The magic of Christmas has arrived at Buchanan Galleries, with a heartwarming line-up of festive activities taking place throughout November and December.

Embracing the season of giving, the Glasgow shopping centre has once again partnered with Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity for its much-loved Christmas pop-up shop. Guests can browse a range of unique festive cards and small gifts, while enjoying live performances from local school choirs, hospital groups, and community ensembles. The charity’s popular gift-wrapping service will also be back from Friday 12 December, offering perfectly wrapped presents for a suggested donation of £3.

Adding to the festive magic, the centre’s Santa’s Grotto will officially open on Saturday 6 December in partnership with Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity. Families can meet Santa and his elves, share their Christmas wishes and capture a keepsake photo. Little ones will also be able to write a personalised letter to Santa and pop it into a dedicated post box, whilst enjoying an array of arts and crafts activities opposite the Grotto.

Ahead of Santa’s arrival, visitors are invited to snap a selfie on Santa’s Throne and share their #BGMerryMoments on social media.

Admission to the Grotto is free with an option to make a voluntary donation to Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity. All proceeds will help fund life changing projects and services at Scotland’s busiest children’s hospital, The Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.

Alongside the charitable activities, Buchanan Galleries has welcomed a host of new independent and seasonal retailers, including Och Vegan, Hunky Dory, Loose Spirits, Calendar Club and Heritage Accessories. Scottish streetwear brand, Baireatelier, will also be joining the festive line-up this November, offering premium t-shirts, hats, jumpers, and accessories.

A magical line-up of Christmas events is also available at John Lewis & Partners at Buchanan Galleries. Visitors can enjoy exclusive fashion, beauty, and home design masterclasses, perfect for discovering seasonal must-haves and transforming your home into a festive wonderland; get creative in wreath-making and Cricut workshops, crafting personalised jumpers, mugs, cards; or join Santa at his Tea Party with The LEGO Group, where children can enjoy stories, cocoa, festive treats, and receive a special LEGO gift to take home.

William McGowan-Smith, Head of Partnerships & Business Development, said “Partnering with Buchanan Galleries each Christmas means so much to the children and families we support. Every donation, every gift wrapped, and every festive moment shared helps bring comfort, joy, and hope to those spending time in hospital over the holidays. We’re incredibly grateful for the generosity of Buchanan Galleries and its visitors, whose kindness truly makes a difference.”
Kathy Murdoch, Centre Director at Buchanan Galleries, said “Christmas is a time for giving, and we’re so proud to be partnering with Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity once again, giving our guests the chance to spread kindness and support families who need it most this festive season.

“With Santa’s Grotto returning, exciting new brands joining the centre ahead of Christmas – with more still to come – and plenty of festive surprises in store, Buchanan Galleries is set to be a truly magical shopping destination this Christmas.”

For more information about Christmas at Buchanan Galleries, please visit: https://www.buchanangalleries.co.uk/

Buchanan Galleries has announced it will be gifting shoppers £1,000 in Glasgow Gift Cards in its Great Gift Card Givaway campaign to encourage local shopping.

The Great Gift Card Giveaway campaign goes live at Buchanan Galleries on the 20th October 2025 and runs through to 2nd November. During this time, businesses at the shopping centre will hand out small cards to customers with a QR code linking to an online game, which will reveal if the recipient has won a Glasgow Gift Card.

A total of 15 prizes will be handed out during the campaign: 5 x £100 Glasgow Gift Cards and 10 x £50 Glasgow Gift Cards. Winners can choose between a physical version of the Glasgow Gift Card or the digital version, which can be added to digital wallets, enabling the recipient to ‘tap to pay’ with local businesses.

The campaign follows the launch of the partnership between Buchanan Galleries and Glasgow City Council in 2025, whereby a self-service kiosk dispensing the Glasgow Gift Card was installed at the Sauchiehall Street entrance of the shopping centre.

Operated by Landsec, many of Buchanan Galleries’ 80 plus businesses, including John Lewis & Partners, LEGO, Social Bite, and ARRAN Sense of Scotland, also accept the Glasgow Gift Card.

Ellen McCartney, Events Co-Ordinator at John Lewis & Partners, said, “”While summer might not be long behind us, we know that our customers are already gearing up for Christmas – so we’re getting everything in place to help them celebrate.

“Whether you’ll be using these gift cards to buy presents for others or simply treating yourself, the team at John Lewis Glasgow will be happy to help. Best of luck to everyone entering!”

The Glasgow Gift Card, part of the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card initiative, is one of the biggest local Gift Cards in the UK with over 1200 city businesses accepting the card, including national brands and independent businesses. Almost £10 million has been locked into the city through the Glasgow Gift Card since its launch.

Kathy Murdoch, Centre Director at Buchanan Galleries said: “Our partnership with the Glasgow Gift Card has been really popular with guests at Buchanan Galleries.

“Shoppers appreciate the ability to spend their Glasgow Gift Card in a wide range of their favourite brands at the centre, in addition to many other fantastic businesses in the city. With Christmas approaching, what better time to give people the chance to experience the Glasgow Gift Card for themselves than with the Great Giftcard Giveaway!”

Colin Munro is the CEO of Miconex and said: “It’s brilliant to see the partnership between Buchanan Galleries and the Glasgow Gift Card developing with the Great Gift Card Giveaway. This campaign is all about rewarding shoppers for supporting their city. The choice on offer with the card is staggering, including the big brands you know and the local businesses you love and I encourage Glaswegians to kick off their Christmas shopping at Buchanan Galleries from the 20th October for a chance to win.”

This summer, musicians can take centre stage at Buchanan Galleries as the Glasgow shopping centre launches a ‘Busk Stop’ – allowing young buskers to perform inside the centre at a dedicated busking area for the very first time.

Launching on Monday 30^th June, Buchanan Galleries will be shining a spotlight on the region’s young artists and performers, where they will be given the chance to perform in a safe space to a walk-by audience.

Buchanan Galleries’ ‘Busk Stop’ has been specially created for young local singers and musicians to perform live at the centre, bringing a vibrant atmosphere to guests. 11-year-old Glasgow singer, Rachel Ronnie will officially launch the ‘Busk Stop’ with the first performance on Monday 30^th June at 12pm – 1pm.

The ‘Busk Stop’ will be located by the flower wall at Buchanan Galleries and will serve as a centrepiece for aspiring young artists to engage with visitors, entertain, and showcase their talent during the summer holidays. Following the launch event, performances will be on a rotation schedule to ensure fresh entertainment for all to enjoy.

The centre is calling for young artists across the region to register to perform at its ‘Busk Stop’ free of charge. Performers will be able to reserve hour slots throughout the summer holidays and is available to both emerging and seasoned young artists. Musicians interested in performing at the ‘Busk Stop’ at Buchanan Galleries can register their interest via Buchanan Galleries’ website: https://www.buchanangalleries.co.uk/en/articles-listing-page/busk-stop

Kathy Murdoch, Centre Director at Buchanan Galleries, said: “We’re incredibly excited to launch our ‘Busk Stop’ with Rachel Ronnie’s performance. At just 11 years old, Rachel represents the talent, passion, and creativity we want to spotlight throughout the summer.

“Glasgow already has a buzzing busking scene, and we’re proud to be able to provide a platform that supports the next generation of artists. The launch of our ‘Busk Stop’ not only provides a new layer of entertainment for our guests but also gives young local artists a platform to perform, develop their confidence, and share their talents, in a safe, welcoming and vibrant space, come rain or shine.”

The ‘Busk Stop’ will be available at Buchanan Galleries from Monday 30^th June. For more information about the ‘Busk Stop’ at Buchanan Galleries or to apply for a busking spot, please visit: https://www.buchanangalleries.co.uk/

Composer and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland student, Rachel Sullivan, is introducing visitors at Buchanan Galleries and Glaswegians alike to the world of opera through an original, innovative, and contemporary performance that was written, produced, and directed by Sullivan.

Bertha is a 60-minute, two-act reimagining of misunderstood character, Bertha Mason – ‘the mad woman in the attic – from the classic novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. Set in 1808, the opera explores Bertha’s emotional turmoil and cognitive deterioration during a time when women with mental ill health or disabilities were often dismissed and mistreated. Through dramatic interactions and fragmented memories, Bertha’s story unfolds: one of survival, self-discovery, and the power of female connection.

The performance offers a powerful perspective on the original novel, with a haunting original score, chamber orchestra of twelve musicians, and a cast of four singers set against a backdrop of immersive staging.

Those who are new to opera, or seasoned theatregoers are invited to a series of scheduled showings of Bertha at Buchanan Galleries on Friday 20^th, Saturday 21^st, and Sunday 22^nd June, where they can expect an evening of suspense and intrigue in an unexpected, yet accessible setting.

The ‘shopera’ is located on the Buchanan Street entrance of Buchanan Galleries, opposite Rolex. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Clyde Climate Forest charity, an organisation working towards planting 18 million trees around Glasgow over the next ten years.

Rachel Sullivan said, “Having the opportunity to produce and direct this work has been a real privilege and joy. It’s my aim for Bertha to reach those who may never have experienced a production in a traditional opera venue, and change the common perception that opera is for the select few. Buchanan Galleries has provided the perfect alternative venue, in Glasgow’s most central shopping centre, for which I am particularly grateful.

“I’m looking forward to welcoming the centre’s guests to come and experience Bertha, whether they are seasoned fans, or being introduced to the art for the first time.”

Kathy Murdoch, Centre Director at Buchanan Galleries, said “We’re thrilled to be hosting Scotland’s first ever ‘shopera’ right here at Buchanan Galleries. This is such a creative and original way to bring the arts to the high street and make opera more accessible to new audiences.

“Rachel and the team have created something really special with Bertha, and we’re proud to support local talent and community-focused performances like this. We hope our guests enjoy the opportunity to experience opera in a whole new way right in the heart of the city.”

Bertha is Sullivan’s first opera and largest-scale work to date and has been financially supported by a finalist’s prize from the Write Start Competition, facilitated by RCS Alumnus Sam Heughan. The costumes, set design, and props have been sustainably sourced or loaned by suppliers from in and around Glasgow.

Rachel added, “I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the incredibly talented cast, orchestra, and to my co-director, Hannah Siddiqui, without whom the production would not have been possible, and the outstanding musical director, Chloe Lu Ye. To have been blessed with such a dedicated and enthusiastic cast and crew is an experience is something I will never forget.”

Tickets for Bertha are on sale now and can be purchased via Eventbrite for the suggested donation of £5. Funds generated through ticket sales will support Clyde Climate Forest charity, with additional collection buckets available during the performances.

For more information about Buchanan Galleries, visit https://www.buchanangalleries.co.uk/en. For more information about Bertha, visit https://www.instagram.com/bertha_shopera/

Lovers visiting the city shopping destination on Friday 6 June can step into Kylie’s world of high-glam tension and take on a giant, custom-made Kylie buzz wire game – for free.

Participants who keep their cool, resist the pressure, and complete the heart-racing challenge without letting the tension take over and set off the buzzer can win prizes including Kylie tour T-shirts, tote bags, necklaces, caps, and Tension vinyls.

The free celebratory event will be held at Buchanan Galleries, Glasgow on Friday 6^th June, on the ground floor by the Flower Wall near John Lewis, from 10am – with free prizes available while stocks last.

Kathy Murdoch, Centre Director of Buchanan Galleries, commented: “We’re spinning around with excitement to welcome Kylie Minogue back to Glasgow and marking the occasion with our free giant wire buzzer game – guaranteed to get hearts racing and pulses rising.

“We love to enhance our visitors’ experiences – whether they’re shopping for an event, the next season’s must-haves, or coming simply to soak up the atmosphere. Whether you’re a lifelong Kylie lover or just want to feel the tension, don’t miss your chance to test your nerve, feel the pressure, and take the challenge in our one-day-only, fun game.”

Each participant will have three attempts to conquer the buzz wire challenge at Buchanan Galleries. The experience on Friday 6^th June is free and open to visitors and fans of all ages, while prizes last.

To find out more about Buchanan Galleries, please visit https://buchanangalleries.co.uk/.

Team ‘BamBrew’ from Shawlands Academy have been announced as the winners of the 2025 ‘Made in Glasgow’ enterprise challenge.

Made in Glasgow is a cross-school competition, hosted by Buchanan Galleries and Ahead Partnership, where 30 students were tasked to imagine and design an exciting community space for the city before going head-to-head in Dragons’ Den-style pitches. Centred around the theme ‘reimagining their local retail space’, the project challenged Glasgow pupils to present their ideas and vision for retail in the future, while considering the broader impact retail space has on the local area.

Year 10 students from St Mungo’s Academy and Shawlands Academy took part in three workshops at Buchanan Galleries which replicated real-life design processes. This included creative placemaking, community and customer insights, and environmental sustainability hosted by professionals at Buchanan Galleries, before the students developed their own ideas for a retail space to best serve their community in Glasgow.

The final allowed the teams to present their ideas to an expert panel, showcasing the principles learned during the workshops. The pitches addressed all aspects of creating a sustainable retail space, including establishing their concept, understanding their key audience, and shared how they would design and market the space. The final presentations included concept diagrams, mood boards and branding, survey questions for customer research, example social media content and key points on sustainability.

The winning team professionally pitched an innovating café specialising in Matcha Teas. Their concept aimed to tap into the growing popularity of Matcha as a trendy and health-conscious beverage to attract a fresh demographic to Buchanan Galleries – specifically teenagers and students.

‘Made in Glasgow’ aims to showcase the vital role young people can play in transforming the retail landscape into a dynamic force for positive change within their communities. In recent years, physical retail has shifted towards creating experiences, with shopping centres evolving into social hubs that foster and strengthen community connections.

The school engagement project is delivered by Buchanan Galleries, its parent company Landsec, and Ahead Partnership, and is funded by the Landsec Futures Fund. The £20m social impact fund is dedicated to enhancing social value to the communities it serves.

Kathy Murdoch, Centre Director at Buchanan Galleries, said: “Made In Glasgow is a wonderful initiative that encourages students to explore their creativity within the retail sector. Listening to the perspectives of the younger generation offers fresh inspiration for creating retail experiences that resonate with their needs and interests.

“This year, we have been really impressed by the creativity and innovative thinking shown by all the students – and would like to congratulate Team ‘BamBrew’ from Shawlands Academy, who after much deliberation from the judging panel emerged as well-deserving winners.”

“This is the second time the competition has run in Glasgow and helps individuals learn everything they need to know about taking an idea from its first draft to its design and pitch, whilst building self-confidence and skills to further develop their own career paths.”

Georgina Johnson, Programme Manager at Ahead Partnership said: “We have been so impressed by the quality and presentation of the students’ ideas for the second time delivering the Made In Glasgow challenge. Their concepts put community at the heart of the future of retail and incorporated innovative sustainability features that are so important to our places and spaces.

“It has been brilliant to see the Buchanan Galleries and Landsec teams come together to nurture the next generation of talent through employability skills development and role modelling, helping to engage more young people with the careers and opportunities available in the retail sector.”

The winning team will now progress through to the national virtual semi-finals where they’ll compete against teams from other Made In Challenges happening across the UK. The three winning teams from the semi-final will then head to Landsec HQ in London for the national final in-person in June 2025.

For more information, please visit https://buchanangalleries.co.uk/.

As part of Landsec Futures Community Grants scheme, set up by Buchanan Galleries’ owners, Landsec, three local community groups: Clyde FC Community Foundation, Men Matter Scotland, and Nostalgia have received funding to support their efforts in enriching and improving the lives of residents in and around Glasgow.

Clyde FC Community Foundation, official charity of Clyde Football Club, known locally as ‘the Bully Wee’, uses the power of football to improve fitness, education, and inclusion to the sport in the Greater Glasgow area. The grant will allow the organisation to extend its Healthy Heros programme, a mixture of fitness activities and healthy lifestyle education, alongside their innovative Talking Football programme, which provides an opportunity to show how literacy rich football is and how many jobs are available in sports, beyond playing, to more schools where the health and educational deprivation indicators demonstrate the greatest need.

Alan White, Charity Development Manager at Clyde FC Community Foundation, said “Through our work over the years, we have seen the transformative impact that sport can have in schools, both in relation to improving physical health but also to engage young people in topics such as literacy, numeracy and healthy lifestyles.

“We have also recognised that some schools – often based in the communities where need is greatest – simply do not have the budget to provide these sorts of interventions and young people who may feel the impact the most are not benefiting. The funding from Buchanan Galleries allows us to go into schools in some of the communities in Glasgow where we know the demand is present, but the budget is not!”

Men Matter Scotland focusses on supporting men’s mental health and well-being through peer-to-peer engagement from its base, the Hub, in Drumchapel. Open to men aged 16 and up, the charity provides a safe and inclusive environment where men can connect, share experiences, and support each other, whilst take part in physical health activities, workshops and skill building, as well as wider community engagement.

Anne Hughes, Director of Men Matter Scotland, commented, “In Scotland, the suicide rate among men remains worryingly high, this is due to factors such as urban deprivation and social isolation.

“We are delighted to be awarded this funding via the Landsec Futures Community Grant. Every week, up to 400 men attend our Hub in Glasgow, and this additional donation from Buchanan Galleries will help provide a variety of different wellbeing classes – everything from yoga and meditation to skill-building workshops, physical activities and sports.”

Rutherglen based community group, Nostalgia, works with older people and sheltered and care home residents to alleviate loneliness and social isolation. Nostalgia aims to encourage meaningful connections between residents through conversations and engaging group activities, giving members of the community the chance to make new friends and build support networks.

Philanthropist, Geraldine Baird, added: “At Nostalgia, we work to foster a sense of belonging amongst the most vulnerable members of our community in Rutherglen by hosting events that help spark old memories and new relationships.

“Over 160 elderly socially isolated people and carers attended our last Christmas event, which demonstrates the longing this generation have for meaningful connections.

“The additional funding from Buchanan Galleries will help us deliver more free events to older people and care home residents and give them the chance to forge new connections and meaningful relationships and help to eradicate social isolation and loneliness.”

Kathy Murdoch, Centre Director at Buchanan Galleries, said, “As a hub for the Glasgow community, Buchanan Galleries is deeply committed to supporting initiatives that create meaningful change in people’s lives.

“The Landsec Futures Community Grants allow us to directly contribute to the incredible work of local groups like Clyde FC Community Foundation, Men Matter Scotland, and Nostalgia. These organisations are driving positive change in areas that matter most – whether it’s through improving mental and physical health, fostering inclusivity, or addressing social isolation – and we’re proud to play a part in helping them expand their reach and deepen their impact across Glasgow.”

The Landsec Futures Community Grants scheme provides funding between £1,000 and £3,000 to support local voluntary groups and not-for-profit organisations in the community which are already creating value in the places they know best. Applications remain open for the scheme. To apply and for more details, visit: https://landsec.com/futures.