This year has been like no other for small businesses across Southampton and shopping locally has never been more important. 

When you shop small not only are you choosing to buy great products but you are also supporting the livelihoods of real people across the region. 

As part of 'Small Business Saturday', we are bringing you a selection of the finest independent businesses from across Southampton: 

Biglands Bakery

Where: Biglands Bakery, 120 St Marys Street, Southampton, SO14 1PG

Hampshire Chronicle:

Biglands Bakery is a well established, family-run business which has been trading for over 15 years.

Baking is a tradition here and there has been a bakery at 120 St Marys Street for over 200 years, and Biglands have kept true to the traditions of craft-baking.

The team at Biglands pride themselves on fresh high quality bread, excellent value-for-money and customer satisfaction.

Sian Unwin from Biglands said: "Going into the Christmas season, we will carry on being open and selling freshly made goods every day. 

"We put our heart and soul into creating these goods, much the same as other small businesses so buy local and independent where possible."

Find out more online. 

October Books 

Where: 189, Portswood Road, Southampton, SO17 2NF

Hampshire Chronicle:

October Books is a co-operative, radical neighbourhood bookshop and community hub.

Founded in 1977 in Bevois Valley, the shop then moved to rented premises at 243 Portswood Road.

In November 2018, with the help and support of our community, many of whom invested time, money and physical labour, the shop moved to its own premises, at 189 Portswood Road.

October Books seek to promote a fair and equal society. The workers and volunteers are from many different backgrounds, and they bring diversity to the sho - so everyone feels at home in October Books.

Jessica Haynes,  coordinator and committee member at October Books said: "We provide community, personal recommendations, free events, a community space for hire, free books for schools, a community notice board and a safe space for people to retreat to where they know they will be welcome.

"With lockdown in place we've also been supporting those who have been isolating, providing free delivery of our fairtrade, organic and eco friendly products to those who are at risk. But of course we couldn't do any of that without the support of our customers and community.

"Supporting local independents means supporting a vibrant and interesting highstreet and community."

To find out more visit their website.

Owtons Butchers

Where: Various locations including Chalcroft Farm, Garsons in Titchfield, Andover and Bordon.

Hampshire Chronicle:

The Owton family have farmed the land at Chalcroft for over 750 years and over the last 40 years Owtons Traditional Family Butchers has established itself as one of the premier wholesale butchers and farm shop proprietors in the country.

John Harding, general manager at Owtons said: “We have had a challenging year like most with our catering business dealing with pub & restaurant restrictions and our retail shops dealing with the extra measures needed to keep our staff & customers safe.

"We have our famous Christmas Hampers available again this year and we have added a smaller version for those facing reduced family numbers on Christmas Day.

"By buying local our customers help us to support the 40 local farmers that we partner with to source the great quality meat we all deserve right now."

There are four farm shops including at Chalcroft Farm, Kimbridge, Garsons, Country Market and the recently opened butchery and farm shop at Rosebourne near Andover.

To find out more go online. 

Have we missed your favourite independent? Let us know in the comments below.