Give a little (local) love
Love local this Valentine's Day and help secure the future of London's independents.
Let's face it - popping to Tesco for a cheap bunch of flowers and a generic box of chocolates isn't going to win you many brownie points!
Small businesses are facing their toughest trading conditions ever - if we all showed them a little love this Valentine's Day, we could help lift their spirits, preserve the character of London's high streets and choose more thoughtful gifts!
So here, without further ado, are some suggestions of fab independents to support this Valentine's Day - and many are offering great savings to Local Buyers Club members - scroll down to see savings (join and get your codes here). With lockdown in full swing, you can order from most from the comfort of your home.
Valentine's gifts for the home
We're big fans of Outlandish Creations - their fine bone china floral cups and teapots have custom wording. These lip print ones are among our favourites but you might prefer something more risque! Say it with flowers that last for years! Seche Flowers, a small company run by a London mum, offers beautiful preserved flowers. Mountain and Molehill make stylish and playful animal light shades - we love this swallows shade and they also have a fun lobster-love one as well as a birds and bees one!
East End Prints have a fab range of stylish pictures to brighten up your walls and Me on the Map offer typographic street maps that show the little bit of London you love. We're also big fans of House of Buckley - gorgeous scented candles, hand-poured by the fabulous Caroline Buckley who has overcome tough times to set up a lovely business. South London's Draw The Line is offering to help you celebrate the day with a bespoke painting of a meaningful location. Check out Dandy Star for fab love-themed homewares.
Jewellery
From bold designs by Vicky Davies and stunning precious pieces by Naomi Tracz to more ethnic styles by Katherine Bree, London's independent jewellers have so much to offer.
Food of love
Artisan chocolatier Isabelle Alaya runs Melange in Peckham - an exquisite chocolate shop making award-winning hand-made chocolate bars and truffles. This one's for locals though - they're for collection. If you haven't yet tried Lele's - now's the moment! This vegan cafe is gearing up for Valentine's Day with a stunning heart cake or afternoon tea (for delivery anywhere in London) or, if you're in love with a chocaholic, check out these Coco chocolates sold by Earlybird Cards (we're rather partial to Rhubarb and Ginger Flavour).
For beer lovers this Febrewery...
If you can't take your date to the pub this Valentine's - bring the pub to you! London's best breweries deliver and, having suffered huge losses due to the forced closure of pubs, they could use a little love! Our favourites include Wimbledon-based By the Horns Brewing Company, Tottenham-based ORA Brewing (check out their wonderful Limoncello IPA) and East Gifting Outfit who offer cheekily branded gift boxes, featuring drinks from East London brewers and distillers. Deviant and Dandy are also fab with hard-hitting IPAs inspired by the American West Coast.
Wine
We've been impressed with My Somm, a family-run wine merchant in Twickenham who deliver London-wide.
Forest Wines in Walthamstow have packaged together a fab set of goodies and they'll deliver to your door. It includes organic Prosecco, locally-roasted coffee, a candle, plant seeds and truffles. Sticking with bubbles, toast the future with a bottle of Champagne! Wine Affairs in Vauxhall have some great choices and they deliver. Or, if you loved one is keen to discover new wines - sign up to Ourglass Wine, the wine discovery subscription.
Say it with flowers...
Move away from big-chain florists and you'll find wonderful companies offering stunningly different bouquets. You'll need to order from a florist in your neighbourhood. But our favourites include Lillies of Wanstead, Greenwich based Blooms By G and Kings Cross based Edie Rose (who also delivers to Hackney).
Home-cooked food...
Order a French feast from Maison Patron with Valentine's inspired dishes, gift boxes and handmade truffles! All's Well in Hackney are offering takeaway boxes for Valentine's weekend with wonderful options for meat-lovers or vegans and boozie options too. We've long been fans of Dabbadrop - delicious, vegetarian curries delivered by bicycle to your door in reusable ‘dabba’ boxes so there’s no waste, choose from ready to heat or ready to eat!
Don't forget the card!
The supremely talented Dominic Early at Earlybird in Stoke Newington has produced a range of cards - some his own designs and others by artists he admires! Or if you're after something eco - check out Re:Store, who have gorgeous plantable wild flower cards.
The discounts
Email us at team@localbuyersclub.com to request your Valentine's Day discount codes Or JOIN THE CLUB and get your codes straight away!
All's Well - Local Buyers Club members save 10%
Blooms by G - Local Buyers Club members save 10%
By the Horns Brewing Co: Local Buyers Club members save 15% off orders over £72
Dabbadrop: Local Buyers Club members receive their first curry free (t's and c's apply)
Dandy Star: Local Buyers Club members save 10%
Deviant and Dandy: Save 10%
Draw the Line: Local Buyers Club members save 10%
Earlybird Cards - Local Buyers Club member save 15% if you order before February 7th. Usual saving here: 10%
East End Prints: Local Buyers Club members save 10%
East Gifting Outfit: Local Buyers Club members save 10%
Edie Rose Flowers: Local Buyers Club members save 10%
Forest Wines: Local Buyers Club members save 10%
House of Buckley: Local Buyers Club members save 10%
Katherine Bree: Local Buyers Club members save 10%
Lele's: Local Buyers Club members save 10% (call to order)
Lilies of Wanstead: Local Buyers Club members save 10%
Maison Patron: Local Buyers Club members save 10% off their first order
Me on the Map: Local Buyers Club members save 10%
Melange: Local Buyers Club members save 10%
Mountain & Molehill: Local Buyers Club members save 20%
Naomi Tracz: Local Buyers Club members save 10%
ORA Brewing: Local Buyers Club members save 10% online
Ourglass Wines: Local Buyers Club members receive an extra £5 worth of wine with first order over £35.
Outlandish Creations: Local Buyers Club members save 10%
Re:Store: Local Buyers Club members save 10%
Seche Flowers: Local buyers Club members save 10%
Vicky Davies: Local Buyers Club members save 10%
Wine Affairs: Local Buyers Club members save 10%
Join the Local Buyers Club HERE and save £5 with the code LOCAL2021 (Usual price just £12 per year)
Club members receive savings and perks at hundreds of lovely local independent businesses.
Small but determined
We’re a small company too, but we have big ambitions to help small businesses thrive and to do all we can to harness the power of London’s amazing communities to help people in need. If you're not a Club member yet, we'd love to welcome you aboard! (Visit www.localbuyersclub.com to join).
Jenna and Basil
Please join the Local Buyers Club
We're on a mission to help people discover & support the best independent businesses. We also organise community initiatives like the Winter Toy Appeal and have recently set up www.myvirtualneighbourhood.com
But we can only do it with the support of our wonderful members.
JOIN NOW for just £12
Our members are rewarded for choosing local with savings or perks at hundreds of awesome restaurants, shops, bars and small businesses throughout London. We help spread the word about them and raise awareness of the advantages of shopping locally.
Join the Local Buyers Club and, for just £12 per year, you'll be helping to support local business.
Find out how it works and JOIN THE CLUB
If you're a great independent business in London and would like to find out more about joining the Club and being listed on our site please email team@localbuyersclub.com
