Secret Edinburgh : Alternative clothing, corsets and wizards with Andrew O'Neill

All of my favourite places in Edinburgh seem to disappear. There was Flip - one of those alternative clothing shops that every city in Britain has, where I'd buy at least one t-shirt every year until it closed.

 

That honour has now shifted to Electric Cabaret, the goth / alternative shop on Forrest Road. They sell the wonderful vegan Iron Fist shoes, lots of black clothes with buckles and straps and bells and whistles on, to suit the 14 year old goth in your family.

 

They also have a brilliant range of t-shirts and stripy things and some great corsets. And the proprietor dresses like a pirate 24/7. He is a complete dude. Next door is the Creepy Wee Shop In The Graveyard, in Greyfriars Graveyard. They sell a wicked collection of skellington-based tat, although it seems to be closed more often that it's open.

 

Jordan Valley on Nicholson Street sells wonderful vegan food and the guy who runs it will usually get you to try some spicy paste he's made which will be delicious. I think he might be a wizard, too.