In the spirit of the season of goodwill, we’re appreciating the honest and simple joy of finding a good honesty box. Here are a few that are worth going out of your way for. And some of them really are out of the way.
The Scallop Shack, Isle of Lewes
Located on the Miavaig Pier, pop by and pick up a tub of scallops (or mussels, oysters and more) stocked in the fridge. If no one is about you can just leave your money. If you get lucky and they are about they’ll give you some excellent advice on cooking all their treats from the sea.
Chilly Cow honesty Box, Ruthin, Denbighshire
Get your ice cream with a dose of honesty. The Honesty Box replaced a normal shop when Covid began in 2020, allowing shoppers to buy Chilly Cow ice creams without contact with others. The shop also sells other local products including honey, james and chutneys. You can pay with old-fashioned cash or download the app and scan the QR codes to pay using PayPal.
The Cake Fridge, Shetland
Shetland is overrun with amazing honesty boxes and honesty shops. There are so many honesty bakeries, there’s some disagreement over who opened the original cake fridge! But you could do worse than drop into The Cake Fridge on the Voe to Aith road close to the Burn of Lunklet waterfall for a Muckle Custard Cream.
Eynsford Rescue Hens Honesty Box, Kent
Fresh eggs from good, honest rescued hens and all the proceeds going back into this not-for-profit. Happier hens, fresh eggs for you and a good dose of feelgood honesty. Everyone’s a winner!
The MustHeb Shed, Isle of Harris
Head to the roadside Mustard Shack on Harris for amazing sustainable, small-batch Hebridean mustards. If you must buy online you can (https://www.hebrideanmustard.com/shop_) but we think that spoils the fun!
The Happy Bookswap, Kidderminster
Dubbed ‘the happiest honesty box in the Midlands’ this honesty shop packed with books and sometimes plants, veggies and more is just a lovely place to honesty browse. Find it in Wilden between Kidderminster and Stourport.
Donnie’s Tablet Shed, Isle of Skye
It’s a fabulous drive with fabulous views to buy Donnie’s bags and bars of tablet on Skye. Even Donnie’s directions are endearing. “The shed is right at the end of the road in Geary, beside the turning circle and next to the animal refuge croft. Look out for the purple honesty box wee shed at the gate and all the ducks, goats, hens, geese, llamas and Highland Cows in the neighbouring croft.” Again, you can buy online (https://lochleventabletcompany.co.uk/) but then you’d miss out on the llamas and Highland cows!
The Honesty Box, Hebden Bridge, West Yorks
This box is more of a cafe. Located up a cobbled lane on a farm, halfway between Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge in the Calder Valley, you can turn up, put the kettle on, make yourself a hot drink and take a cake or ice cream and leave your money. There are seats inside the shed and a little bench outside.
If you’re charmed by the idea of honesty boxes and would like to ponder further upon them, turn to page 18 of the December issue, where Lucy Brazier discusses them.
