Shop Surrey Hills to celebrate a stay-at-home Valentine’s Day

With lockdown in force and an instruction to stay home, it is set to be a different kind of Valentine’s Day this year, but that’s no excuse to skip the romance. In fact, it’s the perfect time to create a cosy night in with your loved one, whilst supporting local independent Surrey businesses in the process.

Surrey Hills Enterprises is encouraging people to shop locally ahead of 14th February this year, as part of our campaign to ‘Buy 1 in 5 Locally’, where county residents choose to make at least one in every five of their purchases from a Surrey Hills based business. Whether it be ingredients to rustle up the perfect romantic dinner, hand-poured candles, locally-grown flowers, dreamy pamper products, or indulgent sweet treats, the Surrey Hills offers a bounty of products to add a touch of romance to this year’s stay-at-home Valentine’s Day.

Not only does buying locally mean that you’re giving back to the Surrey Hills economy, supporting individual artisans and reducing the carbon footprint of products that you’re buying, as they are sourced and created within a much smaller geographic area, but you will also be purchasing special, handcrafted products, often made with local materials and ingredients from individuals and companies based on your doorstep.

Shop in the Surrey Hills this Valentine’s Day and consider these locally-made products from Surrey Hills Enterprises members:

Guildford-based natural skincare company, Puremess, is passionate about creating products that optimise skin health, providing maximum nourishment, from entirely natural and locally-trusted sources. They have created a new ‘Date Night Bundle’, priced at £25 plus delivery, that promises to set the scene for a perfect home-based date night. The pack includes a relaxing INZHO soy wax candle to create a romantic ambience, Puremess Muscle Balm for massage, Puremess Lip Balm for kissable lips, DIY face mask recipes to add some fun and creativity to the evening and a Puremess Sleep Balm to ensure a good night’s rest.

The Surrey Copper Distillery, an independent craft distillery based in Cranleigh, creates a distinctive library of spirits inspired by history and reflecting the essence of England, using Copper stills and carefully-selected ingredients for unique flavour and aroma combinations. They are offering a new premium ‘Copperfield and Merchant’s Heart mini gift pack’, containing three Copperfield Dry Gins (3 x 50 ml) with their perfect pairings of Merchant’s Heart Spirit Enhancers this Valentine’s Day. Priced at £24.95 plus delivery, it makes the perfect present.

Greyfriars Vineyard in Puttenham has teamed up with Kokoh Chocolate to offer two Valentine’s gift sets this 14th February. Choose from a bottle of Limited Edition Blanc de Noirs NV or the 2015 Sparkling Rosé Reserve, packaged alongside two Greyfriars branded sparkling wine flutes and two bars of decadent, handmade local chocolate, presented in a beautiful Surrey Hills gift box. The Sparkling Rosé Reserve 2015 Valentine’s Gift Set is priced at £43.99 plus delivery, with the Blanc de Noirs NV Valentine’s Gift Set priced at £52 plus delivery.

Those looking instead for a specially curated winemaker’s selection of bottles for Valentine’s Day, should consider the Greyfriars Valentine’s Mixed Case, which can be enjoyed long after the special day itself. The case includes two vintage sparkling wines, two non-vintage sparkling wines and two of the most popular still Greyfriars wines. Priced at £100 with free delivery.

Chimney Fire Coffee has teamed up with Ranmore Common neighbour, Ranmore Candle Co., for a limited edition collaboration just in time for Valentine’s Day. Working together, they have produced the Coffee Candle Care Pack, perfect for those that love the smell of a fresh roast. The gift pack includes a special candle infused with Chimney Fire Coffee’s directly-sourced El Salvador El Cipres, to create a sweet, subtle coffee fragrance, as well as a bag of El Salvador coffee, plus a bag of Colombia coffee, for added aroma and taste. Priced at £35 plus delivery.

Those missing their usual meal out can instead order a delicious Valentine’s dinner for a romantic meal at home, from Albury-based Mandira’s Kitchen. The authentic Indian food specialist has created a special menu for two to add some spice to your Valentine’s Day this year. Dine on a selection of samosas to start, followed by Chicken Rezala / Paneer Butter Masala, Cashew and Cranberry Pulao and sides of Alu Gobi, Dal Makhani and Naan Bread, accompanied by Spiced Crackers and Tomato and Date Chutney. The meal is completed by a delicious dessert of Mango and Cardamom Gelato, followed by Chai and heart-shaped chilli chocolates for an added touch of romance. Priced at £55 for two, plus delivery.

Those with a sweet tooth should look no further than Cranleigh-based Moooh! Ice Cream, who have created a special Valentine’s dessert for you and your loved one. A Classic Creamy Chocolate Ice Cream Heart dusted with chocolate powder and topped with flaked milk chocolate and piped with luxury white chocolate, it is the answer to any chocolate-lover’s dreams! Also available with Strawberry & Cream and Madagascan Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, the desserts are delivered in a cake box and priced at £15.

Surrey Hills-based Sweet C’s Handcrafted Chocolates are made from single origin cocoa beans and the finest flavoured natural ingredients. They have created a special heart-shaped box of eight assorted chocolates, perfect for delivery and as the ideal luxurious treat for your treasured Valentine.

For more Surrey Hills shopping ideas for Valentine’s Day, visit the Surrey Hills Virtual Valentine’s Market: https://surreyhills.org/enterprises/surrey-hills-virtual-artisan-market.