Our Christmas Gift Guide

With Christmas approaching at an alarming rate, we’ve put together a selection of gift ideas that even the most hard-to-please friend or relative would be thrilled to find in their stocking. In fact, some of them might just be too good to give away, so start dropping hints to your nearest and dearest! We’ve chosen to focus on UK-made products – we are proud of our own Kent heritage and are always happy to champion the best of British.

For bath lovers

It will come as no surprise to our readers and customers that here at Catchpole & Rye we are just a little obsessed with beautifully scented bath products – they’re the perfect finishing touch to a long, luxurious soak. We’re particular fans of Noble Isle, which uses ingredients sourced from the four corners of the UK. We might be biased, but our current favourite is the new Golden Harvest collection, which contains extracts of English Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir grapes from Simpsons Wine Estate in Canterbury, Kent.

For wine lovers

If you’d rather your grapes came in wine form, Kent comes up trumps once again – the Garden of England is at the heart of the UK’s growing wine industry. There are more than 50 vineyards to choose from, among them Biddenden, Kent’s oldest family-run vineyard, and Chapel Down, an official supplier to No 10 Downing Street, both of which have an array of award-winning wines to choose from. A case of fizz or a guided tour would make the perfect gift for a wine connoisseur. For a full A-Z of Kent vineyards, click here.

For food lovers

The fact that Britain is a rich source of wonderful artisan-made food is definitely worth celebrating. And if we can’t be decadent at Christmas time, when can we?! British Fine Foods is based in Lamberhurst, Kent, and sources its gourmet treats exclusively from award-winning British artisan producers. The Best of British Sparkling Feast hamper includes a champion pork pie; Cumbrian air-dried ham and a smoked salmon terrine made by Royal Warrant holders; and – a must for any Christmas smorgasbord – a Colston Basset Stilton. Our mouths are watering…

For jewellery lovers

If it’s a special piece of jewellery you’re after, try seeking out a designer in your local area – you might even be able to commission a one-off piece. We love the work of Catherine Hills, who has an atelier and shop in the heart of The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells. She made jewellery for the Harry Potter films and has many famous clients, so you’d be in great company!

For lovers

With the definition of ‘luxury’ moving away from material goods and towards experiences that can be cherished, why not create a wonderful memory for your someone special? A night in a boutique hotel would show how much you care (and, if you’re lucky, you might get to be their ‘Plus One’…!). For something relatively close to home, we recommend The Artist Residence in Pimlico, London. Full disclosure: you might notice that our very own luxury bathroom pieces feature in its rustic-luxe interior!

The team at Catchpole & Rye would like to thank our loyal customers for their continued support – we wish you all a very Happy Christmas!