12 Christmas gifts grom Glasgow: Scotland with style

As one of the most exciting and diverse retail centres in the UK, Glasgow boasts some seriously hip shopping.

Not only does the city have more than its fair share of shopping malls, department stores and high street names but it also offers a wealth of specialist outlets, which offer a different, 'local' retail experience.

Throw in the city’s internationally renowned reputation for music, art and design, its fabulous restaurants, style hotels and trendy watering holes and you have the perfect destination for a Festive Shopping Break.

To relieve the stress of finding that perfect present, we have come up with some unusual and stylish gift ideas for the 12 Days of Christmas, many of which are exclusive to Scotland’s style capital.

1. Carnet watch – £27.99
Burrell Collection, Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, G43 1AT.
Tel: 0141 287 2550

Designed by Hong Kong, jeweller, Michelle Ong, to accompany an exhibition of 100 of her creations at the Burrell Collection (until December 10), this beautiful watch is yours to own at only £27.99. It comes in a presentation box and may be purchased from the Burrell’s gift shop right up until Christmas Eve.

2. Brazen Necklace – £255
Brazen, 58 Albion St Glasgow G1 1LH.
Tel: 0141 552 4551. brazenstudios.co.uk

Black onyx and sterling silver necklace with cameo pedant taken from Brazen’s Magpie collection, launched as part of the Glasgow: Scotland with style Design Collective at London Fashion Week in September.

Customers are sure to find that special something from the amazing bold and stylish items on display in Brazen’s Merchant City boutique. The in-house workshop also provides the opportunity to commission individual pieces with the luxury of personal consultation.

3. belong bracelet - £14.95
belong, 114 Byres Road, Glasgow, G12 8TB.
Tel: 0141 576 5076. belong-jewellery.co.uk

Available from belong, a new jewellery boutique in Glasgow’s West End. belong offers style-conscious ladies and gents a desirable selection of completely unique pieces to choose from, and there is even a fun collection for girls and boys too!

4. Ness Harris Tweed bag – £22
Galletly and Tubbs, 431 Great Western Road, G4 9JA.
Tel: 0141 357 1001. galletlytubs.com

Quirky harris tweed bag from a selection at Galletly & Tubbs – an independent interiors and lifestyle experience, filled with exceptional pieces from around the world, selected for their individuality and affordability.

5. Stained glass from “Krakin” Glass - £215
Hutchesons’ Hall, 158 Ingram St, G1 1EJ.
Tel: 0141 552 8391.

Available from “Krakin” Glass exhibition and sale of stained glass, mirrors and designer jewellery by North Glasgow College graduate, Alison McLeod, at Hutchesons’ Hall on Saturday 9 December. Selected items also available until Christmas.

6. Festive Candles – Prices from around £5
The Candlestore, 23 Robert Street, Glasgow G51 3HB.
Tel: 0141 445 1066 shearer-candles.com

Shearer Candles was established in 1897 by a Mr. Shearer and a Mr. Harvey, who had previously worked as chandlers in Glasgow’s Candleriggs - the centre for candle making in the city. Now more than 100 years later, Shearer Candles remains a family-run Glasgow business and is recognised as one of the leading innovators in the fashionable design-conscious world of candles.

7. The Glasgow Film Festival Pass - £25/ £60
glasgowfimfestival.org.uk

The Glasgow Film Festival Pass has been launched in advance of the 3rd Glasgow Film Festival, which takes place from 15-25 February 2007.
The pass costs either £25 for access to 10 films during the festival or £60 for unlimited entry. Both types of pass are available to purchase before Christmas.

8. Demijohn Lyme Bay ginger wine - £1.40 per 100ml
382 Byers Road, G12 8AR.
Tel: 0141 337 3600. demijohn.com

Available from Demijohn, a new edition to the exciting West End deli scene. A smoother and more drinkable ginger wine that will delight the palate on any occasion. It can be used as the base for a warming Whisky Mack Cocktail (combine a shot of whisky with a shot of Lyme Bay Ginger Wine over ice)

Customers can choose from the delicious range of liqueurs, whiskies, rare sprits, complex olive oil, exciting vinegars and unusual spices all presented and gift wrapped in the most magnificent way.

Once you own a Demijohn bottle, you are invited to return and have it refilled at the cost of a refill only, reinforcing the company’s idea that a bottle is for life, not just for Christmas!

9. Marimekko wellies from The Lighthouse - £50
Form: The Lighthouse Shop, The Lighthouse, 56 Mitchell Street, G1 3LX.
Tel: 0141 225 8422. formshop.co.uk

Poppy wellies from leading Finnish textile and clothing design company, Marimekko. Exclusive to Form, a hip shopping destination within Scotland’s national Centre for Architecture and Design for design savvy folk hungry for the latest contemporary products for the home, for gifts or for sheer self indulgence.

10. Sound Bites: Eating on tour with Franz Ferdinand – £12.99
Available from amazon.co.uk

Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos gives an insight into his unique experiences of worldwide cuisine. Alex formally worked as a chef in a Glasgow restaurant, where he reportedly hatched ideas for his future band with kitchen mate and Franz Ferdinand bassist Bob Hardy.

11. Che Camille
143 Oxford Street, Glasgow, G5 9JE.
Tel: 07862720215. checamille.com

For the ultimate alternative Christmas present this year, step away from the high street and head to Glasgow’s Home for Independent Design. You will find fashion, furniture, artworks, jewellery, accessories, events and more from Scotland's best (and a few internationals). Opens Saturday & Sunday or phone for an appointment.

12. Fraser Bear 2006 - £20.
Frasers, 21-45, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, G1 3HL.
Tel: 0870 1607243. hof.co.uk

Exclusive to House of Fraser, the ‘Fraser Bear’ has a different ‘look’ each year and has become a collectors’ item in its own right making this a festive collectable for kids and adults alike.

Founded in 1849 by Hugh Fraser and James Arthur, Frasers is the city’s grandest department store with over 150 years experience of meeting the needs of generations of Glasgow’s shoppers. Inside its wonderful Victorian building is a one-stop shop of retail delights including a fantastic toy department!

Parking & Extended Opening Hours

The sheer joy of shopping in Glasgow is that the city’s three main shopping districts – City Centre, Merchant City and West End – are all laid out in a compact, walkable space that can be reached easily using public transport.

Park and ride is available at several Glasgow Subway stations – Shields Road being the main one on the South Side and Kelvinbridge in the West End – and Buchanan Galleries and St Enoch Centre shopping centres offer almost 3,000 parking spaces between them.

From 4th December until 22nd December, shoppers arriving at Buchanan Galleries’ car park after 5pm on weekdays will park for free.

Shoppers can also make full use of the 19 Glasgow City Council Car Parks, 16 of which offer parking for £1 after 6pm – excluding Dunlop St and St Enoch Centre. Sauchiehall Centre £1.50 after 6pm.

For further information on shopping, late night opening, parking and entertainment in Glasgow in the run up to Christmas, visit seeglasgow.com.