Top Valentine’s Day gift ideas available at The English Market, Cork

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, the traders at the English Market have been busy preparing and curating a selection of local food gifts, crafts and treats, perfect to pick up for your loved one ahead of the big day.

Below are a selection of traders offering a variety of options to suit all tastes and budgets.

The Chocolate Shop

Synonymous with Valentine’s Day, chocolate is a universal treat that is always sure to delight! The Chocolate Shop has a variety of heart-shaped chocolate boxes, in a range of sizes and finishes, filled with a delicious selection of the finest handmade chocolates that The Chocolate Shop are best known for. The Chocolate Shop also stocks a full range of smaller Valentine’s chocolate gifts - perfect tokens of love that are sure to have Cupid in full flight! Prices for the Valentine’s heart-shaped boxes range from €20 to €50. Visit chocolate.ie to order online for click and collect or home delivery nationwide.

Charlie Mahon Ceramics Pottery

A new addition to the market, Charlie Mahon Ceramics Pottery offers a variety of locally handmade gifts that have a distinctive charm and quality. The ‘Grá - Heart Collection’ of mugs and platters are the ideal gift on Valentine’s Day and are a lighthearted way to say ‘I give you my heart’. The image of the heart encompasses the image of love, family, new relationships, understanding, friendship, forgiveness, and LOVE. This collection is beautifully finished with a high gloss glaze, is handmade from white earthenware clay, glazed with a secret recipe and hand-painted in Cork, Ireland, by award-winning Ceramic Artist Charlie Mahon. The Heart Mug is priced at €25.00 and the Heart Rectangular Platter is €30.00. Visit charliemahon.com to view the full collection or visit the stall at The English Market.

Roughty’s Little Sister

Late last year, Roughty’s Little Sister opened in the market and launched the market’s first-ever florist selection, offering a stunning variety of locally grown flowers and wildflowers that are hand-picked, prepared to your desired look and wrapped in traditional brown paper while you wait. The ideal gift for those who like to minimise their carbon footprint, while still ‘sharing the love’ with a very special bouquet of flowers. To help make your Valentine’s evening even more special, Roughty’s Little Sister stocks a range of food hampers including the ‘Pure Cork Tapas Box’for €125, that contains a selection of local farmhouse cheese, chutney, biscuits, cured meats, smoked salmon and more, everything you need to set up a romantic night-in. Visit theroughtyfoodie.com to order hampers online or visit the English Market stall.

On The Pig’s Back

Doing what they do best, On The Pig’s Back has a specialty Valentine’s Cheese and Charcuterie hamper available from €65. The box includes everything you need to assemble and recreate an authentic tapas experience at home, available with or without wine or prosecco to toast the occasion. Contents include a selection of cheese and charcuterie as well as On the Pig’s Back Terrine, Paté, crackers, dressed mixed olives, relishes, pickles and fruit, black olive tapenade, lemon and garlic hummus and Lorge handmade chocolate truffles to finish the evening with something sweet. Visit onthepigsback.ie to view the full range of options available for delivery nationwide.

The Good Food Shop

Known best for their range of natural Irish health foods and handmade products, The Good Food Shop at The English Market is offering customers the chance to create their own bespoke “basket of self-care” this Valentine’s Day.  Choose from their range of products including zero waste handmade Irish soaps, essential oils, oil burners, incense, Beeswax candles and more, to promote and encourage wellbeing. Each basket is filled with items to suit you, or the tastes of your loved one. Prices are individualised based on each item of choice and each basket comes wrapped and with a sprinkle of edible flower petals on top. What could be better than the gift of self-care? Visit the team at The English Market who will be happy to help or guide you.

As always, the English Market is the home of quality Irish food, with everything you need all under one roof, to help create a romantic meal in for two this Valentine’s Day. In addition, for those who may prefer to choose their own gift, an English Market gift voucher is a great way to show you care, with values starting at just €10, they can be purchased from any stall in the market.

For more information and to keep up to date with the latest news, visit The English Market social media pages on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook or visit www.corkcity.ie/en/english-market/