On Friday 12 December, Glasgow shoppers were treated to a festive surprise as McGhee’s Bakery teamed up with cult Scottish café Auld Hag to give away hundreds of free Christmas rolls in the city centre.

For one day only, the Auld Hag x McGhee’s van parked up outside The Social Hub, drawing queues from lunchtime onwards as people snapped up the limited-edition festive roll. Packed into a classic McGhee’s crispy roll, the special featured turkey square sausage, Ayrshire bacon and cranberry hot sauce – a bold Christmas twist that quickly became the talk of the street.

The pop-up marked a rare Glasgow appearance for Auld Hag, whose founder Gregg Boyd has built a loyal following through his London café and recent Edinburgh pop-up. For McGhee’s, the activation was a chance to bring a bit of festive fun to the city and say thank you to Glasgow as the family bakery heads towards its 90th anniversary.

“There’s nothing quite like the energy of Glasgow at Christmas,” said Gregg Boyd.

“To bring Auld Hag home for a day and see people sprint over the road for a roll was magic. Glasgow folk really know a good roll — and after today, I reckon this might be the best Christmas piece this season.”

As Christmas shoppers and city workers filled the streets, the van quickly drew a crowd, with rolls disappearing fast as people grabbed a hearty bite between gift runs and office parties.

Russell McGhee, Operations Director at McGhee’s Bakery, added:
“We wanted to bring a bit of festive fun to the city and say thank you to Glasgow as we head towards our 90th birthday. Seeing people queue up for a McGhee’s roll never gets old — and this Christmas roll really is something special.”

The collaboration brought together two brands with a shared love of Scottish food, character and community, and offered a glimpse of how McGhee’s plans to celebrate its milestone year, by creating moments that bring people together over great food.

What started as a small bakery in Maryhill in 1936 has grown into one of Scotland’s most chosen brands, and as this festive pop-up proved, a great roll still has the power to stop people in their tracks.