with choux pastry? From its petite patisserie on Whiteladies Road, BristoL'eclair has made a name for itself as a popular destination for its stunning French-inspired cakes that actually taste as good as they look. For Valentine's Day, the store is selling a choux love box for £8 with a pair each of milk and white chocolate-filled choux rings. For maximum impact, it has a special heart-shaped Paris-Brest filled with raspberry crème mousseline and fresh raspberries for £15. Pre-orders by emailing bristoleclair@gmail.com is available for February 14.
Jones and Modha
Producing small batches of its natural, sustainable, none-gendered perfume in Somerset, Jone's and Modha's No.1 perfume is made without any synthetic chemical ingredients. Described as smelling like a "light, bright, green evening breeze " with the scent of citrus trees, cut leaves, woody greenness and sensuous spice, its the product of a celebration of the melding of the Gujarati and Welsh heritage of its founders. Each box bears the words “Moksha Gwerth Y Byd”, with Moshka originating from the Sanskrit for liberation, freedom and release towards eternal bliss, while Gwerth Y Byd is a Welsh expression of appreciation, love, and value, used to say “you mean the world to me”. 50ml bottles cost £69, or you can get a sample for less than £5. There's free delivery from the brand's site, or you can purchase it from Papadeli on Alma Road.
Brimble
Bristol-based potter Jo Brimble imbues all her wares with plenty of personality, and her Valentine's collection looks like it will be no different. Inspired by Wes Anderson, Parisian inter-war style and her nan's trinkets, Jo has produced an array of practical items packed with romanticism and wit. From decorative love potion/love repeller bottles and charming figurines to 'perfect match' matchboxes and tiny ceramic envelopes ideal for a quick love note, she has a variety of gifts in all sizes coming to her online shop on Friday, February 3 at 8pm. There are sneak previews available on her Instagram, but with many pieces one-off, you need to be quick.
Divina Botanica
Founded by Elsie, a florist, folk herbalist and qualified mental health practitioner who farms flowers in Bristol, Divina Botanica is a florist and floral self-care brand that produces flower essences, hand-blended herbal teas and floral botanica crafted to help the receiver feel nourished and inspired. This month they're offering a mix-and-match gift set called the Love Bundle which can be tailored to include a variety of self-care infusions, essences, seed bombs and blooms. With free delivery on orders over £50, this is the ideal way to say that you care from afar.
The Golden Retriever Experience
If the person you love is a dog lover, then there's no better gift you can get them than the Golden Retriever Experience. Based in Carhampton, Somerset, it's a bit of a jaunt from Bristol, but the journey is worth it once you're met by a pack of trained, eager retrievers who all want to play fetch. The GRE offers bookings for special occasions of up to six hours of dog-filled fun and gift certificates too.
Le Vignoble Bristol
Let's face it, a cosy drink at Le Vignoble is a romantic treat in itself, especially if you're planning on visiting Bristol Light Festival ahead of Valentine's Day. But if you'd rather enjoy the delights of the Finzels Reach wine bar in your own home, then their Valentine's hamper, available for pick-up in-store, is ideal. For £40, you get everything you need for a special night in with a bottle of Domaine De Landreau Cremant De Loire Morin Brut Rosé NV, a heart-shaped Neufchâtel, Artisan Saucisson Sec and six macarons.
Anna cake couture
With a huge range of macarons, biscuits and cakes, national delivery and prices starting at just £6.95, the Clifton-based Anna Cake Couture can send a tasty but stylish love token to your nearest and dearest no matter where they are. Valentine's products are available to pre-order on the shop's website now for Thursday, February 9 - Wednesday, February 15.
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