Destination Ryde: exploring the people and places of this sparkling seafront town

Destination

Ryde

Christmas shopping is back, and what better place to embark on your search for the perfect gifts than the Victorian seaside town lined with quirky independent businesses? From vintage boutiques to luxury jewellers, you will find something for everybody on your stroll from the top of Ryde town to the picturesque seafront.

Find timeless sparkle with Emily Austin at Serendipity Diamonds Make a present of the past at Dig For Vintage Make principled gift choices with Czara Anderson at Her Whey

Let the warm glow of fairy lights guide your late-night shopping experience and head to Ryde after dark on Thursday 2nd December, when visitors can enjoy a street festival with seasonal treats and marvel in the magic of a

Lantern Parade.

At the top of the town, our journey begins with a little bit of luxury.

Serendipity Diamonds is open to all, with gorgeous gift ideas for every price tag. Rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings in timeless styles glint in the light of the glass cabinets. Whether a Christmas proposal is on the horizon, or you are just on a quest for something special, Mark and the friendly team are open to private appointments to guide customers through the stunning showroom, explain the bespoke options and help them find the perfect diamond. Across the way, on the corner of Lind Street, Dig For Vintage’s colourful storefront entices us in from between the grand pillars of The Colonnade. It is easy to get lost amongst the swathes of vintage fabrics and antiques inside. The shop is scattered with an eclectic mix of fashion and furnishings awaiting a new lease of life. Sarah, joint owner of the shop, explains her dislike of unnecessary waste; repurposing vintage pieces is Sarah’s passion and remains at the heart of the business. “If we can reuse something, then we will,” she says. Dig For Vintage is also home to a wide selection of popular Annie Sloan Chalk Paints, stencils and kits – a gift guaranteed to bring joy to anybody with a passion for upcycling. A quick diversion down Cross Street, and we reach Her Whey – a zero waste shop with everything from pasta, cereals and snacks to allpurpose cleaners, soaps and laundry liquids available for refills. After years working as a freelance writer and travelling abroad, owner Czara made the decision to settle on our beautiful island. She opened the doors to Her Whey six months ago with a mission to make positive, community-based change. Her product selection is centred around the ethos of low waste and the shelves are brimming with affordable refills and eco swaps. Perfect for a spot of guilt-free Christmas shopping, everything is

Lisa Garth is on hand to help you pick the perfect perfume at Gibbs & Gurnell Refuel deli-style with Danielle, Nicole and Anthony Wright at Pickle & Dill Get the scents of the season at Pure Wight Soy Candles

made in the UK and sourced locally wherever possible. It is impossible to step into the iconic Gibbs & Gurnell without first gazing at the stunning storefront from the Union Street pavement. Surely the oldest business in Ryde, Gibbs & Gurnell has been loved as the local pharmacy since its doors first opened in the 1850s. The team prides itself on providing a friendly welcome; “we are a family chemist and perfumery that offers a personal service,” Lisa says. This season, the shelves are bursting with Christmas gift ideas with luxury bath and body giftboxes to suit every recipient. For a more traditional present, there is, of course, a great array of fragrances to explore behind the beautiful, classic wooden counter. If there is one thing we have learnt during our trips to Ryde over the past year, it is that one cannot simply walk past Pickle & Dill. A deli and café that transforms into a wine bar offering tapas and sharing boards in the evening, the family-run establishment has something delicious for every time of day. As we tucked into our New York Delhi sandwiches (a perfect combination of pastrami, Swiss cheese, pickles and Dijon mustard on toasted sourdough bread), others enjoyed a glass of wine and antipasti snacks. “After 15 years living in Spain, it was Danielle’s goal to bring day drinking to the Isle of Wight,” said Nicole, mother of Danielle and Anthony, who embarked on the Pickle & Dill venture as a family in October 2020 and haven’t looked back since. Suitably stuffed, we made our way down the street to our next stop. A mixture of incredible scents hangs in the air as we cross the threshold into Pure Wight Soy Candles. Owner and maker Jenny appears from the open workshop area at the back of the shop, where she busily creates her scented products blended from soy wax, essential oils and a mixture of glorious fragrances. The shelves are filled with gorgeous gift ideas from Island-based artisans. Candles, melts, reed diffusers and room mists are all popular prezzies, available in a selection of addictive scents, like lime and lemongrass, rosemary and bay and, our personal favourite, seaside. Just down from Pure Wight Soy Candles, we are met with an oasis

Sacha Chowdhury curates bohemian vibes at Lost Lover Mia invites you to step out in style Glow up for the festive season with help from La Familia

of colour in Lost Lover – the perfect place for hunting out unusual gifts for trend-setting friends and hard-to-buyfor teens. The store is an Aladdin’s cave of Boho fashion, with a fantastic selection of bold dungarees and unusual knits. Sacha and Seija, sisters and owners of Lost Lover, source products from all over the world. An escape from high street chain stores, the hangers are adorned with clothes and accessories that you won’t find anywhere else. Some of our favourite collections are their dungarees designed and manufactured in Italy and Christmas decorations handwoven by a family in Africa. “We try to be very different and stand out from the crowd,” says Sacha – and they have certainly succeeded in achieving that goal. Continuing our jaunt into women’s fashion, just a couple of doors down, pom-pom hats and winter woollies welcome us into a world of cosy style at Mia. Winter fashion has landed and there is a huge range of stylish clothes, shoes, and accessories to choose from in this Union Street store. Beyond the rails of autumnal clothing ready for layering up, cabinets of statement jewellery and shelves of ankle boots draw us in. With her carefully curated collections, owner Maria provides stylish, ageless, affordable clothing that makes women feel good. A little further down the road, the team at La Familia are busy tending to their regular clients. The party season is upon us and what better way to treat yourself and your loved ones than with a bit of pampering? La Familia is a bright, spacious salon with colourful, elegant touches – including a larger-than-life peacock displaying its feathers on the far wall. After opening at the end of 2020, the two sisters, Sammy and Nikki, hired Tony and became a team of three. The team is, true to their name, like a family. “We are a friendly salon and our clients feel like they get more than they pay for; we take great care of their hair health,” says Tony. Hair and makeup packages are available for Christmas gifting, as well as gift vouchers for people who deserve a little hair and beauty indulgence. Next, we cross the road and make our way down to the quirky gift shop and piercing studio, Essence. Surrounded

Step out of this world at Essence Paul Wyett from Jack’s Vintage helps clients find unique pieces Gifts for foodies abound at Ristorante Michelangelo

by miniature cauldrons and spellbooks, stepping into Essence is like hopping into another world. The business underwent a transformation during lockdown, when owner Vanessa homed in on manufacturing her own cosmetic products, including a new range of unique perfumes, to keep up with demand. Vanessa blends essential oils and fragrance oils to create fun, unusual products to suit every taste and sensitivity. There is a short queue of people waiting for nose and ear piercings, but even the wait is enjoyable, as they happily chat with Vanessa while browsing the selection of candles, mugs and bath salts before Rachel calls them into her studio at the back of the shop. Towards the bottom of the hill, we dive into an oasis of wonderful finds at Jacks Vintage and Collectibles. “We didn’t want it to look like a secondhand shop,” explains Paul, as we are greeted with a selection of gorgeous Italian and Spanish lamps, beautiful art deco furniture and a display of natural history artwork on the wall. As customers inspect the walls and shelves on a quest for unusual items they feel belong in their homes, two children play with a traditional wooden Christmas game, bagatelle (an early form of pinball), in the front of the shop. It is evident that everything has been carefully curated and selected – mostly from auctions abroad, Paul explains – to fit the shop’s bold, eclectic style. Finally, we are greeted with the contagious, warm smiles of Anna and Rosie at Ristorante Michelangelo – a welcome retreat for a hot drink and unbeatable Italian food at the bottom of the hill. The restaurant is situated in the perfect spot to bask in the beauty of the Solent while safely tucked away from the chill of the winter sea air. Beautifully packaged, authentic Panettoni are available to order for Christmas and, for people who like to cook, the selection of quality olive oils, balsamic vinegars and homemade sauces offer fantastic gifting opportunities. Dinner at Michelangelo is much more than just a meal. “When we opened the restaurant, we did it as if we were cooking for a family,” said Anna. “Our restaurant is not just a place to serve food; we like to create an atmosphere and keep culture alive.”