Win your entire Christmas shopping with #LoveXmasShopHackney
Proving you don’t have to shop anywhere else but Hackney for those sought-after Christmas gifts, Hackney Council has teamed up with a host of local businesses to launch a special festive themed competition.
Some 25 local independent businesses have come together to create a unique prize that helps showcase the huge variety of products and produce that can be picked-up in the Borough.
The competition will run from 24 November till 19 December with the winner being announced on 23 December.Using social media, local people and visitors have been invited to tweet or Facebook post a picture, using #LoveXmasShopHackney, that shows ‘Hackney at Christmas’, whether this be festive lights at the Hackney Town Hall, Clissold Park with a dusting of frost, or their household pet in festive fancy dress.
Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney, will pick the winning photo to conclude the competition and the lucky person, or visitor to Hackney, will win a bumper prize of 25 locally-sourced products that have been donated for the competition by a range of businesses. This unique prize will save the winner from doing their Christmas shopping this season with a gift collection that includes books, jewellery, local food and drink, a family ticket to the Empire panto and a place at Run Hackney.
Each day, a new gift will be added to the collection and a new message will be posted on the @HackneyCouncil twitter and Facebook sites. Local business details will also be tweeted, posted on Facebook and placed online to give local people, and those new to the borough, information about all the great local shops and products on offer throughout Hackney.
We’ve received some great support from a wide range of superb local businesses that have helped to create a unique prize that gives a real sense of the variety and the quality of the products and produce that’s on offer in Hackney. As well as sending in their festive competition pictures, everyone should look out for the new additions to the prize gift list which showcases just some of what local independent businesses offer. Their success not only provides vital local job opportunities, but also helps make this borough one of the most exciting, unique and great places to live, work, shop and relax.
Follow Hackney Council on Facebook, Twitter by using the handle @HackneyCouncil, and use #LoveXmasShopHackney when sending in ‘Hackney at Christmas’ photos.
Please see the list of participating local businesses and prizes they have donated for this competition:
Early Bird Designs
Earlybird Designs is an independent greetings card company run by husband and wife team Dominic and Heidi Early. All cards and wrap are designed at the couples shop in Stoke Newington. Early Bird Designs have donated an ‘I love Hackney’ mug, card and bag plus two drink coasters. You can find out more about this great local business, based in Stoke Newington, by visiting their website or follow them on twitter and Facebook using: @ebirdcards
Eat 17
Eat 17 opened a second restaurant in Hackney, a constant source for their inspiration, seven years after opening their first restaurant in Walthamstow. Eat 17 continue to pride themselves in offering simple and seasonal British meals using ethically sourced, quality ingredients that are priced reasonably in a comfortable, relaxed and unpretentious setting. To find out more about Eat 17 please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @EAT_17.
Isle of Olive
Working directly with independent producers, agricultural cooperatives and passionate artisans, Isle of Olive sources and makes available to the UK market only the finest, authentic Greek food products and ingredients, with a focus on knowledge, traceability and respect for the environment. To find out more about Isle of Olive please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @Isle_of_Olive.
The Hackney Draper
The Hackney Draper sell fabrics and other textiles curated from their travels from around the world. They also offer a fully bespoke curtain making and upholstery service and a range of products for the home that fit in with their philosophy that practical items can and should be aesthetically pleasing, a pleasure to use and built to last.To find out more about The Hackney Draper please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @HackneyDraper.
The Nook Shop
The Nook opened in Stoke Newington in April 2012. With a number of years’ experience those at The Nook combined their shared passion for design and interiors to create their 'dream' shop. Nook brings together a selection of items from across the UK, Europe and beyond, and specialises in items which are well designed and built to last, but that don’t always take themselves too seriously.
To find out more about The Nook please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @nookshop_uk.
Bottle Apostle
The first Bottle Apostle opened in July 2009 in Victoria Park with the idea that a wine shop could cater as much to the wine novice as it does to the professional. The second location opened in April 2012, and third shop in March 2014. All three locations carry the belief that customers should be able to explore wine without intimidation by carrying a broad range of wines at various price points, flavours and quality.
To find out more about Bottle Apostle please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @bottleapostle.
London Fields Cycles
An independent bike shop in Hackney Central, London Fields cycles stocks all manner and make of bikes, a range of accessories and also a work shop!
To find out more about London Fields Cycles please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @LdnFieldsCycles.
Clockwork Pharmacy
The Clockwork Pharmacy Group have been in operation since 1985 when the first pharmacy opened in Victoria Park, East London. For years Clockwork Pharmacy have been delivering a great service to its customers, introducing new products and services and are still an active innovator in the pharmacy and health care fields.
To find out more about Clockwork Pharmacy please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @ClockworkPharma.
Little Gems at Victoria Park
Clair and Alex are Hackney mums who founded Little GEMS Kids to provide a good quality addition to the independent shops based in Victora Park. They aim to bring you a selection of fashion and footwear for boys and girls of all ages from newborn upwards.
To find out more about Little Gems please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @LittleGEMsShop
Wild and Woolly
Wild and Woolly is a small wool shop in Hackney that's devoted to knitting supplies and support for seasoned knit-sters, thsoe new to knitting, local crafters and anyone else seeking new adventures! Wild and Woolly will help you find the right pattern, match it with the right wools and needles, and the owners will be around to help with your questions, get some inspiration, or just to chat about how it’s all going.
To find out more about Wild and Woolly please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @wandwoolly
Vanessa Andar
Vanessa Andar is a professional hair and beauty salon with a dedicated team of qualified, experienced and trained experts in the field of hair and beauty, please visit their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter using @VanessaAndar
Tangerina
Tangerina is an independent coffee shop in Newington Green N16, near the heart of Stoke Newington, focused on providing the highest quality food and drinks. Run by a husband and wife team with roots locally in Newington Green, and in São Paulo, Brazil, their menu reflects the Brazilian and European backgrounds. Tangerina offesr fairly traded coffee, award-winning Teas, Brazilian pure fruit juices, sandwiches, Brazilian savouries, fresh salads, home-made cakes, sweets & treats and much more...
To find out more about Tangerina please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @Tangerina_N16
The London Borough of Jam
The London Borough of Jam makes a range of delicious homemade jams using locally sourced products - you can visit their website or follow them on twitter using @LdnBoroughOfJam
Olive Loves Alfie
'Olive Loves Alfie', a children's store in London, was established in 2006 with a hand picked selection of inspiring and imaginative children's clothing, home-wares, toys and games.'Olive Loves Alfie' has grown into so much more than a store. Not only has it become a breeding ground for many collaborative projects and creative events for children, it also helps designers to develop their ideas.
To find out more about Olive Loves Alfie please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @olivelovesalfie
The Hackney Picturehouse
To find out more about The Hackney Picturehouse please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @HackneyPH
Spandeli
Spandeli provides Spanish quality charcuterie, cheese, wine, sherry, and a selection of ingredients. Hand carved iberico ham, a hidden gem.Garden available to have Tapas, wine and take the bottle home to round the day. Tucked away in the lost end of Dalston Lane, it has been proved to be a challenging location since we opened in 2012.
To find out more about Spandeli please visit their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter using @SpandeliUk
Run Hackney
On May 10th 2015 Hackney will close its roads to cars and open them to thousands of runners for Vitality Run Hackney Half Marathon 2015. Now in its second year it is set to be bigger and better than ever!
To find out more about Run Hackney please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @RunHackney
Branch on the Park
Branch on the Park is a jewellery shop set in the heart of vibrant East London's Victoria Park. Opened by Goldsmith Julia Cook in June 2010, visit the shop to discover a mixture of vintage fittings, cool grey walls, cabinets filled with silver leaves and curls that gleam and glisten strung with coral, turquoise, diamonds, rubies.
To find out more about Branch on the Park please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @branchonthepark
Victoria Park Books
An independent shop specialising in childrens' books, plus fiction and non-fiction works for adults.
To find out more about Victoria Park Books please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @VictoriaParkBks
GK Locksmiths
GK Locksmiths was founded in 1981 and has over 30 years of experience in specialist security works.
To find out more about GK Locksmiths please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @GKLOCKSMITHS
The Grocery
The Grocery sells organic, fresh and whole foods, household goods and all your favourite everyday brands. Their stock is sourced from reputable local producers, supplying healthy well sourced produce.
To find out more about The Grocery please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @The_Grocery
The Hackney Empire
Built in 1901, The Hackney Empire provides quality entertainment to a local and global audience.
To find out more about The Hackney Empire please visit their website and follow them on Twitter using @HackneyEmpire