Braehead facts for kids
Braehead is a big shopping and fun place in Renfrew, Scotland. It's on the south side of the River Clyde. This area is famous for its huge shopping centre, a sports arena, and lots of other cool things to do.
In 2013, the shopping centre changed its name to Intu Braehead. This happened as part of a big change by the company that owned it.
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A Look Back: King's Inch
Long ago, until the 1700s, the land where Braehead now stands was an island. It was called King's Inch. You can still see this name in a road that goes through the area today.
In the 1100s, a castle was built on King's Inch. It was built by Walter Fitz-Alan, a important person in Scotland. Later, in the 1400s, another castle called Inch Castle was built there.
In 1769, a rich tobacco merchant from Glasgow bought King's Inch. He tore down Inch Castle to build a large country house. This house, called Elderslie House, was finished in 1782. It was designed by a famous architect named Robert Adam. Elderslie House was where the shopping centre is now. It was taken down in 1924.
Braehead Power Station
After World War II, a power station was built at Braehead. It made electricity for many years. The power station worked until the 1980s. It was taken down in the 1990s to make way for new developments.
The Braehead Explosion (1977)
On January 4, 1977, a big fire and explosion happened at a warehouse in Braehead. This warehouse was next to the old power station. Three boys accidentally started the fire. They were trying to warm themselves in a den they made from cardboard boxes.
The fire caused 70 tonnes of weedkiller to explode. Experts said the blast was like a very large amount of TNT. People heard the explosion all over Glasgow. Flying pieces of debris landed almost 3 kilometres away. About 200 shops and houses had broken windows. The damage cost around £6 million. Luckily, because it was a public holiday, no one died. Only 12 people needed help for shock and small injuries. This event showed how important safety is.
Braehead Shopping Centre
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| Location | Renfrewshire, Scotland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 55°52′34″N 4°21′53″W / 55.875987°N 4.364843°W |
| Opening date | 1999 |
| Owner | Savills |
| No. of stores and services | 110 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 7 (Primark, New Look, Boots, Next, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's and IKEA) |
| Total retail floor area | 98,474 m2 (1,059,970 sq ft) |
| No. of floors | 2 |
The Braehead shopping centre opened in late 1999. It has a huge area for shops and fun activities. There are 110 shops inside the main mall. There are also 10 bigger stores in a retail park nearby.
Braehead is also home to a very large IKEA store. It opened in 2001 and is the biggest IKEA in Scotland. Since it opened, the shopping centre has been very popular. It has even changed how shops in nearby towns like Paisley and Renfrew do business.
Inside the same building as the shopping centre, you'll find the Braehead Arena. There's also an ice rink. In 2000, the curling facilities here hosted the World Championships. In 2005, they were used for training during the Women's World Championships.
In 2018, Braehead was named the best shopping centre in Scotland. In 2020, the centre started trying out full-body security scanners at its entrance.
Clydebuilt Museum
From 1999 to 2010, there was a museum at Braehead called Clydebuilt. It was part of the Scottish Maritime Museum. This museum taught visitors about the history of shipbuilding on the River Clyde. It also showed how Glasgow and the river grew as industrial areas.
The shopping centre owners helped pay for the museum. But when they stopped their support, the museum couldn't afford to stay open. The Scottish Maritime Museum had to close it. The exhibits were moved to their other locations. The building where Clydebuilt used to be is now a Krispy Kreme shop.
Xsite Braehead
Xsite Braehead is a huge entertainment complex. It used to be called Intu Braehead Soar and Xscape Braehead. Construction began in 2004, and it opened in March 2006. Its main purpose is to offer lots of fun activities.
The building looks unique, with a sloped roof for the ski slope. Xsite has many exciting things to do. You can find an indoor ski slope, rock climbing, an Odeon cinema, bowling, mini golf, and laser tag. There are also many shops, restaurants, and bars.
The Snow Factor indoor snow slope is 168 metres long. It also has a special area for beginners to learn skiing and snowboarding. You can rent equipment if you don't have your own. Lessons are available for both skiing and snowboarding.
In March 2006, just before Xsite was supposed to open, part of the cinema roof fell in. This meant the cinema opened much later, on October 19, 2007. The first movie shown there was "Stardust". The cinema can show 3D and IMAX films.
In December 2011, the snow slope was bought by a new group. It was then renamed Snow Factor.
Getting There
Braehead is easy to reach from the M8 motorway. It has its own bus station. Buses run from many places, connecting Braehead to towns like Largs, Greenock, Paisley, and Glasgow. A ferry service called Pride of the Clyde used to run from Glasgow City Centre to Braehead's pier. This service stopped in October 2007.
Boundary Line Change
When Braehead opened in 1999, it caused a small problem. The border between Glasgow and Renfrewshire council areas went right through the middle of the shopping centre! In 2002, a special commission decided to change the border. Now, all of the shopping centre is in Renfrewshire. The boundary line runs along Kings Inch Drive.
