The Vanguard Centre

The Vanguard Centre The Vanguard Centre offers HEMA (historical swordfighting) and archery, close to Glasgow city centre!

The Vanguard Centre is a converted railway arch in the city centre of Glasgow. Just south of the Clyde, within 10 minutes walking distance of Central Station, We are well-situated and easy to reach. Our attendance fees are very competitive, and we have an onsite shop where you can see, handle, and try on gear before making any commitments to purchase anything. We have our own indoor archery range,

letting us offer archery in Glasgow city centre. We also teach various forms of medieval and renaissance sword fighting, as part of the British historical fencing community. Our instructors are experienced and well-recognised across the UK, and even further abroad. Wouldn't it be cool to arrange a stag party for a friend, spending an afternoon learning how to fight with swords? Look at our website and find out more about our activities and lesson schedules here! www.vanguardcentre.com

The Vanguard Centre is located at:
63 Commerce Street
Glasgow, G5 8AD

Anyone over the age of 18 may participate in any of our activities. We welcome both men and women, and tend to have people from many different nationalities and backgrounds.

23/06/2026

Ahoy, Highlanders (and lowlanders, wetlanders, and landers of undisclosed locations)

Tuesday night is currently Targe night, wherein we will be looking at Feints and Deceptions with combination weapons - it's easy to confuse, embarrass, and harass an opponent who's already confused with the coordination of two different weapons at the same time!

Get booked in for Highland Sword And Targe tonight at 7.30pm on the HEMA booking system on our website!

We also have a Members' Archery Session preceding at 6.00pm, so there's opportunity for the louns to do some non-contact skirmishes before the Highland Charge later...

See you in the tunnel!

Thanks to everyone who came to the 3rd official VC Games Night! Especial congrats to Ellie & Matthew for their game win...
21/06/2026

Thanks to everyone who came to the 3rd official VC Games Night! Especial congrats to Ellie & Matthew for their game wins and especially to Ryan for winning the most games :D
🎯

Ahoy gang, its Saturday!If you're not too delicate after staying up all night to watch the football, then we have a full...
20/06/2026

Ahoy gang, its Saturday!

If you're not too delicate after staying up all night to watch the football, then we have a full day of recreational violence for your entertainment, education, and exercise!

• Members Archery, 11.00am 🏹
• Open Archery, 12.30pm 🎯
• Open Archery, 2.00pm 🎯
• HEMA Longsword Fundamentals, 4.00pm ☠️
• Archery Games Night, 6.30pm 🎲🧩🎮🪅

Booking systems are open for all the regular classes, and tickets are still available for the Archery Games Night in the shop, all found on our website.

See you in the tunnel, champions!

19/06/2026

Ahoy, Friday!

We have a nice easy evening of archery planned, with sessions at 4.30pm and 6.00pm later today.
We also have plenty of action over the weekend with Open Archery and Longsword lessons on Saturday afternoon, followed by our new Archery Games Night at 6.30pm tomorrow.

There's also a session of shooting and some time for private tuitions on Sunday as well... plenty to get your teeth/arrows/swords stuck into.

Jump on the website to get your bookings, and we'll see you in the tunnel soon!

17/06/2026

Ahoy, Wednesday!

Usual double whammy of mid-week mayhem tonight, with
• Open Archery at 6.00pm 🏹
• HEMA Scottish Broadsword at 7.30pm 🤺

The HEMA lesson tonight will look at combined actions, in turning failed attacks into renewed attacks, successful parries into secure riposte and setting up some feints and tricks with several actions of the blade

See you tonight, tunnel fam!

13/06/2026

Ahoy weekender gang!

It's another busy Saturday at The Vanguard Centre with a full timetable of entertaining recreational danger with an historical flair.
Hit up the website and get booked in to your favourites of the following:

• Members' Archery, 11 00am 🏹
• Open Archery, 12.30pm 🎯
• Open Archery, 2.00pm 🏹
• HEMA Longsword Fundamentals, 4.00pm ⚔️

We're also available for Open Archery on Sunday morning at 11.00am, and there are some slots for Private Tuition free at 12.30pm - get in touch if you want to grab an hour of one-on-one training 😎

See you in the hall!

Ahoy, archers!Friday night at Vanguard is rootin' tootin' arrow shootin' time, with two sessions of Open Archery at 4.30...
12/06/2026

Ahoy, archers!

Friday night at Vanguard is rootin' tootin' arrow shootin' time, with two sessions of Open Archery at 4.30pm and 6.00pm

We have all the bows, arrows, targets, safety gear, games, and know-hows to get you shooting, whether you're a total beginner or a seasoned pro. 🏹

Get booked in on our website for Open Archery tonight, tomorrow, or any time you like! 🎯

11/06/2026

Ahoy, Terrors of the Square!

Thursday night, and we have our usual Medieval double-bill of Open Archery and Intermediate Longsword!

🏹 Open Archery at 6.00pm will host the usual beginner friendly shooting lessons, games, reps in the range, and Nonsense League Competition.

⚔️ 7.30pm Tonight's more advanced Longsword class will carry on the idea of Vorsetzen and displacing our opponent with our initial attack or theirs; to make an opening we can strike safely, sensibly, and dare we suggest... stylishly...

Getcha bookings on the website, and we'll see you in the hall!

10/06/2026

Ahoy, criminals! Blackguards! Bounders!

Highland Broadsword tonight, and we will be giving and deflecting points!
Setup and apply your thrusts, use your parries and guards against them, and learn the majesty of the parades to do both at once!

Hit up the HEMA booking system on our website to get booked in 😎

Address

63 Commerce Street
Glasgow
G58AD

Opening Hours

Monday 2pm - 9:15pm
Tuesday 2pm - 9:15pm
Wednesday 2pm - 9:15pm
Thursday 2pm - 9:15pm
Friday 2pm - 9:15pm
Saturday 11am - 6pm

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