PRESS RELEASE

12^th of December 2022

 Gretna Green Supports Springfield Primary School to Spread Festive Cheer

• Gretna Green continues long-running support of local primary school
• Gretna Green hampers donated to school for festive prize draw
• School pupils welcomed to Gretna Green to sing festive carols

Gretna Green, the award-winning wedding, hospitality, retail, and experience destination, located in Dumfries & Galloway, supports Springfield Primary School again this year to spread some festive cheer. 

Last week, 8^th of December, Gretna Green donated 3 hampers for Springfield Primary School’s Festive Prize Draw. Hampers were handmade by the Gretna Green team in Christmas theme. They contained a variety of festive fare, including sweets and biscuits, chocolates, tea, Christmas crackers, cosy cashmere scarves, candles and a voucher for a full Christmas lunch, including a turkey that can be collected from Gretna Green.

 On Monday 12^th December, Gretna Green welcomed 31 Springfield Primary School pupils to sing Christmas carols for visitors to the retail & attractions site. The schoolchildren enjoyed seeing Gretna Green’s Christmas decorations on display and gave a truly magical performance. Each pupil also got a Gretna Green Jute bag with sweets, pencils, a pen, and a Gretna Green Teddy Bear.

Being in a long partnership with Springfield Primary School, Gretna Green knows for sure what type of gifts would be appreciated more in such time of the year.

Isabel Rhodes, Chief Executive at Gretna Green, said: “We’re proud of our partnership with Springfield Primary School and how we’re working with them to spread some festive cheer. From supplying hampers for the school’s prize draw to welcoming the schoolchildren to Gretna Green to sing carols, it’s a testament to what our two organisations can do when they come together for the local community.”

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For more information or imagery, please contact the Gretna Green press office

[email protected]

Notes to editors 

About Gretna Green

Gretna Green is the home of weddings and one of the top wedding destinations in the UK. The Famous Blacksmiths Shop, in Gretna Green, has over 260 years of history and heritage, joining couples since 1754, and is now a world-class, award-winning wedding destination, with a 5-star visitor attraction, shopping and two hotels. Through five generations of ownership, since 1885, this family-owned and operated business has been at the heart of Gretna Green and Dumfries and Galloway local history for over 135 years.

Christmas Afternoon Tea 

Looking to fill your weekend with some festive plans? Then why not come to Gretna Green Famous Blacksmith Shop and enjoy our Christmas-themed afternoon tea.

Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea with a Christmas twist. Tuck into a selection of sandwiches, cakes, and scones, as well as mince pies and mulled wine. Enjoy all of this for just $16.50 per person. 

Can’t make it before Christmas? Don’t worry, our Christmas afternoon tea will continue until the 31st of December.

Book today by calling - 01461 337893

Already deciding which Christmas market to visit this year? If you are heading across the border, don’t forget to stop off at Gretna Green for your Christmas Market essentials…

Dress for the occasion

What better outfit to wear to a Christmas market than a stunning piece of cashmere, whether you’re opting for a traditional shawl to fully immerse yourself in traditional Christmas markets, or a traditional Scottish tartan cashmere scarf perfect for Edinburgh markets! Don’t forget to buy your accessories as well, including our range of hats and gloves. 

Snacks for the road

When travelling anywhere, it is key to have snacks for the road… There is no better treat in the winter than some Scottish fudge. Stop by and stock up on your Scottish fudge, with various Gretna Green brand flavours, including chocolate orange, clotted cream and white chocolate. The perfect snack to enjoy with that baileys hot chocolate… Or if you’re going for a more traditional car journey, don’t forget to pick up your Gretna Green own brand mint selection of travel sweeties.

Make a weekend of it

Whether you are travelling North or South of the Border to explore your Christmas Market, split the journey up either way and enjoy an overnight stay at the Home of Romance, Gretna Green. From just $112.90, enjoy an overnight stay in either our Gretna Hall or Smiths hotel. Enjoy a crisp wintery walk around our beautiful countryside, treat yourself and your loved ones to gifts in our retail attractions and visit our newly opened Gretna Green Experience.

Tartan and Tweed

As seen in New York Fashion Week earlier this year, Scottish Tartan has returned with a bang this winter. And what better place to buy your Scottish Tartan and Tweed for your Christmas presents than Gretna Green? 

If you’re looking to gift a staple item of clothing, that you can’t go wrong with, then our stunning range of cashmere scarves is the perfect gift to give a loved one. It is not just tartan that has been making the catwalk this year; we have also seen an increase in popularity for Tweed. Our range of Harris Tweed fulfils all your Christmas wishes. With various items and styles, you are sure to find a tweed that suits the one you love.

Food and Drink

Foodies unite… Christmas time is here. We have created a list of must-have Scottish food and drink to get and give this Christmas. 

There is nothing better than curling up on the sofa on a cold December evening and tucking into some Scottish Shortbread! Our Shortbread tins are the ideal gift; with various brands, including Walkers, Chrystal’s and the new brand Hiker Herdy there is plenty to choose from. Do you have a fudge or toffee fan in your family? Our delicious Gretna Green Vanilla Fudge is mouth-watering and comes in a luxury fudge tin, the perfect gift for a fudge lover! If your recipient opts for toffee, our colleague's favourite is our Gardiners of Scotland Scottish Toffee.  Our Scottish Sweet Treat Gift Box is for those in love with a little bit of everything! All your Scottish favourites wrapped into one, including Irn Bru, Edinburgh Rock, Macaroons and much more! The perfect Sweet Scottish gift to give this Christmas.

Nothing says Scottish drink quite like whisky, and at Gretna Green, we have a huge line of all the best Scottish Whiskys.  Firstly we have to start with our very own Gretna Green Blended Scotch Whisky, designed and distilled locally in Annandale Distillery, making the perfect balanced blend of malts. Trying to convince that relative that they DO and WILL like whisky? Why not gift them with Laphroaig Tasting Selection which includes 3 x5cl variations of Laphroaig the perfect gift for those who are looking to try something new.  

Jewellery

We love all things Scottish at Gretna Green, and that does not stop at jewellery. We have a spectacular range of Scottish jewellery available now. Some of our favourites include… Our range of Heathergem jewellery makes for the ideal gift to those looking for something uniquely Scottish. Heathergems Tree of Life range represents a fresh start on life, positive energy and good health - so it is stylish and meaningful. For those looking for more traditional Scottish jewellery gifting, then Hamilton & Young is for you. With our gorgeous range of necklaces, pendants and earrings, you will find the perfect gift for a loved one. 

Hampers

Look no further than our Christmas hampers if you’re looking for a Scottish gift that is all wrapped up. With various styles and price ranges, you are sure to find something for yourself or a loved one.  Our Scottish Larder Luxury Food hamper is the perfect Scottish hamper to gift someone who has everything this Christmas. With a range of Scottish food, including Scotch Haggis, Honey, Jam and other Scottish foodie items. Placed in one of our wicker hampers, this luxury food hamper has a little bit of everything. If you are looking for a more festive smaller hamper, we have also created a Scottish Christmas Treats Hamper, including all of your favourite Scottish foods, such as Haggis and Marmalades. We also sell our personalised clan hamper, the perfect personalised gifting experience this Christmas. Incorporating your very own clan name, our gift set includes; a clan scarf, mug, glass, book, coaster, badge and tea towel. 

As a fifth-generation family business, we know how much your parents and grandparents mean to you! This Christmas, we want to help you show the ones you love the most how much you care, and celebrate properly. With this in mind, we have carefully selected products and placed them in specific categories, including mum, dad and grandparents. To make the process easier, however, we have selected our top picks for gifting your parents and grandparents this year.

Home comforts

One comfort we can always find in our parent's and grandparents' homes, is the homey smell. What better scent to bring into the family home than one of our Gretna Green candles and diffusers. We have made gifting this simple, by creating candle and diffuser gift sets, hand-picked and wrapped with love. 

Gift your loved ones with presents which last this Christmas

We could not think of a better gift than our stunning range of cashmere, from jumpers and scarves to our Lona Scott blankets. Treat your loved ones to our exclusive range of Gretna Green cashmere scarves and accessories, available in various colours and tartans. Our stunning range of Harris Tweed is also a gift to last a lifetime. With our range of wallets, purses and handbags, you are sure to find the perfect tartan to suit your loved one. 

What is gifting without a tipple?

This year, we want everyone to celebrate together… so what not gift our exclusive range of Gretna Green alcohol. From local distilleries, our Gretna Green gin and whisky are perfect for your parent or grandparent this year. Pair it nicely with our new range of glassware, including champagne flutes and cocktail sets. 

Do your parents and grandparents have everything?

Then we advise gifting them with one of our bespoke Christmas 2022 gift sets. We have carefully selected a new range of His and Hers gift boxes. Our ladies' gift box includes our GG drop earrings, our large Gretna Green candle and diffuser, Gretna Green scarf, Gretna Green chocolate and 20cl of Bottega Rose Prosecco, the perfect gift experience for your mum or grandmother. We have also selected a men's gift set perfect for your dad or grandfather, which includes;  our own Gretna Green, hipflask, scarf and cufflinks. 

Santas elves have been working hard to prepare for Christmas; however, our team at Gretna Green have also worked tirelessly to make sure Christmas is as easy and successful this year! We have carefully selected products that the kids in your life will love, in our Gifts for Kids category. So whether you’re gifting a son, daughter, niece or nephew at Gretna Green, we have you gifting ready. 

When shopping for children, the best rule of thumb is one thing they want, one thing they need, one thing they wear and one to read… However, we have included a number five, and a little sneaky 6…

1. One thing they want 

This year we launched our new range of Katie Loxton, which has a fabulous kids and baby selection, with stunning gifting options. The range includes soft plush toys, which come in a cute little box ready to be wrapped and placed under the tree. We also have a range of Keel toy teddies, including our 70cm Henry Bear.

2. One thing they need

Kids always need backpacks, whether for school, sleepovers with friends or just to carry around all their toys! This year, why not treat the kids in your life to a Harris Tweed backpack, with a practical yet stylish design? These backpacks make for the cutest gift, available in a variety of colours.

3. One thing to wear

Alongside Katie Loxton, we have also introduced sister brand Joma Jewellery, creating the sweetest range of kids' jewellery. With sentimental pieces, including ‘Sweetheart’ ‘Lucky Star’, and ‘Bright Spark’. And for those little adventurers, we have an exciting range of Keycraft toys, including snap-on watches. 

4. One thing to read

We have various top kids' books to gift this Christmas, including Scottish favourites such as Greyfriars Bobby and the Hamish McHaggis series.  We also stock the bestselling kids' book The Wonky Donkey this book is not only great for kids but also for adults, with the line;

Cranky, stinky, dinky, lanky, honky, tonky, winky, wonky, donkey

No one will have a straight face! 

5. Stocking fillers 

Christmas shopping for kids is not complete without some additional sweeties… and our new range of Gretna Green sweets is an adorable gift. Designed in traditional sweetshop packaging and a range of the ‘old favourites', including dolly mixtures, your children are sure to love. What is Christmas without an Elf… Our Keels Christmas Elf is the perfect stocking filler or night-before gift, paired with one of our other Keels Chrismas range, including our Keeleco Christmas Penguin. 

6. One wee extra won’t hurt…

The night before is not the night before without one of our Christmas Eve boxes, all wrapped up in either a hamper tray or a white ‘shoe’ box. Let us make Christmas special and easy this year.

Gifting for him has never been easier with our help at Gretna Green… We have created a gift for him category that will steer you in the right way. We have also come up with some of our favourite products to help get those ideas for the men in your life, flowing.

Fashion and accessories 

Whether you’re shopping for your friend, dad, boyfriend, husband or brother, gifting clothes can be one of the most difficult tasks. At Gretna Green, we supply a range of men’s clothing, from new ranges of Barbour to the safe option of socks and quirky underwear! Our Barbour range is perfect for the outdoorsy man in your life, with various options, including the famous Ashby jacket available in various colours. For those looking to gift something a bit more formal, look no further than our new Joules shirts. 

Drink 

At Gretna Green, we believe that in true Scot form, you cannot go wrong with a wee dram of whisky at Christmas. This year we were excited to launch our brand Gretna Green Blended Scotch Whisky, locally distilled in Annandale Distillery. We also sell a variety of other favourites, including Speyburn, Old Pulteney, and for those looking to spend a little bit more, we also have our 40-Year-Old Dalmore. Don’t forget to make your gift a set by including one of our brand Gretna Green hip flasks 

Hampers

Our handpicked, bespoke hampers are the perfect gift for the men in your life who have everything. Our personalised Scottish Clan Hamper, is a unique gift to give this Christmas. Personalised with your clan surname, our clan hamper includes various items, including a whisky tumbler, mug, scarf and other small Scottish gifts. Or, for those with a sweet tooth, our Scottish Sweet Treat Hamper has wrapped up all of your childhood favourites, including traditional Scottish tablet and fudge.

Five reasons to shop at Gretna Green this Christmas 

What better place to begin your Christmas prep, than the Home of Romance itself? At Gretna Green, we pride ourselves on bringing people together, and what better time to do so than Christmas? Here are five reasons you should shop with us this Christmas -

1. We make gifting and Christmas easy; to achieve this, we have worked hard behind the scenes to pull together categories for each gifting section. Whether you’re looking for niche Scottish gifting or big brands, from our Gretna Green range to big brands such as Barbour and Joules, we have you covered. Personalise your order with your delivery note, or order one of our bespoke hampers, which are ready to go. If you are hosting this year, look no further than our stunning homeware range, from Christmas decorations to new bedding for that guest room… we have you Christmas-ready. 

2. Bespoke hampers are ideal for that person who has everything. With our range of cashmere, and alcohol, our Christmas hampers also make hosting a little bit easier; shop our range of food and drink hampers to start your festivity prep. We have also made the process of thanking your colleagues or customer easy with our carefully selected corporate hamper range. 

3. We are a proud family business. You are supporting a fifth-generation family business when you shop at Gretna Green. With this, our profits go towards supporting and building the Gretna Green community, and in return, we can gift you bespoke, handpicked gifting sent with love. 

4. Bringing you sustainable gifting, we want to bring the best quality gifting to you this Christmas; however, we also want to give back some love to the planet. To do so, we have opted for paper bubble wrap when we can, and we also recycle all unwanted boxes from our suppliers, using them as paper shreds for your parcel. Shopping with us is a sustainable option as we try to use as many local and sustainable brands as possible. This Christmas, we are proud to announce various sustainable brands perfect for gifting, including Scottish Fine Soaps, another family-owned business that takes pride in its sustainable gifting products. 

5. Bringing people together since 1754, when you shop at Gretna Green, you know you are buying from a historic, romantic location. Therefore, with every gift we give, we add a touch of love and romance. Our range of Gretna Green own brand products makes for the most special gift for a loved one. From our candles and defusers, perfect for those winter nights, our new glassware, perfect for hosting the festivities, to our stunning range of Gretna Green jewellery, ideal for those Christmas party nights or gifting options.  We want to bring everyone together this year, and make Christmas as easy as possible.

Buying for that special woman in your life, whether your mum, sister, girlfriend or wife, can be difficult! Especially if that person already has everything. However, we have come up with unique categorising to make the shopping experience for gifting the women in your life, easy. 

Jewellery

Dazzle her with some of our stunning jewellery. Gift ‘her’ with our newly designed Gretna Green jewellery, brownie points straight from the Home of Romance itself! We have a gorgeous range of earrings and necklaces.  Our gorgeous range of Joma jewellery makes for the perfect gifting opportunities. With all-new Christmas styles and our traditional options, you will surely find the perfect bracelet or necklace. With gifting options available for mum, grandmother and sister, Joma is the perfect personal touch to add to your gifting. Maybe your loved one prefers gold over silver, then look no further than our stunning Tutti and Co range. Make it a set by gifting a bracelet, necklace and rings. If you’re looking to add a little Scottish touch, then our gorgeous range of Heathergems makes for a unique and personal gift handmade in Scotland. 

Fashion

One of the easiest ways to have a more sustainable Christmas is to invest in your presents, and you cannot go wrong with a good quality handbag. Our new stunning Radley range, with matching bags and purses, makes the gifting process easy, all available from Gretna Green. Or treat your loved one to one of our new range of Barbour jackets, perfect for those winter strolls. With a variety of colours, including a stunning burnt-out orange, she is sure to love. Barbour has you covered from big to small. If you are opting for a more ‘stocking filler gift’, our Barbour range includes hats, scarves and additional pieces such as our travel cups - ideal for those on-the-go coffee drinkers! 

Drink

This year we love all things local and supporting communities close to us. Our alcohol range is no exception to this. Inspired by the beautiful surroundings of Gretna Green and distilled in the Scottish Borders, our Gretna Green gin is the perfect gift for gin lovers. However… a study carried out in 2020 found that there had been a 15% increase in female whisky drinkers! Women now account for around 35% of whisky drinkers (Master of Malt). Worry not; we were also excited to release our new Gretna Green Blended Scotch Whisky this year! Blended in our local Annandale Distillery, this Single Malt is the ideal gift for those new to whisky or those who are looking to try something new. 

We are all trying our hardest to become more eco-friendly; however, with the busiest shopping and eating period fast approaching, Christmas time can be one of the hardest periods to be sustainable. This does not need to be the case, and by shopping at Gretna Green, you can help make Christmas that little greener.

You are supporting a fifth-generation family business when you shop at Gretna Green. Due to the nature of our size, our carbon footprint is much lower than that of a larger corporation. With this, we hand wrap all of your orders and try to implement paper bubble wrap where we can. When packing orders, we make sure and used recycled cardboard from our supply, and our suppliers. You can read more about how we are becoming more sustainable here.

This year we launched an exciting range of our brand, Gretna Green products; where possible, all of these have been supplied locally. This includes our new Gretna Green Scotch Whisky distilled just down the road at Annandale Distillery. Using local suppliers can cut our carbon footprint while supporting local businesses. Our Gretna Green sweets are sourced from both sides of the Border, making them the perfect addition to a Christmas gift. Our Gretna Green cashmere scarves come in various colours and tartans, perfect for gifting.

As well as being eco-aware when buying our brand products, we are also conscious about what big brand products we bring in. This Christmas, a key way to become more sustainable is to buy gifts that last. Our range of Barbour and Joules are perfect for this as these brands have been carefully designed to support the environment, and are both designed for the outdoors. As well as this, our range of Harris Tweed handbags, purses and wallets are ideal for gifting. Using natural, sustainable and recyclable products makes for a sustainable gifting experience. In terms of smaller suppliers, we also buy in with sustainability at our forefront. We have recently launched products from the Scottish Fine Soaps Company, which prides itself on its sustainability pledge.