Boots

This is a medium-​sized branch of boots, it has pretty much everything you might expect, including a small pharmacy and a consultation room. There’s even one of those weird little machines that will measure your height, weight, bmi and body fat percentage.
There’s plenty of basics here, everything from first aid to shampoo and there’s a fair range of make up as well. There’s also a set of fridges for the sandwiches, salads drinks and snacks that make up the Boots meal deal, although in all my recent visits I’ve found these to be a bit depleted. Perhaps the trick is to show up early.
There’s two entrances with a checkout near one of the two. If no one’s operating this check out you can also pay for items at the pharmacy desk, but usually there’s someone around.
I think if you had a lot of shopping to do, or if you wanted luxury items, gifts or electronic goods you’d be better off going to one of the largers stores in the city centre. However, this branch does its job pretty well and is handy if you’re near Byres Road.

Over the past four years at uni I have been in here on average about twice a week (at least) to pick up a tasty and — hopefully — fairly healthy lunch deal for £2.99. I prefer this branch for said meal deal because it is super handy and the food area is all of three steps away when you step through the door. Then there is an even handier counter right opposite the food fridges. Perfect.
However, lately I have actually been in here to purchase other non-​consumable (well, meal deal consumable) items such as tights, batteries, makeup remover wipes and travel sickness pills (I do realise these are consumable, hence the earlier brackets). Needless to say, I have not been as impressed as I had been on previous occasions.
About two weekends before Christmas I was going down to Oxford with my friend for a secret weekend to escape Glasgow pre-​Christmas madness. The day before heading off, I popped in here to quickly pick up travel sickness pills (we decided for some stupid reason to book the nine hour bus journey). It wasn’t busy but it took me a good five minutes to attract the attention of a member of staff.
She looked me up and down in a suspicious manner and informed me ‘that medication’ was kept behind the counter ‘ONLY’. After following her and waiting till she was safely behind the counter, she then started asking questions about my ‘usual brand’. I responded that this trip was a one off and I only needed a cheap packet. She seemed to visibly snort, shudder and give me another unpleasant look before finally finishing the transaction and leaving me to trot quickly to the nearest exit. Fair enough, this is the worst example but still the last few times haven’t been entirely pleasant.
So, the three stars are really only for grabbing a quick meal deal and getting toiletry supplies when need be. If you can, make a point of going elsewhere, even to another Boots branch.

This branch of Boots is very handy for me, there are many places to grab lunch on Byers Road but the convenience and value of the boots £3 meal deal is often a good choice. For £3 you get any sandwich or salad box, a snack (crisps, yoghurt raisons chocolate bar) and a drink (bottles of juice, smoothies, bottled water etc.) so it’s a pretty good deal. Only downer is they frequently run out of sandwich varieties. Perfect I you’re in a hurry and its before say half past two.