These Scottish small businesses are still running throughout the crisis - here's how you can help them
You can’t miss the relentless stream of news that’s facing us currently, as we hear more daily about the effects of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. It’s impossible to ignore.
It’s a great threat to our economy and industries, as most of us work from home, practice social distancing or are in the midst of a 14-day quarantine, meaning that many local businesses, including small boutiques and neighbourhood restaurants, are under threat from closure as fewer and fewer of us visit.
The good news is that we can all still play a part in helping keep our small business culture alive, without setting foot outside. In times of crisis comes ingenuity, and the following list of Scottish businesses are all demonstrating that, as they diversify to strive and stay open during this crisis, offering takeaway services, contact-free delivery and other new systems to make sure that we can keep them alive. So check the list below, and show your support to your local small businesses, in whichever way you can.
Smith & Gertrude
The Stockbridge wine and cheese bar has diversified its offering for the time being. The bar will be closed, with a takeaway-only service operating, selling wine cases, bread and sandwiches.
smithandgertrude.com
Bross Bagels
Edinburgh bagel powerhouse Bross is offering bagels to go and for home delivery via Just Eat and Deliveroo, so you can get your bagel fix in a contact-free way.
brossbagels.com
Twelve Triangles
Artisan bakery Twelve Triangles has opted for takeaway only at its four outposts, but you can also email any of the shops to pre-order your baked goods and specify a time you’d like to collect them. An online shop and delivery service is also in the works, so keep an eye on their social channels for updates.
twelvetriangles.selz.com
Mary’s Milk Bar
The iconic Grassmarket gelato shop is offering a variety of ways for you to get your frozen fix. The shop is still open, but it’s takeaway and card payments only. You can also order ‘build your own sundae’ packs, which will be delivered on foot and left at your door, to allow you to indulge in an extravagant ice-cream sundae without even leaving the house.
marysmilkbar.com
Bellissimo Vino
If a glass of wine is all you want, to take the edge off of these tricky times, then Edinburgh wine wholesaler Bellissimo Vino has got you covered, delivering wine and prosecco to your door, wherever you live. Orders over £45 are free for residents in Edinburgh and the Lothians, and local orders can receive same-day delivery. There’s no minimum bottle order, and you can get 10% off during March and April by quoting BV2020 at the checkout.
bellissimovino.co.uk
Topping & Company Booksellers
This gorgeous new Edinburgh bookshop remains open, but for those staying indoors, you can order online and have books delivered to the door for just £2 (or delivery is free, if you spend over £50). There’s also the option to purchase Topping vouchers online, which have no expiry date.
toppingbooks.co.uk
Golden Hare Books
Beautiful Stockbridge bookshop Golden Hare remains open to the public, but is encouraging shoppers to order online from their website to get their reading fix. Postage is free to EH postcodes, and just £2.50 to the rest of the UK. You can even call or email the store to place your order.
goldenharebooks.com
The Little Chartroom
Just because you’re in quarantine, doesn’t mean you can’t eat well! The Little Chartroom has launched an ‘at home’ service, offering three courses for £20 a person, with two choices of each dish to pick from each day. You can also order a bottle of wine to take home, at £10 less than the list price. Orders need to be placed and paid over the phone, and collected from the restaurant on Leith Walk.
thelittlechartroom.com
Treen
The full collection from the cruelty-free Stockbridge style boutique is available to shop online, with detailed product descriptions to allow you to get a feel for every item, without needing to be present. New brands will continue to join the online store, and there’s also options to purchase digital gift cards with no expiry date, so you or your loved ones can shop cruelty-free anytime. Free shipping is available on all purchases, the returns period has been extended, and Treen promises to share discount codes and offers across its social media channels too.
shoptreen.com
Pizza Geeks
When in a crisis, order pizza. Pizza Geeks offer a contact-free delivery service, allowing food to be delivered to your door without actually coming into contact with your delivery driver.
pizzageeks.co.uk
The Portobello Bookshop
This chic new bookshop has been forced to close its doors until at least April, but is launching an online store to help shoppers continue their love of reading. Orders that have been placed are being hand-delivered in the local area, or posted further afield, and books can be ordered over the phone whilst the website is being set up for online shopping.
theportobellobookshop.com
East Coast
Our favourite Musselburgh chippy (round the corner from the Hood office, natch) is offering an extended takeaway menu, to allow you to enjoy deliciously fresh seafood and other dishes at home.
eastcoastrestaurant.co.uk
Soderberg
The Scandi bakery chain is offering home delivery of sourdough bread, fresh juice, sandwiches, breakfast baskets, buns, cakes, salads, granola and more, if you order via email with them.
soderberg.uk
pickering’s gin
Who isn’t in need of a little gin at the moment? Pickering’s are offering free doorstep delivery for gin care packages within the Edinburgh City Bypass at the moment.
pickeringsgin.com
Good Times Roll
The Glasgow roll shop has gone takeaway and delivery only for the time being, and is available to order on Uber Eats, Just Eat and soon, Deliveroo.
goodtimesroll.co
Ka Pao/Ox & Finch
The owners of both of these Glasgow restaurants are offering a takeaway menu of selected dishes from both restaurants, to be collected from Ka Pao in the West End, where someone can bring the food outside to you. You can also order drinks from the menu, and pay over the phone pre-collection.
oxandfinch.com
Tantrum Doughnuts
A sweet treat can make even the gloomiest days feel a bit brighter, so we definitely recommend ordering a Tantrum doughnut - their two stores are open for takeaway only, or you can order online via Uber Eats.
tantrumdoughnuts.com
Loop & Scoop
If you need an ice-cream fix, you can now order take-home tubs from Loop & Scoop, which are available in the shop. If you’re not heading outside, you can order churros or ice-cream to your door via Uber Eats and Deliveroo.
loopandscoop.com
Naf! salon
The popular nail bar has had to close its doors for safety for the time being, but there’s plenty of ways to get involved. The salon have created wallpaper packs that can be downloaded to your phone, and on purchase you’ll be entered into a raffle of truly amazing prizes. Alongside this, they’re selling soak-off kits to get your gels off safely, and the option to buy vouchers for a future visit.
nafsalon.com
cafe strange brew
The Instagram brunch fave has launched a ‘call and collect’ menu allowing you to indulge in your favourite treats without risking your health. Simply call and order direct, paying over the phone, and collect your order.
Eusebi Deli
Glasgow institution Eusebi’s launched a deli takeaway menu, with is available to collect, or can be delivered contactlessly within one mile of the deli. The menu offers ‘heat and eat’ dishes to be cooked at home, ideal for stocking the freezer with.
eusebideli.com
el perro negro
Fancy a filthy, delicious burger during your downtime? El Perro Negro is available to order for delivery from Deliveroo and Just Eat.
alessio’s cafe & bistro
Kirkintilloch locals will love the new ‘at home’ service launched by this popular family-run cafe. The delivery service is available Mon-Fri, 9am-2pm, and allows you to order from a delivery menu, pay over the phone and have your food delivered within a 2.5 mile radius.
alessioscafebistro.co.uk
the bridge inn
This award-winning restaurant has launched ‘B At Home’, with a takeaway menu featuring a selection of the most popular dishes (think fish and chips, falafel burgers and even a DIY pie of the day). Starters, mains and desserts are all available, and there’s even a new ‘munchy box’ of treats to snack on. Order and pay via telephone, and collect from the restaurant, although delivery is available to addresses in Ratho.
bridgeinn.com
Aran bakery
The Perthshire bakery is open for takeaway, and is also now selling local coffee, flour, preserves, pasta, oat milk and other pantry essentials alongside their homebaked breads and pastries.
aran-bakery.com
bonobo
Vegans needn’t panic during the mass-buying hysteria, as Aberdeen’s Bonobo has got you covered. The plant-based cafe has closed its doors temporarily, but has launched an online shop and delivery service, so that you can buy store-cupboard essentials including plant milks, vegetables, toilet roll and even evening meals to order. Minimum orders are £15, and Bonobo won’t allow mass-buying, to keep it fair for every shopper.
bonobotribe.co.uk
Steampunk coffee
The North Berwick coffee shop has closed for sit-in customers, but via its online shop is offering coffee for sale, including subscriptions, and other merchandise. They’ve also just launched a brand-new ‘Self Isolation Coffee’ to keep you going through the tricky times, with free delivery if you’re in the local area.
steampunkcoffee.co.uk
The mad march hare
Amanda Farnese-Heath, aka The Mad March Hare, has launched a new vegetarian ‘social distancing’ menu, to allow you to eat restaurant-quality food in the safety of your own home. Main courses are priced at £10 per person and puddings at £5, and there’s 3-4 options to choose from each day. Order via email two days before you’d like your food, and it will be delivered to your door in North Berwick.