The Hamlet British Store: A Specialty Shop in Mount Kisco Dedicated to All Things British
Did you know there’s a store in Westchester dedicated to British goods? Opened in 2021, The Hamlet British Store was conceived by Mount Kisco residents Drew and Leigh Hodgson who shared the idea with their neighbors Michael and Karen Ransom during the pandemic. They quickly joined forces and opened in 2021, creating the only specialty shop dedicated to all things British in Westchester. At the quaint and beautifully curated store, you’ll find British food drinks, books, speciality candies, records, and more that you can buy in person or online.
In addition to shopping their selection of curated goods, The Hamlet British Shop hosts avrious events throughout the year, including Third Thursdays in the Summer (June 16, July 21, and August 18 at 8:00pm) with special sales and discounts and Chalk the Walk on June 25th, a communal chalk decorating event in celebration of diversity and inclusion. Read on to learn more about The Hamlet and what you can expect:
Westchester Family: How did the idea for The Hamlet come about?
Leigh of The Hamlet: My husband, Drew, and I had tossed around the idea of opening up a shop for many years, but kept starting the research process and then putting it on the back burner as life got in the way.
Finally, during the pandemic, our neighbors and now co-owners, Mike and Karen Ransom, randomly asked if we knew of any investment opportunities they could look into. We told them we should meet to discuss our ideas, and two hours later the ball was rolling.
Being English, Drew wanted to open a British shop. Being a teacher and bibliophile, I wanted to open a book shop. We both love vinyl records, so entertained the idea of opening a record shop. In the end, we decided to combine all of the above and open a British-themed shop that incorporated all of our interests.
Westchester Family: What can people expect to find in the store?
Leigh of The Hamlet: People can expect to find a full British experience when they walk into our store. We carry a collection of British foods, beverages, books, vinyl records, home goods, sports paraphernalia, and gift items.
For those who have been unable to travel to the British Isles, we have brought their best products stateside, right in Mount Kisco!
Westchester Family: Tell us more about the products and how you curate them in the store?
Leigh of The Hamlet:We have many different vendors to cover our many different products. Some we’ve found through online research, and some have contacted us once they’ve discovered our store.
Westchester Family: What are some favorite products in The Hamlet?
Leigh of The Hamlet:
Candy Bar: Cadbury Dairy Milk
Biscuits (Cookies): McVitie’s Milk Chocolate Hobnobs
Crisps (Chips): Tayto or Walkers Cheese & Onion
Vinyl Record: “Elbow” by Seldom Seen Kid
Book: “Hamnet” by Maggie O’Farrell
Westchester Family: What are some of your favorite things to do in and around Westchester?
Leigh of The Hamlet: On the rare days we’re off from the shop, we love spending our time wandering around some of the many quaint towns in Westchester. We also love discovering local shops and restaurants.
Visit The Hamlet British Store
23 S. Moger Avenue
Mount Kisco, NY 10549
914-334-1737
thehamletny.com
