Festive Food and Drink

Run by father and son team, Jim and James, McMillians of Malton sells alcoholic drinks with a particular focus on whiskeys and gins. Here, you’ll find bottles from award-winning UK distilleries, including Arran, Lagavulin, Isle of Barra, Esker, Electric Spirit Co. and the nearby Spirit of Yorkshire. You can even try samples before you buy, making it easier to find a special gift for the connoisseur in your life. If Christmas shopping has left you feeling peckish, Malton’s Kingfisher Cafe is just the spot to grab a bite to eat. Residing in a vibrant Victorian building on Saville Street, the cafe is run by the Camphill Village Trust – a charity which supports people with learning disabilities, autism or mental health challenges by providing them with rewarding employment opportunities. The Kingfisher’s menu is filled with delicious dishes, all of which are made with fresh ingredients that are locally sourced where possible. The cafe also sells a selection of gifts made by Camphill Village Trust communities.

Heavenly Homeware

Malton is one of North Yorkshire’s best destinations for homeware shopping, due to its independent interiors shops like Hare & Wilde. From their scandi-styled boutique on Market Street, couple Will and Laura sell a carefully chosen selection of home essentials and accessories, crafted from sustainable and long-lasting materials by British and Scandinavian makers. Here, you’ll find one-of-a-kind Kilim rugs, hand thrown stoneware and plastic-free cleaning equipment. Hare & Wilde is also the place to seek out those all-important finishing touches, like candles, plant pots, cushions and throws. Another wonderful, Malton-based homeware retailer is Gale & Temple. Emma Gale is a jeweller who crafts delicate earrings from vintage glass, while Sallie Temple weaves her gorgeous scarves by hand and the pair work together to create their unique, country-inspired designs. In their characterful little shop on The Shambles, you can buy lampshades, crockery and stationery, as well fresh flowers, local honey and beeswax candles.

Gorgeous Gifts

Described as ‘an emporium of the beautiful and the unusual for everyone’, Kemps General Store sells all sorts of lovely things, from greetings cards and wrapping paper to games, toys and even tasteful Yorkshire souvenirs. The shop is owned by Liz Kemp, the daughter of two shopkeepers and an advocate for independent retail and good customer service. Kemps aims to offer the ‘best of British’, with pieces made by craftspeople from all around the country. It also has its own bookshop next door, selling a selection of brilliant titles for adults and children alike. If you’re looking for a unique, fair trade gift, Rickshaw Bazaar might have just the thing. This colourful shop offers some more imaginative gift ideas, including vegan cookery books, healing crystals and hydroponic herb growing kits. You can also buy fragrant ‘’bath potions’ from Ancient Wisdom and eye-catching, Colombian-inspired jewellery by Mixy Fandino here.

Beautiful Blooms

Malton’s oldest flower shop, Dales Florist opened in 1949 and has now been run by three generations of the same family. In their traditional florists on Newbiggin, you’ll find floral designs for all occasions, as well as a variety of seasonal bulbs and houseplants. At Christmastime, you can order luxurious winter bouquets, Christmas trees and bespoke garlands here, or pick up a delicious fruit hamper provided by the shop’s sister store, Dales of Malton. Dales Florist also hosts wreath making workshops, in which you can learn how to create your own festive design while enjoying drinks and nibbles.

Sensational Scents

Located on the corner of The Shambles, the Drunk Candle Company sells alcoholic drink-themed soy wax candles and melts. From Raspberry Sloe Gin and Espresso Martini to Whiskey and even Champagne and Clementine, there are plenty of enticing fragrances to choose from. All are vegan and are sold in an eco-friendly tin, making for guilt-free gifting. Just around the corner, in Malton’s Market Place, you’ll find the Cosy Cottage Soap Company. This family-run brand started life in the kitchen of Clara Challoner Walker’s 350-year-old cottage. A qualified chemist, Clara was concerned about some of the harmful ingredients lurking in commercially produced soaps, so she began to make her own using essential oils from flowers, petals and fruit. The company’s first shop opened in Malton in 2020 and it has since expanded its range to include handmade soaps, shampoo bars, deodorants and other natural skincare products, which all smell incredible.

Photos: Cosy Cottage Soap Company, Hare & Wilde, McMillans of Malton, Gale & Temple