Getting to the shops can sometimes be a real pain in the proverbial in rural Scotland at times,…read morewhich is probably why we still have so many of these great wee convenience stores that carry the full range of products that anybody running a household might be looking for rather than the ones you get in urban towns and cities which seem to just give over a third of their store to alcohol?! Alas, I digress, Browlie's is a store I never miss going into when I'm in Biggar after some messages and I'm pretty well convinced that if you can't find it in here then you probably don't need it. Like so many of the shops in Biggar and other ancient towns the shops can be a peculiar shape with wee nooks and crannies. For example, I thought it odd that they didn't have any milk and dairy products until I discovered a wee corridor-esk part of the shop where they had hidden the milk and also a cash machine strange but true. Great shop, decent service, slightly cramped, but has got what you need.

Great shop. The staff are lovely, the prices are very good and the shop has tonnes of little nooks…read moreand crannies to explore! Compared with the cooperative in Biggar which is filled with grumpy (and sometimes down-right angry) staff, Brownlies has smaller queues, often cheaper prices, and a great originality. I love Brownlies.

It's your standard ENORMOMART style of supermarket, although being Lanark, it's not *that* big, but…read moreis always clean, well stocked and staffed by friendly people, unlike other branches of the same store that shall go nameless *cough*wishaw*cough* Not a big selection of fresh meats and veg compared to some Tesco stores, but there is a café and toilets which are always busy and clean. It is what it is. It's a chain supermarket, so there's usually some kind of level there that you can expect. The vicious circle of "I need this stuff, but I don't like shopping at chains" that small town life endlessly presents you with. The joys.

This is a fairly standard mid-sized branch of Tesco with nothing particularly exciting about it. It…read moreis located on the road that runs parallel to the north of the High Street, if driving I would usually approach by going up Oakbank Drive and then taking the first right, it's quite well hidden from the High Street so I think it's worth checking google maps first. If you are walking you can go through one of the closes that runs off of the High Street. It's quite a small branch of Tesco so you don't get the range that you get in the newer massive stores. The shop is mostly food, cleaning and bathroom bits and pieces with a small selection of electrical items, books and DVDs. When I do go here for a regular shop I would expect to find more or less everything I look for, although the selection of organic food, especially meat is quite poor and I would go elsewhere.

A Local convenience store in every respect, it's local and it's convenient. Unlike most small shops…read moreyou come across this one is a real public service given the distance to the next nearest shop, the infrequency of public transport and the harsh driving conditions that occur, particularly in winter, make this something of a life-line service. Most essential items are stocked, although what's considered essential can be somewhat subjective, for example they don't always have nappies, and if you want a loaf of bread on a Wednesday afternoon you'll be snookered until Thursday when the delivery arrives. In many ways such inconveniences really miss the point though, it's another part of the local community, where people often congregate to buy 'something' when the rain starts and you can find yourself engaged in witty repartee with the charming counter staff. The shop also acts as something of a community notice board with all manner of local adverts and information pinned to the back of the door and if you require a joiner, chimney sweep, logs or other then there is a good chance you'll find a number there. I only mark it down because I get miffed when I need bread on a Wednesday afternoon, although a recent refurb means that they seem to have a greater capacity for stock so maybe this'll change ;)

Small and pokey, lacking the charm or product range of it's local competitors Brownlie's across…read morethe road is far superior. There was a time when Spar stores were really great local shops, widespread in rural Scotland, serving a small community with everything it needs. Sadly those days are past and about all they are good for seems to be picking up a newspaper and a can of juice, that's certainly all I use this one for. What little they do have is poorly organised and difficult to find, which may explain why they always seem to have plenty of what they have in stock. I'm casting my mind about to try and think of something positive to say about the place, but I think the last time I was in the staff grunted at me as I seemed to be disturbing their peace.

I've always thought that Lidl is one of the most under-rated supermarkets out there. It's a store I…read moreuse on a regular basis and while it doesn't carry many of the major brands it does carry a number of good alternatives and some that are superior to their better known rivals, of course there are some that are highly questionable. However, if you don't mind checking the labels then it's worth it since the shopping bill is normally 30% 40% less than the other big name stores. The shop in Lanark is a good size with a good range of produce, the fruit can occasionally be of questionable quality, although the same can be true of the other supermarkets too. What I do like about this store is the staff, very friendly and competent, they appear to have a good level of staff retention and there are faces you get to know just as they seem to get to know you too. I hate supermarkets as a rule, so three stars only!

Absolutely phenomenal ice cream. There are so many flavours to choose from. It's always been busy…read morewhen I've been in, but don't mind the wait at all. Gives me time to choose what flavour I'm going to get. The staff are incredibly friendly. It is such a friendly atmosphere. I love it here

The ginger ice cream I had was entirely wonderful. Came highly recommended and I was not…read moredisappointed. Definitely worth the queue. I think the shop, and the town itself, could benefit from some strategically placed benches for people to sit on in the fleeting sunshine and enjoy their ice cream.

Laurel Bank is a wonderful little cafe in the beautiful setting of Broughton. The coffee is…read moredelicious and the pastries are delightful. I had the soup of the day, a white bean minestrone, and it was one of the best soups I have ever had. Everyone was friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend!

Delicious food, wonderful people, excellent friendly service…read more Visiting from the US and wish we could stay. Other eateries in the area are good, but Laurel Bank is our top choice.