Our Favourite Artisan and Independent Shops on the Isle of Wight

If you love garlic, you should definitely head on over to the garlic farm gift shop, located on the farm itself in Newchurch. Here, you can get your hands on a wide range of garlic-flavoured produce, with everything from smoked and black garlic through to more exotic products such as garlic jams, sauces and even black garlic vodka! Here’s the farm’s range of produce  to get your taste buds tingling. Plus, if it’s particularly farm shops you love, here’s our top 5 farm shops on the Isle of Wight.

If you or your children are into dinosaurs, fossils and all things Triassic, Jurassic and cretaceous, we recommend you head to Shanklin to pay this lovely little shop a visit.

If you love to look at more creative items, head to Glory Art Glass in Sandown. This 20-year-old family-run business makes hand-sculpted art glass, and you can even watch glass blowing demonstrations so you can see how it’s done. A hand-made glass sculpture from the Isle of Wight makes for a wonderful gift, or as a new piece for your home.

Sticking with the arts, if you have a penchant for beautiful art and photography, you’ll also love the Chad Powell Gallery  in Arreton. Focusing in on the night sky, Chad depicts the Island’s coastal location in many different forms through fantastic photography, many of which you can purchase for your own home. If you adore sunsets and stunning scenery shots, be sure to pop in.

If it’s a sweet tooth you’re looking to satisfy, the Rock Shop in Shanklin is certainly worth a visit. Established over 70 years ago, this lovely little sweet shop is still a family-run business today and offers its customers pretty much anything sugary you can think of. From artisan fudge and liquorice through to chocolate, toffee, preserves and of course, Isle of Wight rock, if you can’t possibly wait to visit the shop, you can order your sweet treats online too.

If the festive period is your favourite time of the year, even outside of December, you simply have to visit the Island’s dedicated Christmas shop along Shanklin’s high street. Bursting at the seams with festive trinkets, tree decorations and winter wonderland scenes, it’s the perfect shop to inspire happiness and excitement. Many of the pieces you’ll find here are also unique and exclusive to the shop, making for wonderful, one-of-a-kind gifts. Please note the shop is open between March and Christmas Eve.

If you like it hot, look no further than Branstone’s very own House of Chilli. Sauces, balsamics, jams and chutneys are just the beginning of what fills the shelves of this Isle of Wight shop. Aside from getting your hands on all the usual chilli-infused treats, there are also some more unusual gifts to discover, such as chilli alcohol, chilli gummy bears and even molten lava chilli rock! Check out House of Chilli’s website.

For unusual gifts for yourself or others, Kaleidoscope is a lovely Isle of Wight shop to stop in and have a browse. Found in Sandown, not only will you discover a collection of unique and colourful kaleidoscopes (as the name suggests), but also jewellery, crystal trees, fossils, globes, Buddhas, gemstone hearts and so much more. If you love holistic gifts, head to Kaleidoscope.

If you’re partial to a drop of cider, you’ll want to head to Godshill’s cider barn, a family-run producer making their own cider, country wines and ginger beer. If that wasn’t enough, they also have tasty treats in the form of chutneys and pickles, marmalades and biscuits, plus cakes and more. You can find the cider barn located along High Street in Godshill.  

For wonderful antiques, stoneware, homeware and general hidden gems, you should definitely head to Bembridge to explore the Secret Garden. If you enjoy wading your way through unusual gifts and beautiful pieces to enhance your home, you’re sure to love it here. 

Explore this hut bursting at the seams with artists’ works, bespoke gifts and workshops, including teddy bear making, painting, wax art and loads more. If you have a creative streak, you will fall head over heels with everything about this Isle of Wight shop, which you can find in Branstone. 

If you’re considering visiting the Island to explore the variety of wonderful independent shops, we’re here to help you plan your stay.