Independent shops

{hb} has all the atmosphere of a club, yet bizarrely lacks books. But don’t feel short-changed – the menus have clever wordplay a-plenty to get literary tongues wagging. Enjoy a brunch, things involving eggs, connoisseur sandwiches, meaty stews and…

Interiors, furniture, wall-hangings, vegan handbags, candles and art deco birthday cards. Oh, and jewellery, Christmas decorations, ceramics, soft furnishings and the occasional ashtray shaped like Chairman Mao's head. The fully comprehensive range of…

A record shop of the old school, One Up is run by music lovers for music lovers. The only independent record store in Aberdeen is stacked with CDs, posters, and signed memorabilia. Boxed sets are a speciality while downstairs is a den of vinyl and…

Loved and revered in Glasgow, the Missing enterprise used to be a bit more of a chain, but everything's now concentrated on this one hub near the Arches (with a wee sister out in Paisley). Still got a brilliant selection of secondhand music and films…

It's a spanking-new establishment, but we're intrigued. Architecturally sculpted into the bottom of DanceBase to international hairdresser Lesley Moses' vision, darling, Sublime stays open til 9pm, providing customers with a glass of wine before they go…

Pretty cotton print frocks, brief, patterned smocks and edgy T-shirts from the likes of Eucalpytus, Yamama, Ruby Walk and Sugarhill. Certainly at the top end of the Cockburn Street price range, but still that little bit more affordable than anywhere…

Fabrick print t-shirts while you wait. They didn't say what you should wait for, but with 300 designs and 25 lettering styles you are sure to be kept busy. Custom print a hoodie, a bags, a t-shirt or even some underwear (clean of course). Prices range…

Dark, incense-scented fairy cavern full of statuettes of imps, pixies and assorted gnomes. Run by a woman so ethereal she might well be a fairy herself.

From the folks behind Watermelon, another treasure trove of vintage clothes and accessories.

So much a Cockburn Street institution that it practically defines the area's identity, this tiny, dark little shop sells legal highs and all the assorted paraphanelia, as well as the odd saucy nurse outfit. Difficult to define, but very much part of the…

Ladies’ clothing, jewellery, accessories and highly covetable knickers for the Pollokshields girl.

Play it Again* Records are pretty keen on avoiding the corporate trappings of logos, mottos and mantras (but insist on keeping the asterisk). They sell and buy old records, CDs & DVDs that are in decent condition and fairly priced. Nothing will ever…

Uncompromising and fully-licensed sex shop at the centre of Edinburgh's gay district. Don't say we didn't warn you.

A proudly offbeat independent furniture boutique specialising in natural fabrics and one-off finds. Based in Aberdeen, the store has expanded and opened a new shop in the depths of Leith.

Local designer Joey D's clothes are remade and recycled from old items of clothing. Boiler suits, army tunics and tweed jackets are embellished and tweaked into styles that vary from clubby to downright flamboyant. Make sure you take a wander through…