Several independent businesses based here in Greater Manchester have heaped praise on their local community, and urged people to support local this Christmas.
There are some brilliant indies that specialise in ‘little luxuries’ operating out of Oldham, selling gifts and treats including soaps, soaks, candles and more.
Some of the scents are even inspired by the countryside in the area, like Dove Stones reservoir and the grassiness of the Saddleworth Moors.
If you’re looking to spend your hard-earned money within the local economy, there are loads of independents here to support.
Oldham school friends Reece Best and Joe Hendshaw founded Bave, through which they make luxury bath soaks geared towards all genders.
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The Old Cobblers in Saddleworth
Reece said he noticed that pampering products like his tend to be geared to a female audience, and says: “Products have been marketed a certain way for so long and people have a perception that floral is female, peppery, minty or musky is male, when actually it’s just a nice smell. So we do it for everyone, it doesn’t have a gender.”
The pair first started experimenting with formulas in the spare room of Reece’s mum’s house during lockdown and officially launched Bave in August 2020.
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Their signature products include orange and eucalyptus which creates a dense foam that cushions tired limbs, while the sage and peppermint packs a menthol punch that would deftly see off a cold.
“We’re part of a blossoming community and the next big businesses are going to be local,” says Reece.
“There’s a resurgence of the smaller independents and you get a better product and service with them. Mainstream brands have to appeal to the masses but when you’re small scale and local you can talk to people and come up with wacky ideas that wouldn’t necessarily fly with bigger organisations.”
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Bave products can be found at the Old Cobblers in Greenfield and Authentic in Uppermill, as well as their online shop.
Apotheco
Husband and wife team Nicola and Jonathon Bennett own Homaroma, a brand they resurrected with a shop on Shaw Road in 2018 from what his aunt started 30 years ago.
They now have 200 regular clients for their candles including department stores in the UK and online shoppers in the US, but pride themselves on supporting the local economy.
Nicola says: “We have always been about buying things as local as possible – nothing is imported.”
The Homaroma range includes £2 bath blocks, £3.50 bath bombs and £10 candles in various scents, like clove-tinged winter favourite Opulence.
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“One of the biggest fragrance companies in the world is down the road in Bury; the wax is made in Chorley,” she continues. “We don’t skimp on the ingredients and [if we get it cheaper] we pass that saving on to our local retail customers.
“Oldham is a look-after-your-own type place and we shop at little places too because you’ve got to support your local town.”
Scents of Saddleworth
Paying homage to the area in a more literal way is fellow candle maker Scents of Saddleworth whose range invokes the crisp air of Dove Stone reservoir and the sharp grassiness of the moors.
Owner Jodie Lewis wanted to create scents that would reflect not only where she lived but unearth happy memories for people buying them, like a candle that smells like Wimberry Pie and another that is reminiscent of the polished pews of Heights Church in Delph, where Jodie married.
“A scent usually takes you somewhere, to a memory, and people have appreciated that the scents do represent, and are inspired by, things from around here,” she says. “So as much as we’ve enjoyed making them, it’s been something for the community, because to have an end product that we think people around here like is nice.”
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Jodie has teamed up with Pallet at Donkeystone Brewery and Station Brew in Greenfield to stock her range, priced at around £14.
Soapmaker Anna Fieldhouse has done the same with her brand Apotheco, which is sold at Weaver and Wild in Uppermill. She credits the success of her brand, which is also stocked in shops in London, with the encouragement she got from her teachers at Saddleworth School and being invited by Oldham Council to take part in its Oldham Made pop-up last year, which boosted her sales.
“There’s a lot of history and tradition here but it’s also really diverse and the [indie scene] is growing,” says Anna, who launched her business two years ago.
“Oldham has always been quite good for artists, makers and musicians and I think it’s because there’s a lot of resources put into it, like I go to a life-drawing class at the library, my school was great for art, the council actively supports local business – I just think it’s great for designers.”
Anna’s soaps, which feature softening butters, cleansing clays and essential oils like patchouli and lavender, can be bought individually for around the £6 mark or as a set with a stoneware dish made by a local ceramicist.
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“It’s nice cause we’re helping each other,” she adds. “They’re a bit of a luxury but they’re high-quality and a little bit special – around Christmas I sell so much because people do like to give it as a gift. And if we all support each other it improves the local economy.”
Featured image: Supplied
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The family-run gem doing tapas, craft beer, cocktails and live music just outside Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A good neighbourhood restaurant should be somewhere you can pop in to at any time of day, for just about any occasion.
Whether it’s coffee and a bake after the school run, a tapas night with your mates, a cosy cocktail with your partner, or even somewhere to end the night listening to live music, Gin & Brews is one such neighbourhood gem.
This brilliant family-run venue opened in an old bank in Garstang in 2023 and quickly spilled over into the unit next door, expanding its offering as it went.
It’s gone from a cosy bottle shop and microbar to a true neighbourhood haunt, with fantastic deals (like two pizzas and a bottle of wine for £25 on Thursdays) and cocktails made with their own distilled spirits.
The food is a big part of the appeal, particularly the tapas.
There’s bread and oils, chorizo and prawns, goat’s cheese and loaded potatoes, with plenty designed for sharing – you might want to order more than you think you need, but at £12 for three dishes, that’s no hardship.
You can get three tapas dishes for £12Lemon curd French toast
Then there’s the homemade honey and sea salt butter. It’s the sort of butter you try once and immediately want to tell everyone about.
For daytime visits, the brunch menu brings out perfectly poppable eggs and seriously good French toast, with the lemon curd a particular must-try.
And if you have dietary requirements, Gin & Brews is unusually well set up for gluten-free diners, with almost everything on the menu gluten free – even the beer – plus a generous selection of gluten-free bakes.
The drinks offering is where things get particularly interesting.
The team make their own spirits under the Garstang Gin name, with the distillery growing from just three spirits to an impressive 46.
It’s a natural progression for the owner, who previously worked in the drinks industry before leaving to set up her own gin distillery.
They distill their own Garstang Gin spirits for cocktailsInside Gin & Brews
Those spirits now make their way into the cocktails at Gin & Brews, giving the bar plenty of its own character and making it a particularly good shout if cocktails are your thing.
There’s also a constantly changing selection of craft beer, with the range switching up regularly, alongside the bottle shop, so there’s always something new to discover.
For somewhere that has grown so quickly, Gin & Brews still feels firmly rooted in its community.
Much of what goes onto your plate is sourced from businesses on the high street, including local butchers and egg suppliers. Even some of the cakes and cookies are made by one of the members of staff.
It feels fitting for a venue in Garstang, which is recognised as the world’s first Fair Trade Town.
Bakes at Gin & Brews are made by a member of staff
And while Wednesday and Thursday evenings are already busy, the team are keen to bring more people through the doors during the day. They certainly have the offering for it.
There are coffee-and-cake afternoons, brunch dates, tapas lunches, craft beer, cocktails and plenty of gluten-free treats to take away.
Then, when the sun goes down, the music comes on, with live performances at weekends and regular events bringing the place to life.
If you’re looking for a reason to venture out of Manchester for something a little different, this might just be it.
Gin & Brews has only been around for a few years, but it already feels like one of those places that has been part of the local scene forever.
And if the homemade butter doesn’t convince you, the cocktails probably will.
Magical Christmas experience in Manchester will bring The Polar Express to life
Daisy Jackson
A magical new Christmas experience is coming to Manchester this winter, bringing The Polar Express to life.
The fully immersive walkthrough experience will invite you on an enchanting journey to the North Pole, as you whizz past beautiful landscapes – all without actually leaving Manchester.
The all-new BELIEVE! THE POLAR EXPRESS Experience brings the beloved story to life, following the Hero Boy and Hero Girl.
Taking place at the O2 Victoria Warehouse, the experience begins in Hero Boy’s bedroom, before you step foot into the iconic The Polar Express carriage as a passenger.
Then you’ll be glued to the windows as you whizz through the Caribou Forest, past icy lakes, and dazzling Northern Lights displays.
Entertaining passengers every step of the way are beloved characters like the Conductor, Hero Boy, Hero Girl, and the mysterious Hobo.
You can get your golden ticket punched, warm up with a complimentary hot chocolate and a cookie, and be swept along by the festive tale.
Passengers will meet beloved characters from The Polar ExpressYou can visit the nice-o-meterAnd meet Santa himself
At the ‘North Pole’, the magic continues, with a Pyjama Party, a Letter Writing Station where you can send a note to Santa, visit the Naughty or Nice Machine, and craft a special Christmas decoration to take home.
You’ll even get the chance to meet Santa Claus himself…
While THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride has welcomed over 1.7 million riders in 2024, BELIEVE! THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Experience is a brand-new experience – no moving train, no stations.
Instead, the wonder of the story is brought off the tracks and into a hands-on environment.
The magic of The Polar Express will be brought to lifeFollow Hero Boy on his journey to the North Pole
Photo opportunities are available throughout the experience, and little ones (or grown-ups, we’re not judging) are encouraged to wear pyjamas to fully embrace the story.
BELIEVE! THE POLAR EXPRESS comes from Warner Bros., Discovery Global Experiences, Rail Events Inc., and Plus Live Events.
BELIEVE! THE POLAR EXPRESS takes place between14 November and 31 December at O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester, with tickets now available and expected to sell out quickly HERE.
A Relaxed Performance Day for guests with neurodiverse conditions will also be held.
Daisy Jackson -
24th November 2022 
