Not the worst shopping centre I have ever been to...but not the best either. It's now known as 'Rutherglen Exchange Shopping Centre'. Situated on the Main Street, it's pretty much in the heart of Rutherglen and when you walk round from the train station onto the Main Street, it's one of the first things you see.
It's okay...I mean it's handy if I need to pop in for something so I can appreciate the convenience. There's a Superdrug, Home Bargains, Farmfoods, Card Factory, Peacocks, a butchers and a couple of others that I've never visited so they don't stick out in my mind. There is also an open plan coffee shop as well as a Greggs and a Subway. Not a bad selection - some of these are pretty convenient. Oh, there is also an amusement arcade for over 18's or 21's.
Obviously not being the largest shopping centre (and I sometimes question whether it deserve the title 'shopping centre') , it is harder to avoid the sales people offering to save you money on your electricity or offer you a credit card (I personally don't give them the time of day but it's impossible to walk around without hearing them!). It's always clean and tidy but it's very much a centre I like to be in and out of - never visited the coffee shop though it always seems to be busy. A lot of elderly visitors/parents with their young children tend to visit (and I'm seriously not child friendly) but I'm not going to hold that against the centre - the shops are for everyone (I need to remind myself that the next time I hear a screaming kid, haha!)
I don't love this shopping centre but I don't hate it either (though if I was a good shopping experience I'd rather make the effort to go into town) and I really think with some of the shops they have opened, they are trying to improve the centre and offer more. The Home Bargains, Superdrug and Card Factory are shops that I visit when I need to pick up a few bits and don't have the time/can't be bothered going into town/elsewhere. The butchers is also pretty good too - they have a nice selection.
I'll need to get some photos next time I pop in because they deserve an update - it's not that bad! read more