Guest Blog Post: “Putting Our Money Where Our Magazine Is”
Article Written by Marianne Long, Director of Moonriver Publishing Ltd and publisher of the Handy Mags
Photography Credit: Anoif Photography on behalf of Visit Malton unless otherwise stated.
Saturday 6th December and I'd been staring at the January 2026 editions of the Handy Mag all week – our deadlines are such that we have to get our magazines to print well before Christmas. Our December editions were printed at the beginning of November, so it always feels like Christmas is over by the 1st December! I always love publishing our December editions, packed full with local businesses promoting their Christmas stock as well as pantos, fairs and carol concerts filling our what's on pages. I get to December and realise that I've been so busy helping our independent retailers and businesses promote Christmas that I haven't thought about my own shopping – the irony isn't lost on me!
Last Saturday was the first day of Malton Christmas Market and the atmosphere in town was rich with Christmas – carols, warm mulled wine and lovely twinkling lights. But before I could enjoy the festivities, there was the small matter of actually buying Christmas presents. Time to put our money where the Handy Mag is!
My husband swears by a trip to R Yates & Sons on Railway Street. It's absolutely his favourite shop in Malton and home to a treasure trove of... well, everything! If you're looking for an affordable range of country clothing, shoes, kitchenware, DIY, pet gifts, toys, hardware, electrical goods, cycles and accessories, and even gardening gifts, Yates pretty much has it all. Within twenty minutes, he'd found gifts for three people on his list. "See?" he said triumphantly. "This is why I never shop online.” And because he always tells me you definitely can’t trust anything online, he brought out cash to pay!
Photograph Credit: R Yates
We decided to follow a trail around the Market Place, starting in Market Street with The Rusty Fox. Jane and Jez Swallow run four shops on the street including Little Fox, Swallow & Sons and Smash. There are clothes for every age, budget and style with beautiful accessories that make great gifts. A good start.
McMillan’s is at the top of the street and always worth a visit, if only to chat to Jim and James about their latest whiskies. There is always a story, and it's exactly this kind of knowledge and passion you simply don't get in a chain store.
Moving up the road, The Gallery is run by artist Christine Hughes and showcases work from North Yorkshire artists, including her own. Her art is stunning. That's one of the best things about buying local – the person you speak to in store is often the owner and very knowledgeable about what they're selling. Christine could tell us the story behind every piece.
We diverted for some snacks in the Market Place from visiting traders and took a moment to soak up the atmosphere. On the opposite side of the square, The Patisserie is right up the road from my office on St Michael Street, so we've been known to partake in many a coffee and pastry at work. If you’re looking for Christmas hampers, or tasty festive treats for your own family, Andrew is an excellent pastry chef.
Photograph Credit: Marianne Long
Next onto Interiors at Nine to Eleven. From gorgeous unique homewares to pictures, kitchenware and lighting, as well as soft furnishings and an interior design service to be jealous of, it sits at the top of the Market Place. We found a few beautiful gifts here – easy! I can’t say what they were in case my family read this but hopefully they appreciate the quality!
Kemps General Store next door has recently been expanded and was definitely worth a visit. There are festive decorations, books of all kinds, stationery, foodie books, gift ideas for all and great customer service. It's award-winning this year, and justly so!
Family butcher and game dealer Derek Fox Butchers, also in the Market Place, has been trading for over 165 years through many generations and the shop frontage hasn't changed much in that time. Standing in there feels like stepping back through Malton's history, and the quality and service always amazing. My family love game at Christmas so it's definitely where we go, and we can always guarantee great value.
We needed another break at this point – too much talking, not enough coffee! Malton Relish is on the corner of the Market Place and Finkle Street and has been in business almost as long as the Handy Mag! Sophie Legard, owner, is an award-winning cook so we partook in a coffee and some lunch before heading out again. The deli is full of great food ideas for Christmas so worth a look before heading to a supermarket.
Sally Hindle at BIAS on Finkle Street, has brought Scandi-style clothing to Malton in the last few years. I struggle to go in there without wanting to buy something, much to my husband's dismay! But she has 'wish list' cards before Christmas so you can choose your favourites and then when your partner or family visit later, she knows exactly what you would choose.
Just a few doors down, Gemma Bicknell at The Topiary Tree, also on Finkle Street, was doing a roaring trade both on her Christmas market stall outside and also in the shop. Her handmade wreaths and festive greenery arrangements filled the air with that unmistakable scent of fresh pine, and we spotted several people walking away with armfuls of her creations.
There are so many lovely local independent businesses, and I can't mention them all. We haven't needed to travel into the city or out of town shopping centres at Christmas for many years.
By the time we made it back to the car, bags in hand and properly fuelled by local cooking, I realised that we'd ticked off the Christmas list in record time – no traffic jams on the ring road and no soulless retail parks. But we'd also had conversations with people we knew, discovered makers and their stories, and been part of our town's Saturday rhythm. Every pound we spent stays in Ryedale, employing local people, supporting local families, keeping our high street vibrant and full of character.
And that's exactly why, come January when I'm putting together the next edition of the Handy Mag, I'll be just as passionate about helping local businesses thrive. Because when they succeed, we all do. Everything the Handy Mag stands for, supporting local and building community, isn't just what we publish or fancy marketing language, it's who we are.