I tried getting all my Christmas gifts at a UK shopping centre without chains

Christmas shopping definitely isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, especially when it involves actually going out to a shopping centre. 

The bright lights, pushy crowds and overstimulating atmosphere is enough to make anybody want to turn on their heels and go home, which is why many now choose to shop online instead. 

But if you want to support real people and independent businesses while you’re buying your Christmas gifts, there’s one little-known location that’s just perfect for this – and it’s worlds away from the busy shopping centres we know. 

Halifax’s Piece Hall, a Grade I listed former cloth house, boasts more than 30 independent shops along with several bars and cafes for a well-deserved rest after a shopping spree.

While the products on offer lean towards the high-end, they are not particularly pricey, according to Leeds Live writer David Himelfield.

He recently decided to do all of his Christmas shopping there, and came away with a very impressive haul.

Those who might have heard of the Piece Hall before its refurbishment will remember it as slightly grungy with a rather low-end retail selection – but that has all changed.

You’ll find a diverse mix of shoppers from across the UK and overseas at the Piece Hall, alongside locals.

Spoilers below for Dave’s family

Dave said: “The challenge was to buy all my Christmas presents in one place but I’d already ordered Mrs Dave’s present and we’d already ordered the main gifts for our two children.

“However, Mrs Dave and I like to buy a ‘side’ gift each for Mary and Barry (not their real names). The former loves The Nightmare Before Christmas, the latter Star Wars.”

Mystical and Magical, a store specialising in sci-fi, cult and occult models, was more than willing to assist. Two Pop models, one Sally from The Nightmare and a Boba Fett, fit the bill perfectly.

The Handmade Gift Shop, as the name suggests, offers handmade gifts crafted by local artists. It served a dual purpose: a Liverpool FC cushion for Dave’s Scouse uncle and a pamper set for his mother-in-law.

He then treated himself to a stylish coaster featuring a monochrome image of a Fender Mustang.

Dave continued: “From The Yorkshire Soap Company I bought my aunt a selection of soaps that looked good enough to eat and too good to use for their intended purpose. Even if you’re committed to liquid soap and shower gel, the displays are worth checking out.

“And at Brown Paper Packages I bought a Jellycat wolf and penguin for my nephew and cousin’s daughter respectively. Each cuddly came in, you’ve guessed it, a brown paper bag. No plastic. Good.”

It’s true that you can do all of your Christmas shopping sat at home, as many might be wary of busy and overstimulating shopping centres that can make the whole experience so unenjoyable.

But Dave said that things couldn’t be any more different here, praising: “At the Piece Hall the atmosphere was relaxed and the joviality of those behind the counter felt genuine rather than forced as it often does in chain shops. I’m not sure how relaxed it will be in the December weekends rush but as I always say, choose your time wisely.”

The Piece Hall boasts not only independent shops but also a decent array of indie wine bars, pubs, coffee houses, cafes, and even a retro video games arcade.