Photo: Flickr, Faenna

Written by Rebecca Marrow.

The 14th of February is fast approaching and for those of us with a significant other this means only one thing: present buying. It is difficult enough buying people presents at the best of times, but when there is the added pressure for the gift to be ‘romantic’ and ‘special’ it gets even worse.

Photo: Flickr, Faenna
Photo: Flickr, Faenna

Luckily, Steep Hill and The Strait offer a range of independent shops that cater for every personality, making Valentine’s Day a whole lot easier. Here is a selection of a few of the best to offer alternative, quirky and meaningful valentines gifts.

Ego Clothing Shop:

Ego offers a huge range of clothing and accessories for both men and women, and is perfect for whose partner’s are interested in unique, vintage fashion.

Harlequin Antiquarian Books:

This place is God-send if you are looking for a gift for someone not only loves reading, but are interested in older editions of books that have perhaps gone out of print by now. Not to mention, the fact that it is all second-hand which makes it so much cheaper than other booksellers.

Carousel Chocolates:

Put a spin on the classic gift of a box of chocolates by picking one up from this old fashioned sweet shop. It makes an otherwise generic gift seem so much more personal, and the chocolate itself is delicious.

Forty Four:

The little independent gift shop offers the best presents for those who do not want to make a grand gesture, but still want to get their partner something small. The diverse range of items means that this kind of shop is perfect for just about anyone, and you are bound to find something you can not find anywhere else.

So there it is, Valentine’s Day made simple by Steep Hill. Now all you have to do is find somewhere to take them for dinner.