Walking in a winter wonderland 

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at The Royal Exchange with the launch of our fantastic festive campaign, ’Tis the Season. London-based designer Shilpa Reddy has created a stunning winter floral entrance to the building, and we recently launched our eye-catching digital campaign featuring seasonal workshops, influencer takeovers, interviews and the highly anticipated return of our Countdown to Christmas competition. And don’t miss our round-up of fantastic gifts to suit all tastes and personalities – all available to buy in-store at The Royal Exchange. Make sure you’re following us on @theroyalexchange so you don’t miss out on upcoming festive news and events.

Gold standard

Vashi jewellery makes spectacular stocking fillers

Bespoke jewellers Vashi has just launched its Christmas gifting, featuring festive favourites and timeless designs. From diamond-set necklaces and pearl earrings to elegant bracelets, all available to be customised to suit your loved one’s individual style and taste. There’s something to put a smile on everyone’s face. Shop in-store and online at vashi.com

New arrivals

Red8 Gallery is currently hosting an exhibition by Panik until 3 December

It’s certainly a busy time at The Royal Exchange with the launch of not one, not two but three seasonal pop-ups. First up is AIRE Ancient Baths, a Greco-Roman inspired spa tucked away in central London. This hidden gem is a true urban sanctuary, offering luxurious treatments such as massage and Himalayan body scrubs in tranquil orange-blossom scented surroundings. The spa is housed in the former home of Peter Pan creator JM Barrie in central London. The Royal Exchange pop-up allows people to discover more about this fascinating venture and to book experiences as a gift or much-needed treat. Speaking of treatments, this month also sees an exclusive retail pop-up from cult American skincare brand Malin + Goetz. The brand is famous for its stylish unisex beauty products, and visitors to The Royal Exchange can shop the full range as well as limited-edition holiday gift sets. Finally, we also recently welcomed a creative new pop-up in the form of contemporary art specialists Red8 Gallery. Red8 is currently holding an exhibition on London-based graffiti artist Panik, who is part of the influential ATG crew. Swing by the gallery to discover more and stay tuned for information on future exhibitions coming early next year.

Raise a toast 

While we’re on the subject of all things new, The Royal Exchange recently welcomed whisky and high-end spirits specialists and investment company Tomoka Fine & Rare. As well as hosting an exclusive tasting evening with Cognac Frapin on Wednesday 8 December (click here to buy last-minute tickets), Tomoka will also be holding in-store events throughout December. From the first of the month until Monday 20 December, from 12pm – 4pm, Tomoka will be hosting a variety of festive tasting sessions, giving visitors the chance to sample rare and limited-edition whisky from premium distilleries such as Bruichladdich, Mackmyra and Glenrothes. Make sure you pop-in throughout December to discover more – you won’t want to miss out.

Finishing touch 

Ticking off everything on your Christmas to-do list can be a bit of a minefield but nothing beats the experience of bricks and mortar shopping, especially within the spectacular surroundings of The Royal Exchange. For the person who enjoys the finer things, the exquisite leather accessories and gifts from Smythson are just the kind of little luxuries that need to be seen and experienced in-person. And this month, Smythson at The Royal Exchange will be running a special offer of a complimentary letter gift tag with any gift purchase, featuring Smythson’s iconic Nile Blue paper and gold lettering. All you need to do is loop this elegant tag around your present for the perfect finishing touch. These limited-edition gift tags are available from 1 December right through to Christmas (or until they’re all gone), so snap them up fast.