New Skinny Hippo Craft Shop

Skinny Hippo
Skinny Hippo has opened where cherries used to be in Bath Street. The shop offers a mixture of gifts including some fair trade and some made from recycled material.
Skinny Hippo
There is also a craft area where children of any age can create, and plenty of room for a children’s party. I think when they were trying to think of a name for the shop – as a family – one of the children drew a particularly scrawny looking hippopotamus … Skinny Hippo!

On Sunday there will be an opening eventĀ  starting at 11 ending about 4.

21 thoughts on “New Skinny Hippo Craft Shop

  1. Man about town

    Alas, another shop in Abingdon that is of no use to me. What I want is real shops that stock what I need to buy, not fancy flim-flam garbage.

    Reply
  2. Abingdon shops

    I tend to agree I am afraid, what Abingdon really needs, is Greengrocers/butchers. I cannot get small quantities of meat in Abingdon. In Oxford Covered Market I get all my meat/groceries. Cannot eat supermarket meat at all I am afraid.

    Reply
  3. Secret Squirrel

    Hedges sell meat from their hatch… its a bit pricey but very good quality… Oh for a greengrocers though!

    Reply
  4. doozer

    I’d thought for a while that a ‘butchers and bakers and candlestick makers’ etc could have all been ‘inside’ Woolworths…in the style of a permenant ‘indoor market’. I quite agree that some ‘grocery’ shops would be good in a “market” town…. I am sure that the relevant councillors are hot on the case – as they have been for a number of years in Abingdon, so i believe.

    Having said that, good luck to Skinny Hippo..long may they prosper.

    Reply
  5. foodshopper

    I too want a butcher and greengrocer. I mentioned it to Woodlands butcher in Kidlington and he said he tried to but just could’t afford the rent. Shouldn’t there be a subsidy for such an important small business. I am so fed up with supermarkets selling halal meat without labelling etc. I don’t trust them anymore.

    Reply
  6. Isabel

    Bring back the days of Mac Fisheries, Dewhurst/Clays the Butchers and Gerrards the fruiterers, all withing walking distance of the precinct. They were the days!!

    Reply
  7. the color climax corporation

    there’s an idea – turn the old woolies into an indoor market of sorts with booths to rent – there’s one in kingsheath in birmingham i sometimes visit.

    Reply
  8. caroline Patto

    Once upon a time there were plenty of butchers and bakers….if they had been supported, they would be here still…..we now have a town full of pound shops and charity shops, At Skinny Hippo, we offer creative ideas for children, and Lovely gifts, for everyone, we think anyone who comes in will be pleasantly surprised, and very welcome, we will never please everyone, but will certainly do our best. We will unfortunately never sell sausages!!!!!

    Reply
  9. doozer

    Caroline…I couldn’t agree more. If the local councils supported their local shops and businesses more they would indeed have survived and if they changed tack now and chose to start supporting them now it may bring even more back to towns like Abingdon, or encourage even more forethinking people such as yourself to give it a go and do your/their bit to encourage poeple back to Town. Well done you for opening up, I wish you every success for the future. I hope to use your shop in the not too distant future… Out of interest, did you get any support from the various councils as way of encouragment to open?

    Reply
  10. Nick Webster

    Hedges sells excellent quality meat, far better than Dewhirst. You have several excellent markets (a new one has just opened) selling both meat (try the Dexter beef) and Veg. Patisserie Pascal sells the finest cakes and bread. Alternative, the aware winning Abingdon based De Gustibus bakery sells out of Added Ingredients and Local Roots. Just get out there and support your local markets and they will continue to flourish.

    Reply
  11. Neil

    Local Councils have no power to pick and choose which shops open and which don’t.

    The Town Council has supported the markets, and, with the Choose Abingdon Partnership, are trying to encourage more.

    There are far fewer greengrocers and butchers nowadays because the vast majority of people buy these goods from supermarkets. I may not like this, but it is just the way it is.

    There are several shops in Abingdon town centre from which you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables.

    This shop looks to me like a good addition to what is already avaialble in town.

    Reply
  12. Natalie Butler

    I think it’s great that we have new shops like this opening in Abingdon. Abingdon is getting left behind every other town in the county (ie Witney) because of the lack of good shops coming to the town. We have endless charity, everything for a pound and card and calendar shops. It makes a change to get something of quality in the town as it rightly deserves.

    I will definitely be supporting this new shop, please ignore the negativity and continue to draw in new customers. I will be spreading the word.

    Reply
  13. skinny Hippo

    Nice to hear some positive comments, Thanks so much, nice to have your support!…..we now have some painting parties and a ladies painting evening under our belt, and bookings coming in for the new year, so ,so far so good!!…. Stained Glass classes coming in January ( second sunday each month)…and lots more to come, watch this space…..Long live the Hippo!!!!!

    Reply
  14. skinny Hippo

    Hello from Skinny Hippo…..Just to let you know that we are holding a ‘stained glass’ course on Sunday 13th Feb, and also we are now also having Jewellery workshops and parties, with Jennifer Claire, and Tiara parties, which I know my daughter is planning for her Birthday!! hoping to have lots of activities in the half term hols………so watch this space!!!!

    Reply
  15. Woman from Abingdon

    Skinny Hippo.., what a lovely name! I will be visiting soon, glad to see a shop opening with such originallity! I wish you prosperity, all my best wishes.

    Reply
  16. Martin

    Yes it would be nice to go back to the days of Ronnie Barker and open all hours…. sadly those days have gone.. there are small independant buchers around, we have an exelent one in Harwell.. Bobs… If the people that are moaning now supported these people in the past they would still be there.. See you in Tescos

    Reply
  17. amanda

    a good shop for the children my little boy loved it, many great gift ideas and really friendly helpful staff. i defo will be going back

    Reply
  18. skinny Hippo

    Thanks Amanda, for your lovely comment, we hope that everyone will have a pleasant experience just as you did !!
    (please can we not mention Butchers or Bakers on here anymore!!!!) we now have a Bead Bar, and are holding some workshops for Mothers and Daughters…..for Mothers Day…see our website or facebook for dates……
    http://www.skinnyhippo.co.uk , we have a Ladies evening this week, and Four childrens parties this weekend, so word seems to be getting around……come and see us, we promise you a warm welcome!!

    Reply
  19. Erica

    What a lovely shop!!!! I’ve been there with my son and the staff were extremely friendly! There are many good ideas for presents,etc. I’ll be back for sure! Keep on the good work!

    Reply

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