Home to a number of the city’s longest standing independent retailers, Perth’s George Street is brimming over with fabulous wee shops, quality food and drink, and a dash of Art Gallery culture.
From firm favourites such as Whispers of the Past, The Bean Shop, Revival and Provender Brown, to the new kids on the block including Spotty Tiger, Terra Botanica and Casella & Polegato, it’s fair to say that small indie businesses rule the roost here.
A wee bit quirky, delightfully diverse – where else will you find vintage clothing, freshly baked sourdough and antique plates? – and all run by individuals and families who are passionate about their products, and who pride themselves on delivering top-notch service to locals and visitors alike.
Turn right at the bottom of the High Street for the best in artisanal food and drink, beautiful gifts and wonderful people.
Also leads also to: Watergate, Bridge Lane, George Inn Lane
Behind The Spotty Tiger door, you will find a fun and easy shopping experience for all the little darlings in your life.
This small and cosy shop boasts an array of beautiful baby and children’s clothes and accessories, as well as exciting and engaging toys and treasures. Prices start at under £10, making it a perfect stop for pocket money pennies and you can also grab a treat for mums to be, new mums, family, and friends too, making it an ideal choice for gifts for all occasions.
Steeped in retail tradition, owners (and sisters!) Jo and Laura come from a long line of Perth independent shop owners providing a wealth of experience and mentors on tap.
Consistently delivering brilliant coffee since 2003, the hard-working team at The Bean Shop take great pride in sourcing the very best speciality coffee beans from the world’s best growers and producers.
The beans are then roasted and bagged in small batches, using great care and experience, in their Watergate Roastery, just a few minutes’ walk away. This careful process ensures the superb aromas, distinctive flavours and individual coffee bean characteristics shine through in each and every cup.
These tried and tested coffee favourites sit alongside loose leaf teas, speciality hot chocolate, artisan chocolate bars and a wide range of quirky mugs, cute pots and coffee-making equipment.
A recent addition to the Perth independent shopping scene, Silvia Whiteley Art is a beautiful gift shop and gallery selling the owner’s original works.
Silvia is a self-taught artist, with a particular talent and experience in pet portraiture and wildlife art. The shop stocks her full range including her fantastic hand painted mugs – a go-to gift for those who know and love her work! – cushions, prints, and fun coasters.
Alongside highlighting Silvia’s exceptional talent, this is the perfect shop for something that little bit special.
44 George Street has been home to a cycle shop since 1906, making it one of the city’s longest standing independent shops. The shop changed hands in 1954 and has remained in the same family ever since, giving the city generations of knowledgeable owners – and happy customers!
Whether it’s for yourself or a gift for a keen cyclist, a first bike, new helmet, gloves, lights, or spare parts, the wealth of experience on offer – all from genuine, cycling enthusiasts – ensures you’ll receive plenty of advice and assistance.
Stocking well-known brands such as (Can we find this out please?), Richards is the perfect pit stop for novice and experienced cyclists, and for road, mountain and BMX disciplines.
Boasting a long and illustrious list of delighted customers since 1981, when the business was established, Janet Eagleton & Son Kilts & Sporrans creates bespoke pieces, and one-off designs, using traditional craftsmanship and the finest materials.
Offering handmade kilts, creative and traditional sporrans, unique sporran handbags, and all of the accessories you’d need to complete your outfit, the only limit on their bespoke designs is your own imagination.
Owner Janet Eagleton received an MBE in 2001 for her services to sporran making, and has trained son Marcus, in the traditional craft.
One of Perth’s favourite foodie destinations, Casella & Polegato, is the George Street outlet for the family’s Whitefriars-based, Italian bakery, which was established in 2014.
Owner, Denis Casella, a Master Baker, comes from a long line of Italian artisans and together with his team, he uses the traditional recipes passed down through the generations – with a little added twist and modern flavour combination thrown in for good measure!
The award-winning bakery uses only the finest, 100% organic, ingredients to produce their truly delicious range of sourdough loaves, croissants, pastries and other mouthwatering goodies. Buy to take home or sit in for a coffee, a deli sandwich, or a big slice of something wonderful!
Fine art and paintings will never go out of fashion and The West End Gallery has one of the best collections of traditional and contemporary art in the city. Founded David and Clare Dillon in 1979, the business is now run by their son Colin and wife Yvonne.
Classed as a fine art dealer and picture framer, the gallery boasts an extensive range of originals, pastels, watercolours, sculptures and bronzes.
Also specialising in signed limited editions by leading artists such as Doug Hyde, Terry Bradley, Aliaga, Greg Black and Georgina McMaster.
Provender Brown is an award-winning, independent delicatessen and cheesemonger which has been serving the people of Perth since 2005.
This beautiful independent shop is truly a food-lover's dream. Brimming over with the very best in Scottish, British and international produce, the shop boasts several awards and accolades including membership of the Guild of Fine Food and the Specialist Cheesemakers Association.
From cheeses to charcuterie, store cupboard essentials to seasonal favourites, and an exceptional choice in wines, gins, and whisky, you will find everything your tastebuds desire, all served up by a trusted team of experienced foodies. Enthusiasm and knowledge guaranteed!
The fantastic Byers & Co is both workshop and retail outlet, and is where the talented Linda Byers creates her stunning, one-of-a-kind jewellery designs all made from ethically sourced gems, precious stones, and fair-trade gold.
Whilst there is a small, and carefully curated off-the-shelf collection to choose from, Linda is best known for designing bespoke pieces to order and transforming family heirlooms and old gold into new and exciting pieces including earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets.
Avoid fast fashion and enjoy guilt-free shopping at the wonderful Revival Designer Dress Agency.
Revival has been around way before the online, preloved brands such as Vinted and Depop, and offers a unique, in-person experience while keeping you on the right side of eco-fashion! Selling preloved designer clothes on behalf of her many returning customers, Mandy ensures tip-top condition, quality and authenticity on all items sold.
There are fabulous outfits for any occasion, shoes, bags and accessories and you will often find one-off, vintage pieces. Bags, coats, dresses, daywear and occasion-wear all at fantastic prices, and in brands such as Dior, Kate Spade and Ralph Lauren.
Terra Botanica is a lush, green and gorgeous botanical boutique & florists selling a range of hand tied wild bouquets, house plants, outdoor plants, seasonal wreaths and other botanical gifts.
Owners Dougie Flower (yes really) and Linda Byers (also Byers & Co) want to spread the joy that plants and flowers can bring to this topsy-turvy world, and to do so in the most sustainable way possible.
You will find loads of popular and more unusual plants in all sizes, from teeny tiny to full formed. Don’t worry if you’re not the greenest fingered – they offer lots of advice and care tips too.
As well as off the shelf plants and bouquets, they do deliveries, weddings, funerals and special occasions. Look out, too, for their seasonal wreath-making workshops at various points in the year.
One of Perth’s longest standing independents, Whispers of the Past is a family-run business that opened in 1984.
Step inside and you will discover an Aladdin’s cave of fabulous, carefully curated antique and vintage treasures. Laura has a great eye for beautiful pieces and her experience means you can be guaranteed quality and authenticity with every purchase.
Alongside her preloved items, there is a selection of new jewellery, cards, gift wrap, candles and silk flowers. Whispers of the Past is a must-visit for gifts and little treats for the special someone in your life – or indeed, yourself!
This delightful shop is run by an extremely knowledgeable mother and daughter team who have built up years of experience in gold, silver and gem set jewellery.
Offering a wide range of modern and traditional designs by Scottish artists, you will find rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, brooches and pins. Warm and friendly service, and a variety of price points, makes this an ideal choice for gifts and for shopping for yourself.