Why we started
We moved to Devizes from Wales in 2020, and discovered that it is an absolute hotbed of talented people, independent businesses, fascinating places, brilliant events and an enormous amount of creativity.
The more we explored Wiltshire, the more we realised just how much there is here that deserves to be seen.
From artists and makers working from their homes and studios, to independent shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants, from authors and musicians to community groups, markets, festivals and some truly wonderful places to visit — there is so much happening here.
And yet, finding it isn’t always easy.
Having been involved in Showcasing Wales, we already knew how useful a platform like this could be. We had seen first-hand how much there is to discover when you start looking beyond the obvious places, and how much local businesses and organisations have to offer when they’re given somewhere to be found.
So, when we moved to Wiltshire, it seemed only natural to do something similar here.
Showcasing Wiltshire was born from that idea: to create a place where the people, businesses, places and events that make Wiltshire special can be discovered and celebrated.
Why independent businesses matter to us
We firmly believe in supporting independent local businesses — and not just because Chris (aka the Artheist) happens to be one! 🙂
When you spend your money with an independent business, more of that money has the opportunity to stay within the local economy. It supports a person, a family or a small team who are working hard to build something of their own. They, in turn, spend money with other local businesses, employ people, pay for local services and contribute to the communities they live in.
We’d much rather see our money helping hardworking people in our own communities than disappearing into the already very deep pockets of huge corporations.
And for us, that means looking closer to home. We’re a British business ourselves, and we’d much rather support businesses here in Wiltshire, across the UK and, where appropriate, closer to home generally, than automatically handing our money to huge American corporations simply because they’re the biggest or most familiar names.
This isn’t about pretending that big businesses don’t have their place. It’s about choice.
If we have the choice between spending our money with a local independent business and spending it with a massive corporation, we’d like to make it easier for people to find the local one. Because every pound spent locally has the potential to do more than buy something.
It can help keep a business going, support someone’s livelihood and put money back into the community we all share.
I’m Canadian, so perhaps I come with a slightly ingrained belief that you should stand up for the little guy and not let the big guy push you around. 😉
That’s a philosophy I carry into Showcasing Wiltshire too. We don’t think being small should mean being invisible, and we don’t think independent businesses should have to shout louder than huge corporations simply to be heard.
And then there’s our family…
We’re a family with two children, one of whom is coeliac, so we have requirements that other people might not. We’re often looking for somewhere interesting to visit, something fun to do, somewhere good to eat or an event worth going to — but we also need to think about things like whether somewhere genuinely welcomes children and whether dietary requirements are properly catered for.
But Showcasing Wiltshire isn’t just for families.
Wiltshire is home to people at every stage of life — couples, families, singles, older people, younger people — and we want to help everyone discover something they might enjoy.
Our own family experience simply gives us another perspective. We know how frustrating it can be when somewhere says it caters for a particular dietary requirement, only to discover that the options are very limited.
Because “family-friendly” should mean more than simply having a children’s menu. And gluten-free should mean more than a baked potato. 😄
This is our Wiltshire
We’re still relatively new to Wiltshire ourselves. We’ve only been here since 2020, and we’re still discovering new places, meeting new people and finding out about things happening right on our doorstep.
And we don’t want this to be just about what we think is worth discovering.
We want to hear from you.
Where’s your favourite place to eat?
Who’s making something brilliant in their workshop?
Which independent shop do you always recommend?
What’s the best hidden gem you’ve discovered?
Which event should nobody miss?
Where do you take the kids?
Where’s good for a date night?
Who’s doing something a little bit different?
Tell us.
We want your recommendations, your experiences and your opinions. We want you to tell us about the businesses you love, the places you keep going back to and the people you think deserve a bit more attention.
Because the people who actually live here are the ones who know Wiltshire best.
Showcasing Wiltshire is our attempt to shine a light on all the good stuff that’s happening here — but we want you to help us find it.
Thanks for stopping by, Heidi.