Hay town and the Winter Weekend
Hay-on-Wye during Advent is full of activity, socialising and festive good cheer, and the town is welcoming back visitors. Special events taking place during Hay Festival Winter Weekend included the turning on of the Christmas lights by much-loved actress Miriam Margolyes on the Friday evening, with local choirs and good cheer.
Our local businesses have worked hard to stay afloat throughout the pandemic, and we're glad to have them open again. We hope you'll be tempted to do some Christmas shopping here. For those who can't make it in person, we're very pleased to share with you below the shops in Hay that are operating online. They offer a wealth of treats for yourself and others – if you're able to support them remotely, please do. If you can't think what to buy then why not get a Hay Voucher? More information on Hay Vouchers below.
For information regarding visiting Hay-on-Wye in person during the coronavirus pandemic, see the latest advice at https://gov.wales/coronavirus.
ART & ARTISANS
Bluestone Gallery has focused on supporting high quality British art and craft for over 21 years, with a wide range of paintings and prints, sculpture, jewellery ceramics and glass. In April of 2021 we moved from Devizes to Hay-on-Wye. With two floors we display the work of over 70 artists and makers. Visit us for a warm welcome and browse in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
A curated selection of collectable ceramics from established potters and also showcasing emerging talent from younger makers. The work ranges from functional tableware to decorative individual pieces and figurative sculpture. Also exhibited are jewellery, forged metal and prints.
We create botanical skincare products, using the finest ingredients nature can offer – spring water from the Black Mountains and active ingredients from the plant world, taking inspiration from the mystical landscapes of Wales. All our products are handmade with natural therapeutic ingredients, with the intention of transforming our emotions, body, mind and wellbeing.
Poet and letterpress printer Francesca Kay celebrates poetry, print and 3D flowers.
We make and source beautiful things from natural materials. Handmade leather goods including studded dog collars and Russian reindeer leather wallets; a range of ethical tailored clothing and wool knitwear and a collection of useful but beautiful homeware made from slate, horn and wood; old and new Welsh wool blankets and textiles. As well as an eclectic selection of one-off collectibles in our Originals section. This is an online shop with a soul.
The Hay Makers Gallery is a co-operative of designer-makers selling a range of high quality crafts, including ceramics, prints, carved and lettered stone, felt hats and scarves, hand- painted silk ties, turned wood and jewellery. We also stock leatherwork and jewellery made by the Tuaregs in our twin town, Timbuktu.
A small independent distillery based in Bredwardine, where we create and distil our two gins: Wild Knapp and Dr Beaky’s, each with their own story to tell.
A beautiful collection of handmade silver and sapphire jewellery designed to be engraved with the name of the one you love.
Hand carved wooden spoons, crafted from storm-felled wood in Hay-on-Wye.
Our Christmas group show features work by 20 artists and sculptors, all available to buy from our website. We have an ‘on the wall’ button on the site that enables you to see a painting in a room with a chair, to get a feel for the dimensions.
The Table is a contemporary art gallery situated next to Richard Booth's Bookshop in the heart of Hay. Owner Val Harris curates monthly changing exhibitions with local artists and favourite gallery artists from further afield. The current exhibition hanging in the gallery is online and in addition Val curates an online shop selling unframed drawings. Please email art@thetablehay.com for enquiries or to make a purchase.
Heritage textiles with a contemporary twist. Julie Leonard, aka The Welsh Girl (TWG), creates limited edition items from traditional Welsh tapestry – a double weave reversible cloth (so two colour ways in one) in pure soft new wool – woven on traditional looms in one of the few remaining mills in West Wales. Only small runs of cloth are produced, created in colour combinations unique to TWG. In addition to Julie's signature item, the poncho, there are exclusive wares for the home and self. Sustainability, passion and provenance are the ethos of TWG pieces. The Welsh Girl studio will be open for you to visit and do some Christmas shopping from 10.30am to 4pm over the Winter Weekend.
Andra Milsome and Billie Charity started this photography gallery, in a former jeweller's shop, in October 2019, because none of Hay's existing galleries featured photography. There are regular exhibitions, and books to buy online, including Billie Charity's People of Hay, a visual chronicle of Hay's colourful characters and eccentric personalities.
Makers of beautiful fire pits, artisan tools and accessories for the hearth and home. From pokers to log baskets and fire pits to storm lanterns. Every handmade piece revolves around fire - beautiful things to house it, to tame it and to use it. Visit the website to order a piece from the collection in time for Christmas.
BOOKSHOPS
Between our three shops, an inviting little community has been created for the new visitor to Hay as well as our regular customers. As with so many bookshops, much of our business is now conducted on the internet; but the development of e-commerce has been parallel to and not at the expense of our shops.
Around 15,000 books for sale through our bookroom on Forest Road, Hay-on-Wye. Established in 1980, our focus is on natural history, including Collins' New Naturalist series, zoology, entomology, ornithology, gardening, botany, bees and beekeeping. We stock new, secondhand, out-of-print and antiquarian titles. We're open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm, on Saturdays 9.30am to noon and are always happy to answer questions by email or telephone. We buy books in our specialist areas and keeps things as simple as possible.
We hold a large and varied stock of over 20,000 books, covering all aspects of children's literature. Our full catalogue is available on the website.
Fifteen book dealers under one roof on these topics: military, natural history, royalty, railway, Churchill, sheet music and books on music; Modern First Editions, biography, topography, maritime. Plus antiquarian books, Observer books, Ladybird books, and good quality general stock.
Intellectual recycling: we stock over 18,000 books with an emphasis on Philosophy. We also sell history, literature, modern fiction and children’s books. Opened in 2018, it is Hay's newest bookshop, demonstrating you can never have too much of a good thing.
This former cinema converted into a bookshop in 1965 is the longest established of the big bookshops in Hay. 200,000 volumes on all subjects, from Art to Zoology, at prices from 50p to thousands of pounds.
Fine, rare and interesting antique maps and prints.
The late Richard Booth transformed the small market town of Hay into the world's first book town when he began stocking empty shops with thousands of secondhand books in the 1960s and took up residence in Hay Castle as King of Hay. This former property of his has been skilfully restored by the new owner, Elizabeth Haycox, who has added a cafe, cinema and fitness studio. The three-storey emporium with a handsome tiled frontage stocks new and used books, original art, literary-themed posters, gift and craft materials.
We cover every aspect of our speciality from the antiquarian and the scholarly to contemporary work: supplying rare, out of print, new and used poetry books from our shop in Hay-on-Wye and also online. New titles currently in print and a selection of our secondhand stock can be searched and purchased securely via our website. If you have a specific request please send us a list via info@poetrybookshop.co.uk.
Our online bookshop sells our very popular pocket leather notebooks, plus linen-bound notebooks, and Hay Festival Press titles. We also stock books on books, on writing, and an interesting mix of new and secondhand fiction, drama, poetry, and non-fiction. We offer free UK delivery on all orders, no matter how large or small. We wrap the books in paper, tie the package with coloured string, and send them out with a handwritten note. All sales help to support our projects, which aim to tell powerful stories in creative ways to unexpected audiences.
FOOD & DRINK
Handmade dog treats, made in Wales.
Dugan’s Patisserie is a Hay-based, award winning artisan baker of delicious sweet and savoury tarts, brownies and strudels, using quality local ingredients, free range eggs, British butter and organic flour.
An artisan company that makes products in Hay using only local, high welfare, sustainable pork, highly reviewed by The Charcuterie Board as making some of the best products in the UK and won Best Food Producer at Herefordshire Food & Drink Awards last year.
Award-winning Ludlow gins are lovingly distilled in handmade copper stills ‘Joy’ and ‘Felicity’ by artisan distiller Shaun Ward. Delicate and fragrant natural botanicals, including locally foraged gorse, are skilfully distilled with the finest spirit. Their new limited edition spring gin Elderflower, Chamomile and Lemon Verbena, due to have been launched at Hay 2020, is available online now.
Seventeenth-century inn with an award-winning restaurant – AA**** Star plus 1 Rosette. Ten individually styled ensuite bedrooms. Live Jazz every Friday plus a nightly Festival Jazz Club from 9.30pm till late with guest artists. Free entry - join us for a relaxing drink and great jazz. Lunch 12-2.30. Dinner 5.30-10.30 during Festival.
At Red Indigo, Hay-on Wye, we believe that your visit must be an enjoyable experience. We have modernised Indian Cuisine, taking it to its next level yet still keeping its authentic flavours – but in a contemporary manner, with different accents from around the world. Red Indigo is open 7 days a week. To order a takeaway or to discuss dietary requirements before coming in for a meal, please call us. We look forward to serving you the best Indian cuisine in the land.
Fresh, healthy, whole sheep's milk ice cream in a variety of flavours delivered to within 5 miles of HR2 0TA every Friday.
The Fudge Shop in Hay has been delighting customers with delicious, handmade fudge for more than 20 years. With more than 15 different scrumptious fudges to choose from, there’s a flavour for everyone. Shop online and have fudge delivered straight to your door.
The Pizza Box is a newly established mobile woodfired pizzeria run by a young couple local to Hay-on-Wye. Inspired by our travels around Italy we wanted to recreate the traditional Neapolitan pizza back in Wales. We source our main ingredients for our dough from Italy to keep our pizzas tasting as authentic as possible. We are also proud to say we support other local businesses by buying our meat and veg locally. Our dough is freshly made, hand stretched and topped to order then cooked in our 450 degree woodfired oven.
A welcoming pub serving a selection of local beers, cask ales and great wines by the glass. The restaurant offers an Italian-inspired menu which is available throughout the day to enjoy in front of a crackling fire during winter or on our sun-soaked terrace in the summer.
Walkers Cottage | Provençal Kitchen
Véronique & Tim run a 6 acre smallholding near Hay-on-Wye and offer their produce at Hay weekly market. Everything is either homegrown by them (e.g.herbs, fruits, honey, etc.) and/or homemade in the farmhouse kitchen. As Véronique is originally from Provence they also make artisan confectionery using traditional recipes from her region of France.
GENERAL
Bartrums Stationery & Fine Pens
We are a well established and well loved stationery, fine pen and gift shop in the centre of Hay-on-Wye. We stock a huge range – basic and not so! Also children's products, games and puzzles and, of course, the most amazing array of writing instruments to suit all tastes and budgets. We have always prided ourselves on our customer service and remain keen to assist with our online service. If you are unable to find what you need on our website please email us and we will do our very best to help.
Helen supports creative individuals to set and achieve their goals, identifying what brings joy and energy to their lives and what might be holding them back. She runs her coaching practice in Hay-on-Wye and is as happy working with individuals on personal life goals as she is with business owners and corporate goals. She brings empathy and intuition to her client sessions and they are informal in style, yet also structured, focussed on client's goals and ambitions.
Drover Cycles is based in Hay and offers bike hire, a fully stocked shop, repair centre and café. We also run cycling events including an annual Everesting Challenge which involves riding up to Gospel Pass 16 times! We started the business in 2007 after returning from a cycling expedition across Africa. We wanted to share our love for life on two wheels and we are still just as passionate about encouraging cycling in all its forms. We are proud to serve the local community but we also rely heavily on tourism. Coronavirus has presented a very real threat to our existence. So, if you can, please do support us at this time by visiting our shop, making an online purchase or entering one of events scheduled for the coming year.
Inspiring gifts for ethical pioneers – fair trade and sustainable products from around the world. Described by Condé Nast Traveller magazine as "the coolest fair trade outlet ever!"
FLOW is a family owned and run business, established in 2003. We offer an ever changing selection of functional and stylish clothing, outdoor gear and household goods, carefully curated to offer something for everyone.
Satori and Otherworldz
A plethora of products ranging from crystals, wind chimes, candles and jewellery to funky clothes and accessories, incense and other mystical and magical paraphernalia.
The Old Electric Shop is a beautifully-curated shop of discoveries, with a vegetarian café and a new bookshop. A concept store of new and vintage pieces, and a showcase for local artisan makers.
The River Wye is an unspoilt outdoor haven at the heart of Hay and our family-run, expert team at want to canoe? warmly invites you to hire a canoe or take a guided river tour with us to discover the beauty of this magnificent natural resource first-hand.
Stylish gifts and homeware designed and made in the UK by Weekend365, based just outside Hay – featuring the iconic map images of Ordnance Survey.
HAY VOUCHERS
Not sure what to give? Give a Hay Voucher and let your recipient decide which one of the brilliant independent Hay-on-Wye shops or businesses to use them at, from books to sticky buns, maps to mangos, cycling to canoeing. Best bit: they have no expiry date. Vouchers are sold in denominations of £5, £10 and £20, and are available at Pughs@Londis, High Town or online. Vouchers are security coded and individually stamped so they can be traced. We will post your Hay Vouchers to you by recorded delivery so we can track when they have arrived. Delivery in the UK is £3. International delivery costs £8.50. Alternatively, you can pay online and pick up in person from Pughs@Londis in Hay on Wye. #lovehay
