Carlisle pop-up shop celebrating all things local this Christmas

The Naturally Local Cumbria Christmas shop opened for its latest pop-up on Tuesday, November 28 in Carlisle's Lanes Shopping Centre. 

The shop, which can be found next to Primark, will be open until Friday, December 8 and in this time will feature a variety of gifts, homeware, and winter warmers from 30 local businesses.

These businesses include Dom Reardon AstroPhotography, Little Fawn Toys, Bookends, Lakeland Rings, Lauren Young Illustration, Fellside Snuggles, The Curious Zebra, Summit Silver, The Business of Bathtime, Oak and Stone Organics, Hilberry Designs, The Kitchen Witch, and The Wood Spinner.

The shop also operates a Zero Waste Christmas Pantry, and seasonal florist, and is committed to being environmentally friendly by using only repurposed or biodegradable plastic, plantable Christmas cards, and recycled wrapping paper.

Naturally Local founder Holly Horsley said: "Since opening it has been really really busy and the feedback has been amazing and everyone wants to support local in a positive way and all the businesses here are natural and ethical so it gives it something different."

"It has been amazing, it has been a lot of work to get it open but all the businesses that are involved are amazing and this year we have 24 main businesses who all have information cards with QR codes so people can continue to follow and support them all year round."

Holly also encouraged people to check out Naturally Local before turning to big businesses this Christmas time.

"Before you turn to the likes of Amazon or the big chains who don't really care about local communities, think about the person behind each local business and how it is going to help them and their families thrive a bit more and also it allows people to be creative and lose that to big business."