Ryedale festivities: enjoy seasonal treats from Malton’s local businesses

Celebrating their 30th year in Malton the mother and daughter team at The Topiary Tree Florist are really getting into the Christmas spirit again by being able to offer their wreath making classes. Although the number of workshops have been reduced it is a wonderful and affordable activity to get everyone in the festive spirit and they have used The Patisserie and Malton Relish to host which is a fantastic way of showing local businesses working together. Unfortunately last year these couldn’t be held face to face due to restrictions but the team provided DIY kits for customers to make from the comfort of their own homes with video tutorials on their Facebook page and these have proved popular again this year.  If that wasn’t enough the team also introduced a children's activity kit of making a table arrangement at home and for this they posted a Mummy and daughter video with their own little girl Blossom, aged 6, which will be posted up again this year – keep an eye on their Facebook page - @TheTopiaryTreeFlorist – for more information.

One of the team at The Topiary Tree, Gemma, said, “I've always been a firm believer in shopping local and like to practice what I preach by doing the majority of my shopping in town. We are so lucky we have such a lovely array of shops in Malton and that the town seems to be thriving and not just surviving. If Covid has taught us anything it is that we are truly blessed to live where we do. All the local shops rallied around and changed the way we worked so we could keep going. I remember sobbing and being so stressed when the first lockdown was announced but little did we know we were on the cusp of something quite special. We launched a houseplant club, made lots of little affordable gifts so people could treat themselves or the people they missed. Times were tricky but everyone was so grateful when we knocked and ran with their doorstep treats. Many customers are now considered friends and we also gained a new batch of customers who perhaps didn't shop local or small until they were stranded at home!”

Pop into The Topiary Tree in Malton to say hello and treat yourself to a Christmas wreath, festive arrangement for your home, eco paper, ribbons, houseplants, general bouquets or flowers for a loved one’s graveside, funerals or wedding. You can shop in store, online and over the phone. If people are shopping in store, then they will need to wear a mask. If the shop becomes very busy the team may ask people to wait until someone else leaves before entering to help with distancing and to do everything, they can to help protect customers and staff. If ordering for home delivery be reassured that there is hand sanitiser in the van which is used between deliveries and all staff are vaccinated.

Have a look at their website www.thetopiarytree.com for their latest products and treat yourself or a loved one this festive season.

Scoops The Ingredient Shop

Not quite in the Festive spirit yet? On 11th December at 1pm Scoops the Ingredient Shop have hired Swinton Brass Band to come down to St Michael Street to play some carols and really help get you into the festive mood whether you are out shopping local or just want a sing-along! Scoops is a charming ingredients shop supplying all of your basic, as well as many unusual, ingredients for the local household cooks. The team really do go above and beyond to provide the best possible experience for their customers whether it is sourcing an unusual ingredient to create your perfect masterpiece, allowing you to bring your own re-fillable containers (they also refill Yorkshire rapeseed oil and household cleaning products), keeping their carbon footprint down by selling and stocking local products or just wearing festive face coverings, playing Christmas music in the shop and decorating their window for Christmas - the team give 110% to all of their customers and residents of Malton.

Speaking to Sally at Scoops about Malton and why people should shop local she said, “By shopping locally with us it's a knock-on effect by supporting many other local businesses keeping the local economy strong. We employ local people and being a small business, we are extremely flexible to our customer's needs, nothing is every too much trouble for us. We love going above and beyond where national companies are limited. We also supply to other local businesses so it's helping them. Malton is also a special town to run an independent business, we all work together to help each other keep going strong, one cannot survive without the others. You cannot beat the variety and quality of the shops that Malton has to offer, especially at Christmas. Malton businesses have all stepped up to offer the best customer service and continue to do so. We have grown as a business throughout the pandemic and I thank all the lovely customers for spreading the word about us and nominating us for this spotlight.”

Keeping local is in the family too – Sally’s brother, Simon, grows the wheat at Barton-le-street which he sells to Bradshaw's of Driffield. Bradshaw’s mill it into the finest flour and Scoops sell it back to the consumer. The flour is grown, milled and sold within a 24-mile radius. During the height of the pandemic Scoops never ran out of essential ingredients due to their network of local suppliers and flexibility to source goods locally. The team are working really hard to keep everyone as safe as possible this winter by having sanitiser inside and outside of the shop, the shopping baskets are all sanitised between customers, tubs and scoops sanitised and changed every day and doors kept open to allow in the all-important fresh air – even if the staff do get a little chilly! You call in to the store or if you are vulnerable or isolating or just prefer the convenience of delivery you can order online or over the phone and Sally and the team can post items.

Still looking for the perfect gift for the cook in your life? Why not pop down for a gift voucher or bespoke hamper? You can even choose for them to be posted if a little further away. 

Ashley Cooke’s Carpets & Furniture

Ashley Cooke’s in the heart of Malton are bursting with Christmas gift ideas in their homeware store. They have something for everyone from bath and body sets to candles and wax melt burners as well as the perfect Secret Santa gifts or stocking fillers in their quoted porcelain hearts which include beautiful quotes such as, “People walk through our lives, but only true friends leave footprints on our hearts.” – There is something for even the trickiest of people to gift this year!

The staff in Ashley Cooke’s really are focussed on the local people. You can guarantee a professional and friendly experience on your doorstep without having to travel for miles! The team believe in a friendly face to face approach and building a relationship with their customers whether you are having carpets or curtains installed or just buying a scented candle in the interiors shop.

Louise at the Ashley Cooke Retail Group said, “We have a brilliant market town with lots of growing businesses. It’s been a trying 2 years and to see that so many local businesses in and around Malton and still open really shows the customers support us! The only reason we are so successful is because of you, the customer! Thank you for your continued support at these strange times and be reassured we will always try our best to help in any way we can.”

Along with our other nominated businesses this week Ashley Cooke’s recognise the seriousness of Covid and have taken every step to ensure the staff and community can enjoy a safe shopping trip. The staff wear face coverings and follow all guidelines, building is well ventilated, sanitising stations have been installed for when you walk inside and always topped up and finally, as staff go into customers’ homes for measuring and fitting each must conduct a weekly lateral flow test to ensure everyone and everything is as safe as possible before stepping foot into your household.

Need any further reason to visit Ashely Cooke’s? They are also working hard to reduce their carbon footprint which includes using LED lightbulbs, paper bags instead of plastic and recycling carpets and using the remnants to create fantastic, one-of-a-kind rugs at great prices! Shop online or instore – visit their website www.ashleycooke.co.uk for a full range.

Derek Fox Butchers

Derek Fox Butchers is a real family affair with the shop being in the family since late 19th century passing down from George Stephenson to then John & Billy Stephenson. Derek was born at the shop and started working there as a schoolboy linking sausages for half a crown until eventually joining full time and studying butchery. Billy & John retired in 1972 giving Derek the opportunity to buy it and was thus renamed to Derek Fox Butchers. Derek was determined to keep up with the family traditions and his wife, Gloria, followed by their four children Bethan, Shaun, Peter and Melanie all worked in the shop until eventually Shaun and Melanie took the reins on their Father’s retirement in 2012.

Shaun and Melanie have done a fantastic job in steering the shop through recent years including changing the old wind handled sausage machine to an electric one followed by new cabinets and opening up an online shop too in 2019 - www.derekfoxbutchers.com. If you can’t pop down to the shop the team deliver around Malton and surrounding areas up to 13 miles and there is always a special offer to be had – just keep an eye on their Facebook page for the latest deals!

For an extra special Christmas meal to wow the family their Christmas Special offers are still available which includes: 

Christmas Deal 1 

1.5kg turkey breast with bacon, 1 sausage meat, 1 tray of pigs in blankets, 1 size 1 pork pie, 1kg bless loin of pork or gammon joint – just £25.00

Christmas Deal 2

3kg bless turkey butterfly with bacon, 1 sausage meat, 1 tray of pigs in blankets, 1 size 2 pork pie, 2kg bless loin of pork or gammon joint -just £50.00

The team are doing everything possible to keep you safe this winter including the use of plastic screens, sanitiser machines, essential mask wearing inside, social distancing and only allowing 4 people in at any one time.

Shaun and Melanie said, “We would like to say a big thank you for all your support over these hard times and a very big thank you to our staff Ashley, Debbie, Amy, Charlie, Dave for all your hard work and Louis Laird for making the website. We would like to wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year xx”

Other businesses who were also nominated for a spotlight were Number One Health & beauty, Universal Geek Ltd, Beecham Weigh, Malton Relish, Lutt & Turner, Milton Rooms, W.P.Horselyes Florist, Worldwide Shopping Mall, Young Lines, the Talbot, Paley’s Fruit & Veg and The Patisserie.