AN INDEPENDENT gifts company with a global reach has announced it has found a new home in the Brampton area.

The Happy Makehouse, currently based in Alston, will from September be based at Kirklinton Hall, between Brampton and Longtown.

Husband and wife team Jamie and Catherine Douglas, who founded the business seven years ago, made the announcement this week.

With clients as far flung as North America and Australia, Jamie and Catherine have already established a strong reputation for The Happy Makehouse - but so far their business has only ever operated online.

Once they relocate to Kirklinton Hall however, the couple will be opening their first physical shop, currently planned for March or April next year.

The relocation from Alston to Kirklinton Hall is eagerly awaited by the couple.

“We’re really excited about the move,” Jamie said following the announcement.

“It’s been a bit of a dream for myself and my wife, for as long as I can remember, to have our own shop.

“This is a real opportunity for us to live out our dreams,” he said.

“We’re completely online at the moment. It’s really difficult to get that connection with your customers solely online.

“That’s one of the reasons we wanted to open a shop now. It represents a new challenge for us.”

Jamie and Catherine design and make most of their products in-house, alongside a small team at their Alston studio.

The couple recently moved close to Hethersgill, just a few minutes from Kirklinton Hall, which is currently mid-way through a major restoration project.

Jamie is looking forward to playing a part in the venue’s future.

“We’d been there a few times as regular punters and had a really nice time.

“It’s a really unique place where the public can almost follow the journey of the restoration.”

Jamie said he and Catherine are hoping they will be able to benefit the local community, once the move is complete.

“We’re looking to get a little bit more ingrained into the community. We’re hoping to run a programme of workshops, sharing our skills,” Jamie added.

“We’ll be right at the start of the Hadrian’s Wall trail,” Jamie continued.

“There’s a real opportunity to boost the tourism in the area.”

A Kirklinton Hall spokeswoman said they were looking forward to welcoming The Happy Makehouse to the fold.

“We are very excited that The Happy Makehouse will be joining us at Kirklinton Hall,” she said.

“The restoration of the barn is coming along very nicely, and is on track for the September opening.”

n Business: Pages 22-23