Articles - BGCP Comic Con

Geeky Day Out in Cumbernauld: Comic Con & Family Guide

9th April 2026

The Ultimate Geeky Day Out in Cumbernauld: Comic Con & Beyond Are you planning the perfect Geeky Day Out in Cumbernauld on 2nd May? Since the Cumbernauld Comic Con returns to the Antonine Shopping Centre on Saturday, 2nd May, the heart of the town will buzz with excitement. Whether you are a die-hard Marvel fan, a Pokémon collector, or just looking for a free family day out, we have the ultimate itinerary for your trip. Start Your Geeky Day Out in Cumbernauld at Comic Con Your morning begins at the Antonine Shopping Centre. Interestingly, this isn’t a ticketed event with long queues. Instead, it is a massive “Takeover” right in the middle of the mall. It has become one of the most popular free events in North Lanarkshire. Refuel: The Best Family Eats Near the Antonine Centre After you explore the stalls, you will definitely need to refuel. Fortunately, the town centre offers several spots that are perfect for a mid-day break during your geeky day out in Cumbernauld. Explore Local Landmarks & Hidden Gems Cumbernauld is more than just a shopping destination. Naturally, the town also boasts some incredible green spaces and unique activities. For this reason, you should extend your geeky day out in Cumbernauld by visiting: Ending Your Geeky Day Out in Cumbernauld As the Comic Con event winds down at 4:00 PM, you can enjoy the relaxing side of North Lanarkshire.

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Goth Day Out in Dunfermline: Blackheart Market & Guide

9th April 2026

The Ultimate Goth Day Out in Dunfermline: Blackheart Market & Beyond Are you looking for the best alternative things to do in Scotland’s newest city? Since the Blackheart Market takes over the Kingsgate Shopping Centre, Dunfermline city centre will get a lot darker. Whether you love gothic art, horror collectables, or ethical taxidermy, we have the ultimate itinerary for your Goth Day Out in Dunfermline. Start Your Goth Day Out in Dunfermline at Blackheart Market Your journey begins at the Kingsgate Shopping Centre. Interestingly, this isn’t your typical craft fair. Instead, it is a sanctuary for the strange and unusual. It has now become a staple of the Fife alternative scene. Refuel: Coffee and Culture in the City Centre After you browse the market stalls, you will need to refuel. Fortunately, Dunfermline offers many spots that welcome the alternative crowd. Therefore, these locations are perfect for a mid-day break during your Goth Day Out in Dunfermline. Explore Dunfermline’s Spooky History & Gothic Architecture Dunfermline has a long, storied history. Naturally, where you find ancient kings, you often find ghosts. For this reason, no Goth Day Out in Dunfermline is complete without exploring the local lore and creative talent: Ending Your Goth Day Out in Dunfermline As the market ends at 5:00 PM, you can enjoy the moody atmosphere of the city’s parks.

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Goth Day Out Kirkcaldy: Ultimate Blackheart Market & Guide

9th April 2026

The Goth Day Out Kirkcaldy: Blackheart Market & Beyond Are you looking for the best alternative things to do in Fife? Since the Blackheart Market takes over the Mercat Shopping Centre this Saturday, Kirkcaldy High Street will get a lot darker. Whether you live locally or travel from afar for ethical taxidermy and gothic art, we have the ultimate itinerary for your Goth Day Out Kirkcaldy. Start Your Goth Day Out Kirkcaldy at Blackheart Market Your journey begins at the Mercat Shopping Centre. Interestingly, this isn’t your typical craft fair. Instead, it is a sanctuary for the strange and unusual. It has now become a staple of the Scottish alternative scene. Refuel: Coffee and Culture on Kirkcaldy High Street After you browse the market stalls, you will need to refuel. Fortunately, Kirkcaldy High Street offers many spots that welcome the alternative crowd. Therefore, these locations are perfect for a mid-day break during your Goth Day Out Kirkcaldy. Explore Kirkcaldy’s Spooky History & Local Talent Kirkcaldy has a long, storied history. Naturally, where you find history, you often find ghosts. For this reason, no Goth Day Out Kirkcaldy is complete without exploring local lore and horror talent: Ending Your Goth Day Out Kirkcaldy As the market ends at 5:00 PM, you can enjoy the moody atmosphere of the coast. The Kinswood Hotel: To wrap things up, if you stay late, visit the Kinswood. It is famous for its “Lady in White” ghost. Clearly, it is a great piece of local haunted history to see before you head home. The Esplanade: Specifically, few things beat a walk along the waterfront as the sun goes down. If the Fife weather stays grey and misty, the Esplanade offers a dramatic backdrop for photos.

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The Ultimate Anime Day Out Dundee: Akuma Market Guide

9th April 2026

The Ultimate Anime Day Out Dundee: Akuma Market & Beyond Are you looking for the perfect Anime Day Out Dundee? With the Akuma Anime Market returning to the Wellgate Shopping Centre this Saturday, we’ve put together an extensive guide to help you make the most of the City of Discovery. Whether you’re a regular at Comic Con Scotland events or a local looking for things to do in Dundee, here is how to plan your visit for the ultimate geeky weekend. Start Your Anime Day Out Dundee at Akuma Market Your morning kicks off at the Wellgate Shopping Centre (Level 2). This event is a specialized alternative to a standard Comic Con, focusing 100% on Japanese pop culture. For fans of Manga and Anime, this is the heart of the local scene and has become a staple for fans across the country. Refuel: The Best Japanese Food in the City Once you’ve shopped the market, you’ll likely have worked up an appetite. Luckily, Dundee’s food scene has exploded, offering some of the most authentic flavour’s for fans of Japanese cuisine. No geek day out is complete without a stop for boba and ramen to keep your energy up. Explore More Hidden Gems in Dundee Dundee is known as the UNESCO City of Design, and much of that reputation comes from its history in video games and comics. To truly complete your experience, you should explore some of the other landmarks that make this city a pop culture hub. Ending Your Anime Day Out Dundee: TCG & Gaming As the market winds down around 4:00 PM, the fun doesn’t have to stop. Wrap up your evening by heading to one of the city’s dedicated gaming spaces to meet local players or try out a new Trading Card Game. Travel & Planning Tips for Dundee Getting to Dundee is easy, whether you are coming from Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Aberdeen. Parking: We recommend using the Wellgate Multi-Storey (DD1 2DB). It gives you direct access to the shopping centre, which is handy if you end up carrying a lot of heavy manga volumes! By Train: Dundee Station is an architectural marvel and sits right across from the V&A. It’s about a 10-12 minute walk to the Wellgate. By Bus: The Seagate Bus Station is even closer, just a 5-minute walk from the market.

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The Complete History of BGCP Comic Con Events: 2012 to 2026

24th March 2026

The History of BGCP Comic Con Events: From 2012 to Present The Big Glasgow Comic Page didn’t start in a boardroom; it started in a dusty, damp Glasgow market with the Doctor Who theme tune playing on an agonizing loop. I walked out of that venue disappointed, but inspired. I knew BGCP Comic Con events could be done better. At the time, I was working office and retail jobs with zero event experience. I just wanted a space to talk about comics, games, and movies. What started as a simple Facebook page quickly spiraled into book groups, pub quizzes, and eventually, a travelling Comic Con. We’ve since taken over everything from nightclubs and sports halls to shopping centres and lochs. Why? Because I wanted to create the events that 10-year-old me would have lost his mind over—affordable, local, and accessible. Growing up, I didn’t have much, so the goal has always been to bring the Con to the local town hall so a kid can spend their pocket money on a comic rather than a £20 entry ticket. Below is the master list of over 300 BGCP Comic Con events we’ve run since our inception. When was your first BGCP event? BGCP Comic Con Events: 2012 – 2014 Origins These early dates represent the birth of the BGCP Comic Con events circuit in Glasgow’s local pub and club scene. 2012 October 2012 2013 February 2013 July 2013 November 2013 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 BGCP Comic Con Events: 2015 – 2017 Expansion As we grew, our BGCP Comic Con events moved into historic halls and expanded beyond the Glasgow city limits. 2015 February 2015 March 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 October 2015 November 2015 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 2017 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 BGCP Comic Con Events: 2018 – 2020 Nationwide Growth This era saw BGCP Comic Con events hitting major Scottish towns for the first time. 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 2019 February 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 October 2019 November 2019 2020 February 2020 December 2020 Covid/Lockdown 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 2022 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 2023 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 2024 February 2024 March 2024 April 2024 May 2024 June 2024 July 2024 August 2024 September 2024 October 2024 November 2024 December 2024 2025 February 2025 March 2025 April 2025 May 2025 June 2025 July 2025 August 2025 September 2025 October 2025 November 2025 December 2025 2026 January 2026 February 2026 March 2026 Find your next BGCP Comic Con Event

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The Ultimate Pokémon TCG Set List: 1999–2026 Guide

12th March 2026

The Pokémon Trading Card Game has evolved from a simple hobby into a massive global industry for collectors and investors. Whether you are hunting for valuable Pokémon cards from the Base Set or looking for the next big investment in Scarlet & Violet, tracking every release is essential. Specifically, this list covers every major English expansion release chronologically, helping you identify rare Pokémon cards across every era. 1. The Original Series (Wizards of the Coast) 2. Neo Series (Introduction of Gen II) 3. e-Card Series (The Dot Code Era) 4. EX Series (The Nintendo Era Begins) 5. Diamond & Pearl Series How to Spot Fake Pokémon Cards in 2026: The Ultimate Guide 6. Platinum Series 7. HeartGold & SoulSilver Series 8. Black & White Series 9. XY Series 10. Sun & Moon Series 11. Sword & Shield Series 12. Scarlet & Violet Series (Current Era) Investment Tip: PSA Grading and Rarity When evaluating valuable Pokémon cards, condition is everything. Many serious collectors utilize PSA grading or CGC grading to certify the authenticity and quality of their finds. Moreover, staying updated on Pokémon card price guides and market trends is vital for anyone serious about Pokémon TCG investing. 2026 Guide: Best Pokémon Card Grading Services in the UK How to Buy Pokémon Cards at Comic Con Specifically, if you are looking to expand your collection, our events are the premier destination in Scotland. First, you should arrive early to get the best pick of the rare Pokémon cards on offer. Moreover, many of our specialist traders bring “raw” cards that are perfect for future PSA grading. In addition, you can often find better deals here than you would on online auction sites. Furthermore, if you are a serious collector, you might want to look for the Pokémon 151 Guide on our site before you shop. Consequently, knowing which Illustration Rares to hunt for will save you both time and money. Therefore, we recommend browsing our full expansion list above to identify which eras interest you most. Finally, don’t forget that you can also sell your Pokémon cards directly to many of the vendors at our shows.

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Geeky Day Out in East Kilbride | Ultimate Guide & Comic Con

4th March 2026

The Ultimate Geeky Day Out in East Kilbride: March 2026 East Kilbride is home to one of Europe’s largest indoor shopping complexes. It is a perfect sanctuary for geeks escaping the Scottish weather. Many come for high-street brands. However, the real magic is in The Hub and The Plaza. Specifically, the East Kilbride Comic Con on March 28th & 29th offers an incredible weekend of pop culture. A Brief History: The Heart of Scotland, East Kilbride The shopping centre east kilbride is a major landmark. To understand why, we must look at its origins. East Kilbride was Scotland’s first “New Town” in 1947. It was designed to help overcrowding in Glasgow. The town’s design was futuristic for the time. It centered on a commercial core that became the east kilbride shopping centre. The centre was built in stages. Original open-air precincts were eventually enclosed. This created a massive all-weather destination. The plaza east kilbride shopping centre was a major expansion. It added a modern aesthetic to the town. It evolved into a sprawling leisure hub. The centre often features in the news east kilbride. It is a primary driver of the local economy. Today, it is a vital part of kilbride scotland. It is a major destination for anyone visiting east kilbride scotland. The Geek Itinerary Top Rated Restaurants & Budget Eats (Verified 2026) Refueling is essential for a two-day event. The Hub offers many great options. These include budget eats and sit-down Italian dining. Specifically, these three are the most popular choices: Why East Kilbride is a “Geek Capital” of Scotland The EK Comic Con is a massive anchor event. Because of this, scotland east kilbride is a top destination for fan culture. By visiting the ek cinema, ice rink, and eateries, you support the local community. In summary, this guide helps you find free things to do in east kilbride. Plan your visit for March 28th-29th now. Specifically, follow the BGCP Facebook page for live updates!

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Free Perth Events: Blackheart Market at UHI Academy

23rd February 2026

The Spooky & Spectacular Blackheart Market Perth: A Free Alternative Event About The Blackheart Market Perth The Blackheart Market Perth is the city’s premier destination for the darkly inclined and the curious. Following the success of our events in Glasgow and Dundee, we are bringing the shadows to the UHI Perth Academy for a massive takeover of alternative crafts, horror, and gothic culture. As one of the standout Perth events, this market is a top choice for those searching for What’s On Perth or unique things to do in Perthshire. While many niche conventions charge for entry, the Blackheart Market is completely free. This makes it the best budget-friendly day out for goths, horror fans, and collectors of the macabre. Why it is perfect for the alternative community: Entry & Optional Support The Blackheart Market is for everyone. General entry is Completely Free. You do not need a ticket to enter—just turn up and enjoy the eerie atmosphere! However, organizing these specialized markets involves significant costs. To ensure we can keep coming back to Perth, we offer Optional Donation Tickets: VIEW ALL BLACKHEART DATES Venue: UHI Perth Academy (Academy Sport) The event takes place at the UHI Perth campus on Crieff Road. The venue is spacious, accessible, and provides the perfect backdrop for our diverse range of traders. Getting Here: Trade at Perth’s Biggest Alternative Market The Blackheart Market is a high-traffic event that attracts thousands of fans of horror, goth, and alternative subcultures. If you sell dark art, oddities, or alternative apparel, our Perth date is a must-add to your calendar.

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The Ultimate Guide to Alternative & Gothic Clothing in Glasgow

7 Best Alternative & Gothic Clothing Shops in Glasgow (2026)

20th February 2026

The Ultimate Guide to Alternative & Gothic Clothing in Glasgow Glasgow is the undisputed capital of alternative culture in Scotland. Whether you are looking for Victorian-inspired corsets, punk-rock accessories, or the latest “dark academia” aesthetics, the city’s streets are packed with hidden gems. Specifically, finding the best alternative clothing in Glasgow requires knowing where the locals hide. From permanent storefronts to the roaming treasure trove of the Blackheart Market Glasgow, here is your verified guide to shopping in the shadows for 2026. 1. The Blackheart Market Glasgow (The Premier Alternative Hub) If you want the most diverse range of gothic clothing in Glasgow, you cannot miss the Blackheart Market. Unlike a standard shop, this is a massive takeover event that brings together dozens of independent traders. 2. DMG SCY (Damaged Society) (St. Enoch Centre) Located in the heart of the city’s premier shopping hub, Damaged Society is a cornerstone of alternative shops in Glasgow. Spiritual Successor to Hellfire, Flip, Dogg & Cyber (RIP 3. Record Fayre (Chisholm Street) For those who express their alternative style through music and DIY fashion, Record Fayre is an essential stop. Located just off the Trongate, it is one of the city’s oldest independent shops. Bonus points if you remember coming here for your Catty Unders half price passes. 4. Osiris Gothic (Queen Street) Few names carry as much weight in the Scottish alternative scene as Osiris Gothic. Styling Glasgow’s alt scene since 1971, Osiris shares its home with Eurasia Crafts on Queen Street, creating a massive multi-floor destination for the darkly inclined. ) 5. Dee’s of Trongate (The Subculture Legend) A true Glasgow institution, Dee’s of Trongate has been dressing the city’s subcultures since the 1960s. They are an essential stop for anyone seeking alternative clothing in Glasgow with a sharp, retro edge. 6. VANS Store Glasgow (Buchanan Street) The VANS Store Glasgow, located on Buchanan Street, remains the definitive destination for skater-influenced alt-style. 7. Mr. Ben Retro Clothing (Merchant City) While primarily a vintage store, Mr. Ben is an essential stop for anyone seeking alternative clothing in Glasgow with a unique twist. Why Glasgow is the Home of Gothic Scotland The city’s architecture provides the perfect backdrop for these alternative shops. From the Glasgow Necropolis to the Gothic Revival spires of the University, the aesthetic is everywhere. Consequently, the demand for high-quality gothic clothing in Glasgow has never been higher. In summary, if you are searching for the best alternative clothing in Glasgow, start your journey by checking the schedule for the Blackheart Market Glasgow. Specifically, supporting these independent traders and local shops ensures that the city’s dark heart continues to beat.

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