Shopping local in Cockermouth when buying gifts over Christmas period

Christmas is, in part, a time for gift giving and with that gift buying, so it seemed like the perfect time to highlight some of the wonderful businesses local to Cockermouth where you can get your festive fix.

If you are looking for some Christmas delight in West Cumbria then you don't have to look any further than the Lakes Home Centre in Cockermouth. Preparation for the festive season starts in January each year - and Christmas is displayed in the store from September every year.

Lakes Home Centre manager Gary Whetton and sales assistant Gemma Heaney (Image: NQ staff) Helen, buyer for the Lakes Home Centre said: "We do gifts for kids, women, men... we do gifts for absolutely everybody.

"From nice hats with lights on to scarves, slippers, bath bombs, candles: anything virtually you are looking to get someone as a gift, we do it."

Helen said that shopping local allows customers often to get the best deals and adds a personal touch to shopping. She said: "A lot of the time if someone is looking for something in particular, we can go out of our way and try to find it for them."

Some of the hampers from the Lakes Home Centre. (Image: NQ staff) There's nothing like a good read, and Louise Heaton, owner of the The New Bookshop on Main Street, has plenty of that in the town's independent book store, with a whole host of children's and adults' Christmas books on offer.

Louise Heaton, owner of The New Bookshop (right) and Pat Darnbrough (Image: NQ staff) The store also gets some signed copies and special editions that 'you can only get in independent bookshops' such as sprayed edge editions, as well as different present ideas for people.

Speaking about shopping in the town, she said: "Its incredibly important (supporting local businesses) if we want our high streets to still be here, we have got to use our shops. A lot of our shops aren't just shops, they are a community hub - so we need to support them if we want to keep people together."

Just on the other side of the street from The New Bookshop is Fagan's - a popular family owned business that brings many popular brands to the town, from Swarovski to Katie Loxton, with 'gifts to suit everybody' in the run up to Christmas.

Owner Dawn Iredale said: "We have gifts for men, gifts for women, children, there is the cook shop with a great range of cookware and we have the kitchen shop as well so a great range of amazing brands.

"The time nearer Christmas when people are thinking about cooking and entertaining we have things that will help with that, from pans to tableware and glasses."

Dawn Iredale in Fagans (Image: NQ staff) Dawn said it is 'crucial' to support local businesses at this time of year, saying: "This is the time of the year that we need to survive, and if people don't support us we won't be here.

"We appreciate so much people shopping local - Cockermouth has got some amazing shops, there is so much you can get in Cockermouth without travelling away."

Taking a stroll up Main Street and over the bridge there are more wonderful places to pick up Christmas gifts. Lorraine Barrett owns Bespoke Gifts at 46, a handmade gift shop with over 17 different local and Cumbrian crafters selling handmade gifts in the town has a whole host of goodies on offer to gift people this Christmas.

A shopper takes a look in Bespoke Gifts at No 46. (Image: NQ staff) "We have only been open a few months, but we are definitely getting there, the late nights have been really helping us as well, they do really good things to help with the shops", said Lorraine.

Just a short stroll into Market Place is a business that may help you buy a slightly different Christmas gift this Christmas.

Jack Tatham runs the Market Place Print Studio alongside his partner Emily, with a whole host of quirky Christmas treats on offer.

As well as offering gift vouchers for art workshops, which teach people how to print make in the studio, using techniques such as lino-cutting and different types of print making, the studio also sell a lot of different hand made printed cards, advent calendars and artworks. 

Jack Tatham outside of the Market Place Print Studio (Image: NQ staff) "Its very important (to support local). We rely totally on people coming in and buying stuff", said Jack

The Lakes Home Centre, Cockermouth, General manager Gary Whetton said: "It's good to keep things local, that's the main thing. Everybody is battling for customers with the rise of the internet so I am all for shopping local."

Workington's businesses were featured in the first part of this series last week, and Maryport will see their high street businesses showcased next week.