A Little Love Letter to Our Village

Banstead we have always believed to be one of Surrey’s best-kept secrets. A village-feeling High Street where shopkeepers still know your name, neighbours pause mid-stroll for a friendly hello, and community isn’t something you have to work hard to find, it’s just here, woven into daily life.

And truthfully? There’s never been a better moment to celebrate the wonderful, lived-in magic of a place where independents anchor the High Street, cafés hum with chatter, and people genuinely care about the people they serve.

Banstead has grown, evolved and blossomed in recent years, but what hasn’t changed is the warmth. The character. The unmistakable feeling that this is a village that looks after its own.

Why It Matters When You Choose Local

Villages like ours don’t stay vibrant by accident. They stay vibrant because people choose them again and again.

When you shop in Banstead, you’re doing far more than picking up flowers, a bottle for the weekend or a Saturday-morning coffee. You’re keeping money in the local economy. You’re supporting skilled, passionate people. You’re preserving the personality of the High Street. And you’re ensuring Banstead remains a chosen destination for strolling, browsing, meeting and discovering.

Local choices make a real difference:

• They keep our High Street buzzing with life

• They support jobs for local families

• They reduce the environmental impact of delivery-heavy shopping

• They help preserve the character that makes Banstead so special

Banstead’s Brilliant Independents (And Why We’re Proud to Stand Amongst Them)

At Mad Lilies, we’ve always believed wholeheartedly in the magic of an independent-led High Street which Banstead is absolutely bursting with it. Walk a few steps and you’ll find people pouring their heart, skill and pride into the businesses that make this village what it is.

Whether you’re picking up the ultimate Sunday roast from Ryan and the team at The Butchers Block, choosing a fabulous bottle from John at Banstead Vintners, browsing the rails at Fluke or Agenda, or catching up with a friend over coffee and something delicious at Café Chai, each stop tells its own story. These aren’t just shops they’re threads in Banstead’s rich tapestry.

We’re proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them. To collaborate with them, cheer them on, and celebrate the makers and small businesses who help our village thrive. Because when our independents flourish, Banstead flourishes.

Banstead — Captured in Art

Several years ago, we asked the wonderful Surrey illustrator Lisa Tolley to capture the Banstead we all recognise, not a romanticised countryside fantasy, but the real place: energetic, characterful, and full of community spirit.

Her original illustration pulled together the details that make this corner of Surrey feel like home: the cricket ground, Banstead Woods with its Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe carvings, and all the touches that feel familiar to anyone who lives here, works here or simply socialises here.

It quickly became a favourite, especially on our Banstead tea towel, which has travelled to new homes around the world, gifted by locals who wanted to send a little slice of Banstead to someone they love.

Evolving a Village Icon: What’s New in our 2025 Portrait

As Banstead has grown and changed, so too has the picture we all hold of it. New cafés, new characters, new favourite haunts and of course, our own beautiful new home at 127 High Street. So when it came to refreshing the artwork, Lisa didn’t just update the colours; she reimagined it to reflect the Banstead of today.

The updated illustration includes joyful, instantly recognisable details:

It’s a portrait that feels truly alive — a snapshot of modern Banstead.

The Banstead Collection — A Celebration of our village

Each piece in our Banstead Collection is its own little love note to our village, thoughtful, beautifully made and rooted in the place we’re proud to call home.

The Banstead Print
An illustration capturing today’s Banstead in all its charm and character.
👉 View The Print

The Banstead Ceramic Mug
Featuring a section of the updated Banstead artwork, including our home at No. 127 — it’s the perfect companion for your morning cuppa.
👉 Grab Your Mug

Our Iconic Banstead Tea Towel
Loved far beyond Surrey, this design has been sent across the globe by customers wanting to share a little piece of Banstead and back home.
👉 Get The Tea Towel

And because community spirit reaches further than our High Street, we continue to donate £1 from every print, mug and tea towel to the Dogs Trust — where our very first shop dog, the much-loved Duffy, came from.

Our High Street, Our Community, Our Shared Responsibility

Banstead’s strength has always come from its people, from the shopkeepers who pour their hearts into what they do, to the customers who choose to keep the High Street thriving. A village isn’t defined by its buildings; it’s defined by the everyday decisions that shape its future.

When you pick up flowers, a joint of meat, a bottle for the weekend or grab a coffee with a friend from one of our local businesses, you’re helping our village stay vibrant, welcoming and full of character.

It’s why we believe, wholeheartedly, that:

Supporting SMALL keeps our High Street alive.
Supporting LOCAL keeps our community strong.

These aren’t just slogans. They’re the truth of who we are and why Banstead deserves to be championed.

And while you’ve got your diary out… here’s what’s happening this coming week in our brilliant little village:

Thursday 27th Nov — Banstead Lights Switch-On, Wreath Workshop & Late-Night Shopping
We’ll be open late, feeling fabulously festive, and offering 10% off when you whisper the top-secret password “Mince Pies” at the till. (Yes, really. Whisper it. Lean in. Add a flourish. We won’t judge.)

Friday 28th Nov — Colour Friday
We’re celebrating Colour Friday with a special Ester & Erik promotion across our glorious 42cm tapered candles. Perfect for tables, mantels… or simply to sit there looking smug and stylish.
Keep an eye out for Wednesday’s email — your discount code will land there for use online or in-store.

Saturday 29th Nov — Small Business Saturday
A nationwide celebration (proudly supported by Amex) championing small, independent businesses — florists, cafés, boutiques, barbers, bakers, makers and all the gems in between. Born in the US, embraced by the UK since 2013, and now a brilliant annual reminder of why shopping small matters.

Hope to see you in the store this week at one of these events.

Ali & The Mad Lilies Team