FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS THE LONGSHIP?

The Longship is a gift and lifestyle shop based in the heart of Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands.  Our family has been in business on this spot since at least 1859, when James Kirkness opened a grocer’s and wine merchant here.  The shop has evolved over the years.  We still have a wine shop and deli (www.kirknessandgorie.com) but since the 1960s one of our main focuses has also been Ola Gorie Jewellery (www.olagoriejewellery.com)  Ola’s daughter, Ingrid Tait, is a textile designer, and since the 1990s clothes, accessories and lifestyle goods have also been a major part of what we do.  

WHERE IS ORKNEY?

Orkney is an archipelago off the north coast of Scotland. Made up of approximately 70 islands (some uninhabited) it has a population of around 21,000. The capital is Kirkwall with the other main town being Stromness.  Rich in Norse and Celtic heritage, Orkney didn't always belong to the UK.  In 1468, Christian I, King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, gave Orkney to Scotland as a marriage dowry between his daughter, Margaret and King James III.

ARE ALL YOUR PRODUCTS MADE IN ORKNEY?

We are great believers in shopping local.  In addition to our own Ola Gorie Jewellery (www.olagoriejewellery.com) we sell many products made by Orcadian designers and craftspeople.  We are delighted to support and promote our talented friends and neighbours, and believe they make some of the finest crafts in the country.  We are also proud to select the best of design from across Scotland and the rest of the UK, and especially from Scandinavia, with which Orkney has always had strong links.  Occasionally we bring in selected pieces from other parts of the world – especially if we have some kind of personal connection with the makers.

CAN I DISCUSS AN ITEM WITH YOU, OR TALK ABOUT A PROBLEM?

Of course.  Please email us at shop@thelongship.co.uk or phone 01856 873251.  See our Contact page for more details.

WHAT IF I HAVE A BREAKAGE OR FAULT, OR WISH TO RETURN FOR ANOTHER REASON?

In the first instance contact us directly and we will advise on the next step. See Returns for more details. If you wish to return something, please let us know within 7 days of receiving the item; you then have a further 14 days to return the item(s) to us.

HOW DO YOU TAKE PAYMENT?

Once you have entered your details on the secure order form and selected ‘complete order,’ payment will then be processed via the card details you have provided. If for any reason the transaction is unsuccessful a message will appear on the screen informing you of this.

All payments are taken in Pounds Sterling. If your card is registered to an overseas bank then your bank will convert the payment accordingly using their exchange rate plus any other charges that they may apply.  If you want to order but don’t have a credit or debit card, or prefer not to use it, please email us.  It may be possible to accept payment by cheque or bank transfer – but please check with us first.

I AM INTERESTED IN A PIECE I SAW IN YOUR SHOP, OR ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT DO NOT SEE IT ON YOUR WEBSITE

Our website shows only a small selection of what we stock.  If it is Ola Gorie Jewellery you are interested in please go to www.olagoriejewlelery.com.  If it is food, wine or spirits you want, go to www.kirknessandgorie.com.  If it is something else, please email or phone us describing what you are interested in, and we will do our best to help.

DO ALL ITEMS ORDERED COME IN A GIFT BOX?

Some items come boxed or bagged, and some don’t.  Smaller craft producers in particular don’t usually have gift packaging.  When we box goods for delivery, we do so to keep them safe and in good condition during transit.  If you want us to check whether something comes ‘ready to gift’ please just ask.  If it doesn’t, we can gift wrap it for you for a small fee.

CAN I CLICK AND COLLECT?

Yes.  If you live in Orkney, or are visiting, you can order on our website and collect your order from our shop, The Longship  You will find it opposite St Magnus Cathedral at 7 - 15 Broad Street, Kirkwall.  Normal opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5.00pm in winter, longer in summer (including Sunday afternoons.)  If you are making a special journey and want to check opening hours, call the shop on 01856 888790 or 01856 888793.  NB Please wait till we tell you that your order is ready for collection before trying to pick it up.

I WOULD LIKE TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES AND PROMOTIONS

We would love to add you to our mailing list.  It’s the best way to stay in touch.  If you order from us, then you are asked to confirm that you are happy to be added.  We will not bombard you with emails but from time to time we run promotions and we can keep you informed of such things and also when a new product or brand is available. If you want to be added to our list, but haven’t ordered yet, please follow the link to 'join our mailing list' which you'll find near the bottom of every page. Or simply contact us directly by email.  You can ask to be removed from our mailing list at any time and we will do so straight away.

I DON’T WANT MY DETAILS GIVEN TO ANY OTHER COMPANIES

Under no circumstance will we give customer details to other companies.  Our own company has two websites in addition to this one: www.kirknessandgorie.com and www.olagoriejewellery.com We may occasionally include you in mailings for those sites if we think they are of relevance to you as a Longship customer.  But we will never pass your details on to anyone else.