Mercado

Mercado has been the go-​to gift shop in Bridge Road for about 12 years, and it shows no signs of slowing down, or handing this mantle to anyone else. It really is an Aladdin’s Cave of gifts.
I like the fact that I can go here and buy presents for my mum, dad, brother, sister and grandma without having to venture into the larger shopping town and give money over to big chain stores. Even if I have brought presents elsewhere, I go here to get cards, wrapping and gift bags. Look out for lines by Cath Kidston here, as well as wash bags and bath stuff from ZPM. There are also plenty of gifts for that hardest to buy for demographic, The Man! (they have a great range of cuff links here, which is always a dead cert for A Man present) It is also a great place to pick up children’s toys, and I don’t mean all those loud ones that take 26 batteries and change into a car. I mean good quality, even educational toys. (Remember those?). Many years ago, when I was going off to be a nanny for 6 boys in California, I stopped off here to pick up some wooden toys for them. When they opened these simple gifts, they honestly spent more time playing with them then the flashy-​lights gifts that others had got them.
I have also brought my niece an adorable little raincoat decorated with ladybirds and a matching set of boots that I haven’t seen anywhere else. I would definitely recommend this place for a gift search.