If you’re stuck for the stocking fillers this Christmas and need some inspiration, why not support local businesses by buying something from our Brummie Christmas shopping list!
Here are a few suggestions of home grown goodies to bring a smile to people’s faces this festive season:
Support Local Artists With Seventh Circle – Artworks & Aesthetics
Seventh Circle – Artworks & Aesthetics are an Art Gallery and Picture Framers offering a complete package which includes Art Installation. Located on St. Mary’s Row, in the heart of Moseley Village, Seventh Circle are honoured to be able to contribute to the diverse artistic and cultural heritage that is so ingrained and celebrated, locally in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands.
This beautiful and welcoming space offers a range of contemporary works, in all sizes and price-points, from huge, original abstracts, to street art, fashion and cultural icon portraits and everything in-between. There is also an ever-growing range of prints that are priced to walk away with. Making art accessible to everybody, is what Seventh Circle are all about.
Website here.
Reserve Some Comfy Seats For The UK’s Oldest Working Cinema
The Electric Cinema in Birmingham is the oldest working cinema in the UK. The cinema has been sympathetically restored to its early 20th century design and sits pride of place near to Grand Central Station. With two digital screens, showing a mixture of the latest quality mainstream, independent, foreign and classic films, comfy sofas, snacks and a licenced bar – The Electric is now a Birmingham institution. The Electric Cinema opened on the 27th of December 1909. It was Birmingham’s first cinema and still entertains locals today with a variety of movie classics and new releases.
www.electricbirmingham.com/gift-cards
Treat Someone To A Sumptuous Lulu Wild Dining Experience
Lulu Wild Chinese restaurant in Birmingham is perfect for romantic meals, ideal for family celebrations and luxurious enough for special occasions and business events. Lulu Wild’s Kitchen and Bar team creat a menu so wildly luscious, introducing new dishes and new cocktails to the Birmingham bar and food scene with the changes of each season. Situated in the heart of Brindley Place, it is the place to be for Cocktails, Chinese cuisine and Bottomless Brunch in Birmingham. The Chinese cuisine is immersed in culture; dripping with ancient history and deeply rooted in China’s past. It has long been believed the idea of gastronomy is a powerful example of kinship between fresh food and traditional medical beliefs. The Dim sum takes pride of place in Lulu’s menu. Lulu offers halal and vegetarian options also.
Spice Up Someone’s Life With 3 Pack Super Hot Pip’s Hot Sauce
Pip’s Hot Sauce is a devilishly spicy chilli sauce brand. Crafted in small batches to ensure quality, these sauces are made by chilli heads for chilli heads who love flavour as well as spice! Choose 3 of their hottest for those that like an extra lick of fire! Nagatropolis- Naga chillies with smoky garlic, a raw, dry lingering heat. Cure for Life- Peach with Naga and Scotch Bonnet chillies, fiery fruity kick. Black Mass- Black garlic with sweet roast onion and Carolina Reaper chillies. Deep complex flavours.
Delight With A Piece Of Foka Wolf Art
Controversial local artist Foka Wolf has long been entertaining passers by in Brum’s gritty Digbeth area, with cool humorous poster and sticker art, his art has now progressed to some though provoking statements around the UK but still with his roots firmly in the West Midlands. Choose from an fine selection of merchandise on his webstore.
Website here.
Gift an Experience at Kilo
Kilo Ziro’s key focus on reducing waste and carbon footprint has resulted in a completely unique bar concept – making Kilo Ziro the UK’s First Zero Waste Café Bar & Taproom. A selection of organic, natural & biodynamic wines are served by the glass via the self-service ‘Wine & Fizz Refills’ tap wall. Local craft beers and ciders are available on tap via refillable stainless-steel kegs – super fresh pints whilst supporting the best of local brewers and reducing carbon miles. Expect to find a range of spirits locally distilled in the West Midlands and independent companies who champion reducing their impact on the environment such as certified carbon negative rums, gins, whiskeys. Kilo Ziro is the perfect place to enjoy wine tasting, olive & cheese platters, local beers & ciders, mindful cocktails, locally roasted coffee, tea & bakes and ice cream; in an elegant, intimate setting. Locally made Afternoon Tea is a collaboration with other exciting independent businesses.
kilozirobar.com/store/gift-cards
Dish Out A Dishoom Culinary Hamper
A grand selection of goods to cook Bombay comfort food in your own kitchen. Cramful with all manner of café favourites including the Dishoom Cookery Book, Masala Dabba, House Chai, cotton Tea Towel and signature Incense (with matches and a wooden holder). All housed in a sturdy blue hamper box. Dishoom Cookery Book (and highly subjective guide to Bombay) – an eccentric and charming cookery book, with over 100 recipes for the Bombay comfort food and drink that they love.
Webstore here.
Get Creative With A Quarter Workshop Voucher
Perfect Christmas present alert. What to get for the person that has everything? It’s an age-old dilemma. And Quarter Workshop gift vouchers are the perfect solution. Pick from any jewellery workshops and receive a beautiful printed voucher in the post. That’s another thing ticked off your to do list
www.thequarterworkshop.com/gif-vouchers
Celebrate Birmingham’s Heritage Through Art
The Birmingham Art Book: The city through the eyes of its artists: 7 (The City Art Book Series). The Birmingham Art Book is a tribute to a unique city whose visionary scientists and inventors made it famous as a manufacturing powerhouse. From heavy metal industry – here is where the first steam trains were built – to heavy metal music – Black Sabbath made their mark here – this is a place with a proud heritage. In their drawings, they echo the modern vibrancy of buildings such as the iconic Selfridges department store and the REP theatre. Collages and sketches depict a city buzzing with vitality –from the world-renowned Hippodrome theatre, to the shopping centres and legendary nightlife that are national attractions.
Buy on Amazon here.
Enjoy A Michelin Meal and Stay At Beautiful Bloc Hotel
Give the gift of a Michelin-star experience this Christmas. An indulgent 10-course tasting menu for two at Opheem, followed by a relaxing overnight Apartment stay at Bloc Hotel in the heart of Birmingham’s gorgeous Jewellery Quarter. Arrive at Bloc and check-in, head to Opheem for a 10-course tasting menu for two and enjoy a late check out at Bloc until 1pm.
Viewt he offer here.
Bring The Night Owl Out In Someone
The Night Owl is The Midlands’ finest soul and retro club. An intimate live music venue set in the heart of Digbeth, the Creative Quarter of Birmingham. Based on Lower Trinity Street in Digbeth (and now Finsbury Park London too!), The Night Owl is the perfect club for any fan of music from days gone by. Taking its name from the Northern Soul song of the same name by Bobby Paris, The Night Owl was the first ever purpose built Northern Soul and Motown club, opening its doors in 2015. Choose from a selection of Night Owl merchandise and help the Midlands keep the faith!
Wear Birmingham’s Heritage With Pride
1000 Trades is an independent Neighbourhood Bar and Kitchen situated in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham. The business is located in a Grade II-listed building at 16 Frederick Street, and celebrates Birmingham’s rich craft heritage. Historic England’s archives show that 16 Frederick Street was built in the 1870s and was previously used as a jewellery works. The building was awarded Grade II status in 2004. 1000 Trades champion all forms of craft. That starts with craft beer and natural wine, kitchen residencies by food entrepreneurs, all to a soundtrack prepared in partnership with Birmingham’s music community. Artwork of local artists is showcased throughout the building and there are various events on rotation. From comedy nights to political debates, the event room is always busy with laughter and discussion. 1000 Trades merchandise is made to be worn with Brummie pride!
Savour The Taste Of The Indian Streatery
Local street food legends The Indian Streatery offer this Mango (AMB) Pale Ale 4.0% brewed by The Birmingham Brewing Co. A pale ale with a quintessentially Indian mango flavour. The beer delivers a strong tropical presence from the mango which dances elegantly on top of the citrus hops with soft bitter undertones. (Gluten Free & Vegan). Nobody misses out.
www.theindianstreatery.co.uk/online-store/MANGO-PALE-ALE
Aim For The Top With Attic Brew Christmas Beer
Award Winning Stirchley brewery Attic Brew Co. are championing this 5ltr mini keg (approx 9 pints) of Christmas beer, Merry & Bright. Malty with a bold hop flavour, hints of toffee and a bitter finish. Perfect for all the Christmas parties or to replace the Turkey as the centrepiece of your dinner on the big day. *Can be kept for 3 months unopened. ‘COLLECTION ONLY’.
Shop here.