Bottle Chop

A bottle of wine usually goes down well and the knowledgeable team at Bottle Chop can help you to select the perfect one. Specialising in natural, sustainable, organic and biodynamic wines, this shop in Headingley is one of The Sunday Times’ 30 Best Bottle Shops. You can buy wines from all around the globe here, including red, white, rosé, orange and sparkling varieties, along with beer, cider and tasty deli nibbles. To make special occasions like Christmas a little easier, Bottle Chop offers gift hampers that bring together some of its best-loved combos. These range from £32-£75 and a popular choice is the Fancy Night In (£55), which includes a bottle of Petits Clément Merlot or Sauvignon, accompanied by a cheese and meat platter with Torres crisps, Perello Gordal olives, Bottle Chop’s own artisan crackers, a little pot each of cornichons and honey to accompany and an Up Up chocolate bar.

The Plant Point

Residing in the Corn Exchange, The Plant Point is just the place to pick up a lasting, living gift. The ‘home of beautiful plants’ stocks a huge range of houseplants and succulents, which will add the finishing touch to your recipient’s decor while also boosting their mood. You’ll find many favourites here, including Umbrella and Snake plants, String of Pearls/Hearts and Monstera Deliciosa, the ‘Swiss Cheese’ plant. Many of these are easy to care for, and low-light and pet safe plants are also available. Alternatively, if you’d like to give a more creative gift, The Plant Point sells kits that can be used to make your own mossarium, moss frame or bottle terrarium at home. Its website even has a section devoted to plants that would make an ideal Christmas present.

Zero Muda

If you’re hoping to shop sustainably this Christmas, Zero Muda can help. Taking its name from the Japanese word for wastefulness (muda), this organic food shop in Horsforth is on a mission to help the environment by reducing unnecessary packaging. It offers refills of everything from food and drink to home and body care essentials, as well as items made by local crafters. If you’d like to create a planet-friendly gift with a personal touch, you can bring your own container here and fill it with goodies such as North Star coffee, flavoured vegan hot chocolates, dried fruit or sweets. Many of these start at £1 per 100g and could be used to build your own hamper. You could also add store cupboard staples such as cooking oils and vinegars, or soaps, moisturisers and shampoos from ethical brands like Faith in Nature and Malton-based Cosy Cottage.

Our Handmade Collective

Providing you with an excellent opportunity to shop local this Christmas, Our Handmade Collective stocks thousands of unique gifts made by more than 110 independent designers and craftspeople. This award-winning shop in Horsforth sells clever, funny and unusual items that will even please those who are really hard to buy for. These include boozy lollipops from Holly’s Lollies and Guppy’s yummy chocolate shards, along with green gifts such as seedballs and environmentally-friendly children’s toys. You’ll find options to suit all budgets here, from festive scented candles by The Yorkshire Candle Company to beautiful silver jewellery from Maxwell Harrison. You can order online through the shop’s website but visiting its bricks-and-mortar premises will give you a chance to take in Horsforth’s pretty Christmas lights.

White Rose Recycled Fashion

This recycled fashion shop was established in 2009 and it now has stores in several towns and cities across northern England, including one in Leeds. White Rose raises funds for the Aegis Trust by collecting and re-selling pre-loved clothing. The money it makes is then used for research and education by the trust, whose ultimate aim is to eliminate genocide. As well as helping a worthy cause, the clothing here is an antidote to the waste and environmental damage caused by fast fashion. At White Rose’s shop on Albion Street, you can pick up garments from popular high street brands, along with sportswear and trainers from Nike, Adidas and New Balance, and designer pieces by Burberry, Dior, Prada, Balenciaga and many more coveted labels. If you can’t visit in person, you’ll also find the shop on Vinted, Depop and eBay.

Friends of Ham

If you’d like to spread some joy with cheese and charcuterie this Christmas, Friends of Ham on New Station Street offers a fabulous food pairing experience that would make a great treat for any foodie friend. This costs £45 per person and is available as a voucher, so the recipient can choose a date that suits them. On the day, one of the shop’s resident beer or wine geeks will guide them through a leisurely 1.5-hour tasting, during which they’ll be able to enjoy five glasses of wine or five thirds or beer, each accompanied by a different meat or cheese and sourdough bread. FRAM also offers gift cards starting from £10, so you can get any Secret Santa gifts sorted here, too.

Fabrication Crafts

This independent shop and social enterprise supports local artists and makers by selling their crafts and providing a space for them to work and run classes in. At their quirky shop on Briggate you can buy art, fashion, confectionery, homewares, jewellery and more, along with heritage and Yorkshire-themed gifts, including map of Yorkshire wrapping paper, traditional ceramic tankards and handmade wooden key rings featuring Viking designs. Fabrication also runs creative workshops. These are perfect for couples and small groups and would make a gift with a difference. Upcoming classes include book binding or making a stone-set ring or silver bangle. These can be booked online and other gifts can be bought on the Fabrication Crafts website for delivery to the shop or your home address.

Hymans Jewellers

If you’re seeking a present that will be treasured forever, there’s no better option than jewellery. Gold lasts a lifetime and secondhand pieces are kinder to the planet, too. Hymans Jewellers sells unique pre-owned pieces that are sure to delight, along with luxury watches from big names such as Rolex, Omega and Tudor, that would make an extra special gift for the man in your life. This traditional, family-run jewellery shop sells everything from antique diamond rings to pieces by Tiffany and Co. and Cartier. You can shop on their website with next day delivery or visit them on Call Lane to take advantage of their Black Friday offers which run until the end of November.

Images- @theplantpoint, @whiteroseshops, @friendsofham