An odd mixture of a band's merchandise stall, a live music venue and a charity shop this volunteer…read morerun non-profit is a great new edition to the hidden lane community. It operates on the idea that big record labels and promoters are more interested in lining their own pockets than helping musicians NHC goes to the complete other extreme by paying every penny taken for merchandise, tickets and cd sales back to the bands. As well as stocking a huge selection of unsigned / indie band music, t-shirts and other miscellaneous merch they help the bands by putting on live music nights (which normally have a bit of free beer) and keeping a selection of equipment a band can borrow should they suddenly find their monitor or mic has died just before a gig. I've been to a few of the live music nights and they've all been great. Good music in a very relaxed atmosphere with people you can tell really care about the local music scene and want to help the artists succeed. Of course the free booze and the fact that you're welcome to BYOB helps as well! An interesting store with staff who can only be described as characters, I really hope they're business is a success. It is just the kind of community based effort Glasgow and wider music scene needs.

This place is a total gem - located in the Hidden Lane it's not immediately obvious to someone…read morewandering around the West End, but it should definitely be on your list if looking for awesome book, movie, and music finds. This is a not-for-profit business which provides support to the local music industry - you can find lots of merchandise here including tshirts, posters, badges, but also listen to local bands play - these sales are given back to the artists. They have a packed schedule and the venue style is really intimate so the music experience is a personal one. There is also usually free booze available for people who stop by - they are so incredibly generous here! The founder and staff of NHC are really passionate about their work and it shows through their approachable and friendly manner. If looking for something in particular or needing some advice, they are more than happy to help you. Lastly, they run lots of other types of nights here - for example tabletop game nights, video game nights etc so there's something for everyone. A cherry on top for me is that they are dog-friendly - our dog struggles to settle anywhere that's not home, but she was so relaxed here. Bonus points :)

Hmm, let's see. How shall I put this nicely? If you want to capitalise on a business that is…read morespiraling rapidly into liquidation then please, head this way. I'm not sure how long Music and Movies has been on Union Street. The whole place has a bit of a temporary feel to it, and it doesn't appear on Google Streetview, so I'm guessing that it's not long. Regardless, it won't be there for much longer either, as it's currently boasting a pretty stunning closing down sale. The deal is as follows - you can pick up any ten items (be they DVDs or CDs, mix and match as you please) for the very attractive price of £10. They have a pretty wide range on offer, too, even if it is a little eclectic. Mansfield Park and other BBC dramas languish beside Hollywood Rom Coms and stand up comedy. A little rummaging may be required but you're bound to find at least a couple that you fancy. And I haven't even mentioned the music! A large selection of albums released over the past few years grace the shelves in the music section, although you will find some older gems there too(Blondie, Eat to the Beat, anybody?). Cash only I'm afraid - but I advise that you take advantage of this deal while you still can!

I'll say one thing for HMV - they're a survivor. This is the only remaining branch in Glasgow…read moreoutside of retail parks (and not counting their subsidiary Fopp), and with everything purchasable from your phone these days it's questionable how long this one will continue to survive. Their longevity is entirely due to their diversification into DVDs, games, books and other merch - in fact these days you have to look hard to find CDs as the ground floor is almost entirely given over to DVDs. I've been buying records in here from the days when it was Virgin Megastore, and I still do buy some CDs here occasionally, as I'm pretty old-school and like to have a tangible purchase on my shelf when it comes to music. But today I was browsing the DVD box sets to see if anything caught my eye. There's plenty of shelf acreage to sniff around in, and the aisles can get a bit cramped at busy periods. This was a Sunday so it was very quiet, with only one person manning the tills. Yet another two were standing right beside me chatting when they could have been serving me, which didn't best please me. But apart from that minor service black mark, I don't really have any complaints about this place. It's not outstanding, but it does the job.

In the recent sad news of yet another business going into administration, it has alas came to visit…read morethe little dog and his master's voice. With more and more online sales either via Amazon, Play .com, itunes or equivalent, it really has hit the store hard. I think as a 80/90s child I still prefer a CD or DVD over a downloaded file. I like to see the hard evidence of where I have spent my money and know that I can never lose it unless it becomes a victim of the sock monster syndrome. I went in before Christmas to get my Dad the Daniel Craig's Bond Casino Royale DVD. I'm not at the Blu-ray stage so a good ol' DVD is still fine by me. I had a good nosey round the store, they still have a really good selection in this store, from games, DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, t-shirts, posters and mp3 players including assessories. I found a display of all the Bond DVDs but alas no Craig's Casino Royale. I asked a member of staff who was very helpful. He checked on the computer and explained that they were completely sold out as this had been the most popular Bond film. He said they were getting a delivery the following week and to try again then. I did however make a cheeky wee purchase of the 1967 Casino Royale with David Niven and Peter Sellers for myself. I went in the following week as suggested but I still couldn't find Casino Royale. Oh no!!! What to do?! Well I spoke to a member of staff who checked the computer and said it was in but hadn't been put on display yet. I was making an early visit, so fair enough. He was very pleasant and we made good Bond chat and he went through to the back and got me my Casino Royale DVD. I was very pleased with the service and it made it encouraging to go back. Online is convenient but you just don't get the personal touch and the banter. I hope an administer can be found and the famous HMV brand will continue to trade on our High Streets.

Despite now being under the ever-expanding HMV umbrella, Fopp has remained true to its roots and…read morecontinues to be one of the best and most affordable record stores on the high street. As one of the cheapest locations for DVDs and CDs, it's worth a look for all popular titles. Fopp also has a great selection of books, which is fairly limited but, compared with HMV, a vast improvement. Their selection goes beyond the typical rock biographies and cult classics. Prices are amazing also, with several titles as low as £2-3. A couple of months back I picked up Trainspotting and Oliver Twist for £1 apiece! However don't expect to find exactly what you're looking for as stock varies week-to-week. Union Street in particular is an excellent location, with 2 floors and a mezzanine dedicated to all types fo media. Brilliant selection, with bits and bobs such as posters, t-shirts and headphones for all your impulse-purchasing needs. Try to walk out of here empty handed - I dare you!

Fopp. Where your wages magically disappear…read more Slowly but surely getting itself back on track after the previous owners of HMV Group nearly ran it in to oblivion. They are now focusing again on what made them great, £5 albums, a quality vinyl section (stock is constantly getting better) and cheap books! Miles better than scrolling through the iTunes budget section. Even when you have no money you will find yourself buying something. I don't know how that works but it does.

excellent store that is in chaotic order but perfect if you want to dig for some bargains. I spent…read moreabout US$75 on records (no cds) in my hour-long rummage. Very friendly staff, the pretty girl behind the counter was almost as deaf as I am so had a good laugh trying to communicate!

Everything is here you need .think they moved into Oswald Street.round the corner 5 mins (bargains…read moregalore )walk.dvds ,records very good staff.

This WH Smith is pret-tyyy pret-tyyy pret-tyyy big inside…read more It's also far easier to find what you're after than the one on Argyle Street, with a nice tidy layout with a substantial amount of books, which are often on promotion. Otherwise it can be quite dear to get cookbooks and such from in here. They do a good range of stationary and magazines, with a poor selection of music games and DVD's which are overpriced. Sticking to what it does best though, this is a good place for books and stationary for kids right through to retired folks and is a good place to pick up bits and bobs at Christmas time. Dear for a wee snack on the move though..

I'm still someone who misses the good old Borders books shop on Buchanan Street and feel its a…read morereal shame theres so few places to go and read/ browse books/ magazines. The Sauchiehall St branch of WH Smith is one of the better stores. They have a great selection of magazines and bookzines on topics ranging from Photography and Arts to Cooking and Health. I've managed to come across a few specialist design magazines which I can't find anywhere else, and I often spend time browsing without feeling particularly pressurised to purchase, or that I'm being watched. The store also has a great selection of stationery, art and craft materials (some of the other things I get excited about). Theres also a post office at the back of the store which admittedly gets very busy especially at lunchtime, but staff are always very friendly and efficient which makes the difference. I can't see it happening, but a wee coffee shop and some comfy chairs near the magazine section would improve my browsing, but on the whole its a great store.

Avalanche Records is so near Queen Street Station, yet I get the impression it's relatively…read moreunknown. Stocking new records and a selection of second hand, too, Avalanche is a good bet for finding some obscure (well, to me anyway) records to add to your collection. It seems that they also stock some music from unsigned bands, which is a great thing to do. The staff really know their stuff too, so if you're at all stuck or confused, I'm sure they'd be able to help.

Avalanche is awesome…read more It's full of CD's you wont find in HMV along with live music DVD's. There's some second hand stuff in here as well and some vinyl. It's near Queen Street which is ideal and there are some cracking boxed sets behind the counter. Alot of good indie and alternative music in here and a good spot to pick up a rarity to add to your collection.

I don't know how this place still exists…read more I dive in here infrequently when I'm down that way to have a look around and I never see anyone buying anything. It's got some cracking band t-shirts in here that consistently please my friends when it comes to birthday time. You can also pick up some drug paraphernalia in here.

A record store very much of the old school, both for good and bad…read more If you like your music "classic" - Classic Rock, Classic Folk, Classic Pop - then you'll do quite well. There is a pretty good selection of records and CD's covering the main genres at decent prices (I struggled to see a record over a tenner, and most were on or around a fiver), and a good deal were in outer sleeves. There is also a bunch of singles to rummage through, and there is also a selection of second hand DVD's. There is also a second room that has a good selection of band t shirts, again at pretty good prices, and there is also lots of other bits and pieces to have a look at. On this front, it's a pretty good second hand record shop, and is definitely better than some of the others - I wouldn't have a problem spending some time here looking through the racks. If you don't like your music "classic" however, then you may not enjoy it as much. As far as the vinyl is concerned, music ends on or around the early 90's, and while a lot of the usual suspects are there, I didn't find a huge amount of stuff that I would have been tempted to get (admittedly I didn't look at the CD's, this might have been a different story). It's probably limited by what it can get hold of, but it certainly doesn't have the variety of stuff that Mixed Up has for example. Overall, pretty good, but it isn't at the top of my record shop list - still, it's worth a visit every now and then, and if you're looking for a black band t shirt then it's the place to go!

How can anyone resist a name like Young's Interesting Books? I've actually been here a few times…read morenow - it's in the Skirving St strip of shops which I love, and Young's is always worth a stop in. It's a second hand book shop, and as the title suggests, you're going to find some interesting gems in here. The window display is always amazing and they tend to have something quirky/unusual in there, or themed (recently they've had Star Wars stuff in the window). It's definitely worth taking time for a browse in here - if you were looking for something in particular you could ask for help, otherwise it's nice just to chill out and have a browse. You never know what you're going to find.

At last an independent book shop that isn't in the west end. In fact at last an independent book…read moreshop. In fact, scratch that, following the recent death of Borders or as my friend and his Northern accent calls it 'Boarders' at last another book shop! The name could be argued as a bit presumptuous.. but it has of course a wide range of second hand books from curiosities to standards and is just the place book lovers love to while away an hour or so. If you like to feel the book in your hand that has likely been all over the world, read a wee bit and judge not by it's cover or the anonymous tips of online book sellers then this is definitely the place for you. The prices are reasonable and they buy as well as sell. Ideal.