Choose Christmas gifts in Uckfield
Don’t panic if you think you are running out of time to do your Christmas shopping. Just head into Uckfield High Street where there are a huge variety of gifts to choose from.
We have asked our local shops to pick out some of their Christmas best sellers – read on to learn more, writes Cathy Watson.
Traders are gearing up for the late night shopping event on Friday, December 11, and the evening promises to be fun as well as great opportunity for shopping.
Uckfield Christmas Magic brochures have been falling on doormats across the town outlining activities planned.
Funds raised through advertising in the Chamber of Commerce publication help pay for the town’s Christmas lights. Uckfield News sponsors, Cathy Watson Associates, contributed by editing the brochure.
Make sure you help children with a special competition when you go late night shopping.
The aim is to look in the window of every shop to spot glittery stars - made by Harlands Primary School children - for a Christmas shopping competition.
On each star is a number and the challenge is to match the numbers correctly with the shops displaying them.
Entry forms are available at the Uckfield Volunteer Centre and completed entries should be dropped in to Carvills.
Three teddy bears have been donated by St Wilfrid’s Hospice as prizes.
Father Christmas, supported by Uckfield Lions is expected to be outside Bridge Cottage during the late night shopping event but if you miss him then there is chance to see him the next day at the St Peter and St James Hospice shop.
Shop manager Karen Lower says they are asking for donations of £1 for the gifts Santa will have with him.
Our other charity shops are displaying Christmas gifts and cards too so don’t miss them out on your shopping expedition.
Corbins offer hampers, chocolates and other seasonal fare with a fine selection of Sussex produce on display.
Cup cakes are all the rage these days and our picture, above left, shows Daryl and Rosie of Ryan's of Uckfield with some of the cakes made by Rosie. They can be decorated to suit all occasions.
Still looking for toys to delight the children in your family? There is a wide range to choose from at Kids Stuff and shop manager Stephen Hartfield can tell you all about the latest crazes.
Sadly the shop has sold out of a favourite for girls, Go Go Hamsters – interactive soft toys which come with their own accessories, beds, blankets, carrier and play sets – and can’t get more until the New Year.
But there are plenty of alternatives to choose from like the craft sets which always go down well.
Particularly popular with boys at the moment are Ben 10, who transforms into a variety of alien life-forms to fight other aliens, and Transformers.
Stephen says shoppers also seem to be favouring quality toys that will last like Meccano and Lego. Digital cameras made especially for toddlers are popular too.
More Christmas gifts are expected to arrive at Noble Wines any day now. Already on display are some lovely wine bottle holders, openers and gift boxes containing wine with a carafe.
Owner Charles Lamb can recommend wine for that special Christmas meal too.
He says there is a particularly good deal on 3 Stones which is reduced from £9.99 to £6.99. This Sauvignon Blanc is ‘miles better, much smoother’ than the branded Oyster Bay, he says.
Don’t forget to mention the Uckfield News website if you go into Noble Wines because Charles promises Uckfield News visitors a ten per cent discount on stock that isn’t already discounted.
Kandey and Chameleon good places to look for party wear or girlie gifts and there are always bargains to be had at Peacocks.
Lisa at The Flower Shop was decorating her Christmas window last week and thinking of children as she did so. Some cuddly polar bears look happy in the snowy scene.
Unexpected choices for presents there include candles, candlesticks, wooden letters to build names and lanterns. Don’t forget to look at their Christmas flowers, including some artificial ones, poinsettias and wreaths.
At Carvills, which has become a Christmas wonderland, there are striking woollen hats, scarves, jumpers and cardigans. Candles, leather bags, tableware, jeweller and tree decorations are among the goods on offer which make ideal gifts.
Carvills now has a website and that might help you with ideas too. A click on their name, in the paragraph above, will take you to contact details.
At the Diane Hutt Gallery the stock of original and limited edition artwork is constantly changing. One way of keeping up is to look at their website and a click on the business name will take you to a link in our Uckfield Directory.
New collections and artworks from the contemporary artist Doug Hyde, new wildlife artist Kate Wyatt, Olympic Artist for 2012 Fabian Perz and many more from collectable artists like Paul Kenton, Caroline Shotton to the up and coming.
Mounted artworks at the gallery start from £12.95 by Joseph Thomas, with the popular Jamie Boots mounted limited editions starting at £47. Call in at the gallery to view their extensive range or to discuss your requirements.
Make sure you pop into All Sorts too to see their cards, wrapping paper, decorations, toys, gift sets and stocking fillers.
Craft Buddies is the place to go for your card-making and scrapbooking accessories.
At the new PC Ink and Media shop in the parade of shops between Uckfield Electrics and the Post Office there are lots of fun PC accessories.
Examples include a Disney range of key boards, mouse mats, web cam and speakers. They also have a selection of lap top bags, fun LED lights and a sweet digital photo frame, only one-and-a-half inches wide at £11.99.
Footcraft, the shoe repair shop half-way up the High Street has introduced a range of men’s footwear and Zippo lighters and accessories are on sale there too now.
An engraving service just launched there could prove popular for Christmas.
The shop has installed a machine that can engrave on glass and wood. You can take in your own gifts for engraving or choose from crystal which will shortly be on display.
Sweet, opposite The Picture House, is selling chocolate snowmen, Santas, trees, tree decorations, Turkish Delight ... and more seasonal fare for those with a sweet tooth.
Final Score has taken delivery of merchandise from the big football teams including Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. There are mugs, woolly hats, scarves and replica kits.
Christmas shoppers might also be interested in some of the games stocked which include shove halfpenny and quoits.
Jumpers, hats and scarves from PipeDreams prove popular presents and for children they have in-line skates and skateboards. They also stock belts, wallets and handbags.
People going skiing during the holiday might appreciate ski items from there too as Christmas gifts.
Scalextric, remote control cars, train sets and model making kits are in demand all year round at The Hobby Box and this shop must surely be on the Uckfield route of any Christmas shopper.
The ideal present for a biking enthusiast could be lights or a bicycle computer, from In-Gear, to measure how far they have travelled, how fast and how long it took them to get to their destination.
Limelight is making space for new stock and heavily discounting, by 50 per cent, some gym and leisure-wear makes including USA Pro and Weird Fish.
A special ten per cent discount is offered to Uckfield News website visitors who mention the site when buying other gym-wear and swim-wear there.
A huge selection of gifts for girls can also be found including new Hello Kitty and ever-popular Angelina Ballerina. Pineapple wear is on sale too and tutus make much-loved presents for tiny tots.
We hope you enjoy your Christmas shopping in Uckfield. If you have spotted ideal gifts that we have missed do and would like to share your ideas please let us know in the comment section below.
(Added to site Tuesday, December 1st, 2009)
