Eight varieties of apple, seven varieties of potato, one special shop. Nature’s Harvest is a classic greengrocer shop the likes of which you don’t see on many high streets these days. Chris Hudspith and his team of four part time shop assistants are happy to serve you any quantity of fruit and vegetables, from a single Mac Red apple (an unusual variety) to a kilo of dirty carrots! Seasonal fresh produce at great prices, what more could you want? (more…)
Ian is a bit of a legend in these parts. He loves a challenge and nothing is too much trouble for Mr. Gallagher who works at SOS Shoe Repairs alongside his trusty sidekick Craig. Stories abound about the fast and efficient service, the quality of the work done and all at a very reasonable price. (more…)
John and Debbie are doing pretty incredible things up at Townhead Farm. How many of us can honestly say we know exactly where our meat comes from, and that we’re happy that the animal we’re tucking in to has had a happy life before it makes it to our table? It seems small, but for something that as a nation, we eat rather a lot of, it’s a pretty significant thing, and John and Debbie are well on their way to changing the way we treat, buy, and eat our meat. (more…)
Kirsteen, the lovely, friendly Gallery owner.
The Rowan Gallery is one of those classic Hidden Gems. Blink and you might miss it as you walk along the sea front, but boy what a shame it would be if you didn’t slow those paces and take a right angled turn through the door. A superb selection of stylish gifts, books, cards etc, which is always a great thing, but it’s when you start digging a little deeper that you realise how special this place is. (more…)
It is probably only fitting that one of our first Total Local Heroes for Helensburgh is Kath, as she was the person responsible for us looking beyond our own borders at Totally Locally because she passionately believed that Helensburgh would benefit from using the Totally Locally campaigns by remembering all of the great things that are already in the town.
There is something special about local butchers in that the meat that they seem to provide to customers is simply much better that anywhere else…and Callaghans is no different in this regard. The passion and expertise is evident from the moment you cross the threshold.
This shop is simply stunning…from the moment you go in you feel that you are in a small snippet of some paradise somewhere. The quality of everything in the shop is top notch but the staff are very much down to earth.
The Helensburgh Pet Shop has been in business for well over 25 years and is one of those places where you cannot help to admire the passion that all of the staff have for what they do and their customers. It is all of the things that the big pet superstores are not and yet it has just as much to offer.
You can’t help but wonder why a shop called the Scandinavian Shop can be found in the town centre of Helensburgh, but it should certainly stir your curiosity enough to go and take a look. Inside is a fantastic array of chic ideas for gifts, the home, pretty much anywhere really.
This is an amazing little shop which somehow manages to pack more great designer jewellery, gifts, things of interest and all things fancy into every nook and cranny that makes taking the time to explore that much more rewarding.
Imagine a shop where your children are actively encouraged to try out toys, where nothing is ‘hands off’, where they can bring their pocket money and revel in the pleasure of picking out items for themselves and, in doing so, learn the joy of ‘hands on’ shopping. Welcome to The Toy Shop, on Helensburgh’s sea front.
Never judge a book by it’s cover, so the saying goes. Well the saying sort of fits The Buffet Shop. It’s not that it’s a plain cover, it’s just no amount of ornate book jacket design could prepare you for the the foodie extravaganza that confronts you when you step over The Buffet Shop’s threshold. The nearest similar experience this writer has experienced is during a trip to Italy while walking into a 100 year old, family run deli in Verona, Italy. (more…)
Eva set up River Hill Late 2010, and has already created a bit of an institution in Helensburgh. She started out with the idea of serving ‘posh sandwiches and coffee’ but when chef Johnny became involved it became a different game altogether. (more…)
