Strongvox Homes | Award winning House Builder, Homes for sale
  • DEVELOPMENTS
  • Customer Care
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • LAND
  • CONTACT US
  • SOCIAL
  • Menu Menu
News

Celebrate A VERY Independent Christmas

Uncategorised

Support local businesses close to your Strongvox home this festive season

Being a South-West based ‘independent’ ourselves, we love to support fellow independent businesses and are keen to help you shop local this Christmas. 

We’ve handpicked some amazing local independent producers and businesses based close to five Strongvox developments, to bring you some inspiring ideas for your Christmas shopping. Which development is your local? Most of these businesses have online shops too, so even if you can’t visit in person, a new gift could be just a click away!

Hit Bristol’s Gloucester Road – The Indie Capital Of Europe 

If you are heading into Bristol from Laurel Hill, the contemporary Strongvox development located north of the city near Cribbs Causeway and The Mall retail mecca, then hop on the number 76 bus and jump off on Gloucester Road. 

Gloucester Road reputedly offers the longest stretch of independent stores in Europe, so if you’re looking for a gift or Christmas outfit that’s a little different, this is the place to go! There’s an almost bewildering selection of shops, cafes, delis, restaurants and bars, interspersed with colourful street art. Head into Fox+Feather  for some of the best men’s and women’s fashion brands from across Europe and beyond, along with scandi homeware and interior accessories, including items from local makers. 

Continuing the local makers theme, Fig and Room 212 are neighbouring galleries, located a few doors from each other, where you can browse and buy art and crafts including prints, cards, books, handmade jewellery, homeware and textiles. Fig is run by a collective of six local artists and was voted by The Guardian as one of Bristol’s top ten independent shops. Supporting many local artists, Room 212 also offers a community hub for events and exhibitions.

A Tasteful Christmas in Wedmore

Close to Wedmore Grange, our stunning Strongvox development in the charming village of Wedmore, you’ll discover a host of great independents full of gift ideas and tempting quality Christmas fare to delight your tastebuds. 

Check out The Swan, dating back to the 1700s, with its cosy wood burning stove and menu created by River Cottage chef, Tom Blake. Bought by the Stay Original Co. in 2011, this inn has been awarded a Gold Taste of the West award and is definitely worth a visit if you are in the vicinity. 

For high quality local meat, dairy and farm shop produce, call in at Hectors, Wedmore’s butcher and farm shop. A family-run business for nearly 20 years, they rear their turkeys locally and sell award-winning sausages. 

Unique Presents For Kids And Awesome Hampers Near Nether Stowey

In the beautiful foothills of The Quantocks 12 miles north of Taunton, the first phase homes of the Strongvox development at Cricketer Farm in Nether Stowey are now available for sale. 

Based nearby, Hippychick sells a fabulous range of educational toys for children and practical gear for parents from its website. Its online Christmas shop is bursting with toys, sustainable gifts, stocking fillers and even baby’s first Christmas gift ideas. 

Also online, and operating from their base in Taunton, The Hamper Guys are the experts when it comes to creating bespoke hampers and gift boxes for individuals and corporate clients. All products are sourced from trusted suppliers and where possible, are locally produced. The guys aim to make the process as simple as possible, will work within your budget, and they promise no hidden costs. These hampers make perfect gifts for the foodies in you life!

Somerset’s Finest Ciders And A Smokery Fit For Royalty Both Local To Stoke-sub-Hamdon

A select collection of 16 homes, Phelips Court in the sought-after village location of Stoke-sub-Hamdon is our newest development here at Strongvox. We are so excited that the first phase has just been released for sale! 

Everyone knows that Somerset and cider go hand-in-hand, so it’s only natural that we find one of the finest local producers of Somerset cider a few miles from the village of Stoke-sub-Hamdon. Harry’s Cider is harvested and brewed in Long Sutton, where tours and tastings of the various award-winning craft ciders are available. Harry won his first Great Taste Award in 2017 (Heston Blumenthal is a big fan!) and Harry’s fine selection of ciders can be purchased online and at the onsite Cider Shop. 

Overlooking the Somerset Levels at Bowdens Farm in Hambridge, a small family-run smokery, Brown & Forrest has been producing exquisite smoked produce since the early 1980s. All its fish, meat and cheese is sourced from trusted local suppliers. Master smokers, Tim and Will use open fires for hot smoking and traditional brick kilns for cold smoking. You can travel up to London to buy their smoked foods in Fortnum and Mason, or just drop into Bowdens Farm with its lovely homely shop and café, or order goodies including very tasty supper boxes and hampers online.  

Say “Cheese!” Award-Winning Clothbound Cheddar and Sustainable Fashion North of Glorious Topsham 

Consistently rated as one of the best places to live in the UK, it’s no surprise that the Strongvox development of three-, four- and five-bedroom homes at Carrick Mill has been a sell-out success, offering simply beautiful coastal living.

For more than 450 years, the Quicke family has been farming at Newton St Cyres, just north of Exeter. Using original recipes dating back generations, Quicke’s cheeses are crafted by hand and wrapped in muslin cloth. Cheese tours and courses are available and the aptly named Cheese Box shop stocks cheese and more, including award-winning cheddars, goats cheese and speciality cheeses. If you don’t have time to visit in person, the extensive online shop sells everything from cheese wedges, handy sized letterbox cheese selection boxes, cheese pairings and full-blown Christmas cheese hampers.

“For change makers by change makers”. At Sancho’s in Exeter you can shop with the peace of mind that you are investing in a greener and more equitable future by prioritising people and planet. Founded in 2015, this indie shop offers sustainable women’s and men’s fashion, a zero waste range from kitchenware to toothbrushes, and a fantastic range of ethical gifts including slippers, stationery, jewellery, beauty and homeware. It’s available to purchase online too and has been creating quite a stir across the media from The Guardian and Harper’s Bazaar to BBC Radio 4. 

We hope you’ve found some useful last-minute inspiration for Christmas gifting this year! Strongvox wishes you a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2022!

Looking to move?

Register to find out more about our upcoming developments and new releases. 

13 December 2021
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share by Mail
https://www.strongvox.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/blog/xmas/Strongvox-local-xmas-graphic.jpg 1080 1080 Gary Milton https://www.strongvox.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/SCREEN-Strongvox-LINE-CENT-White-retina1.png Gary Milton2021-12-13 17:05:222021-12-14 11:16:29Celebrate A VERY Independent Christmas
You might also like
Walk on the wild side 2022 New Year, New You! – The Key To Healthier Living With Strongvox
Life at Laurel Hill
South Somerset: On Your Doorstep
Interior trends Interior design trends this Spring
Hotel Welcomes Wildlife At Cricketer Farm
doorstep Nether Stowey, Quantock Hills
Popular
  • Gold Award 2020
    Another Gold Award!17 April 2020 - 5:47 pm
  • We’re restarting work
    Site teams preparing to return to work4 May 2020 - 9:23 am
  • Weber BBQ Giveaway23 May 2025 - 3:58 pm
  • We’re restarting work
    We’re restarting work11 May 2020 - 10:00 am
  • Sales Centres set to re-open
    Sales Centres set to re-open18 May 2020 - 10:18 am
Recent
  • Weber BBQ Giveaway23 May 2025 - 3:58 pm
  • Discovering Home at Cricketer Farm: Alan and Penny’s ...18 March 2025 - 4:05 pm
  • University of Bath students explore Porta site6 March 2025 - 3:36 pm
  • Cotswold Co Giveaway20 January 2025 - 4:24 pm
  • Festive Opening Hours20 December 2024 - 1:45 pm
Comments
Tags
Interiors

Testimonials

“This is our first experience of buying a new build home, our previous homes have been period properties, however, many of the features you get in a period property have been built into the design of our townhouse, giving it the warmth and character we both love in a home.”

Mr & Mrs Yeomans, Ellicombe Gardens, August 2018

Contact Us

    By answering 'Yes' you agree to your personal data being stored and used to receive the latest Strongvox news by email. View the POLICIES linked below for more details.
  • Use this FORM to report a WARRANTY DEFECT

Contact Us

Address

Strongvox Homes
Strongvox House
Blackbrook Park Avenue
Taunton TA1 2PX
Somerset
United Kingdom

hbf consumer code premier guarantee

spacer

Contact

General

Tel: 01823 444055

EMAIL

Facebook Instagram Youtube

Register For News

  • By ticking the above box I agree to my personal data being stored and used to receive the latest Strongvox news by email. View the POLICIES linked below for more details.

© COPYRIGHT 2024 STRONGVOX HOMES|POLICIES|TERMS TOP
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Scroll to top

Help To Buy

How does it work?

The Government lends you up to 20% of the cost of your newly built home, you’ll need a 5% cash deposit and a 75% mortgage to make up the rest.

Who is eligible?

First Time Buyers within the scheme’s regional house price cap.

For more information visit the Help to Buy website to download the Help to Buy Buyers’ Guide and to find out how to apply for an Equity Loan.

Eco Wise

The EcoWise standard incorporates smart technology and advanced features into our latest homes. These innovations significantly reduce energy use and carbon emissions, helping homeowners save money while minimising environmental impact. We are committed to not just meeting but exceeding current build standards, striving to set the benchmark for smart, eco-friendly new homes across the South West.

Eco-friendly smart homes

We’ll help get your existing house valued

Our latest EcoWise homes are significantly more energy and water efficient than older properties, resulting in substantial monthly and annual savings. These savings are further enhanced by the availability of competitive ‘eco-favourable’ mortgages for energy-efficient new homes.

The EcoWise standard includes:

Air source heat pump or A-rated gas boiler for energy efficiency and reduced emissions. • Solar panels with optional battery storage for renewable, clean energy with savings on intelligent tariffs. • Enhanced insulation reducing heat loss, energy bills, and environmental impact. • High-spec windows and doors with double-glazed thermal frames, minimising heat loss, and boosting energy efficiency and security. • Low-energy LED lighting that lasts longer and reduces maintenance costs. • Electric vehicle charging points for convenience and eco-friendly home charging.

Explore how our EcoWise homes combine innovation, comfort, and sustainability by viewing the EcoWise brochure

Part Exchange

Moving into a new Strongvox home could be quicker and easier than ever with Part Exchange.

We could buy your existing home to give you a faster, smoother move. And with no Estate Agent fees, you’d save money as well as time. As you’d expect, there are some terms and conditions, so please ask us for more details.

Assisted Move

Choose your new home

Choose your new Strongvox home and pay the reservation deposit to secure your plot for a specific time period.

We’ll help get your existing house valued

We will instruct two independent valuations to be carried out with a view to finding a buyer and secure a sale on your property within a specified selling period.

Reserve your new house

We will agree on a realistic and acceptable marketing price for your current home, based on the valuations. Once we have agreed on this, you can reserve your new house with us.

We’ll instruct an estate agent

We will instruct a minimum of one Estate Agent to sell your current home within a pre-agreed and specified timescale. This will include advertising and updates on viewings and offers.

Move into your new home

Should your current home remain unsold at the end of the specified selling period, we may either refund your deposit or in some circumstances, we are able to extend the selling period or discuss buying your current home with our Part Exchange scheme.*

*Subject to terms and conditions and on selected plots only.