So today I thought I would share with you some of the things that I really wish I hadn't missed out on.
Geordie Jeans
Apparently back in the day EVERYONE in Newcastle bought their clothes from Geordie Jeans which makes me wonder how on earth I coped growing up in Norwich without them? Providing the people of Newcastle with a well-made cheap alternative to brand named denim, apparently they had five shops which makes me think that everyone in the Toon must have been wearing them.
The Quayside
I can't even begin to imagine what the Quayside was like before the influx of bars and restaurants - no Millennium Bridge (how on earth did you all get across the river?) and no Quayside Seaside! I would love to go back in time to see what life on the Quayside was like before, I hear it looked very different.
The Tuxedo Princess
Which brings me nicely on to something that I'm constantly hearing stories about - the Tuexdo Princess - a nightclub, on a boat in the River Tyne! So many questions! Did people get mortal and fall in? Did the combination of revolving dance floor and the choppy Tyne not make you feel a bit icky? It makes me so sad that I'll never get to experience it for myself.
Although the city is very passionate about its football team the glory days of Newcastle United in the 1990s are something that I would love to experience. When every kid in the Toon wanted to be Shearer and the Magpies were one of the top teams in the Premiership - the closest I've got to the glory days is bumping into Peter Beardsley at the Tesco Petrol Station last year!
Monument Mall
To me the Monument Mall is where you'll find the fancier shops in Newcastle but apparently it's where you all used to go for your food? In fact you all get very misty eyed about memories of "Eldon Square the early years" - can anyone explain to me while you're all obsessed with giant pencils?
Byker Grove
My first introduction to Newcastle was Byker Grove (imagine my disappointment when I moved to Newcastle and realised the youth club isn't even in Byker!), and I like to think that you all spent your spare time as extras at the Grove being mentored by Jeff and hanging out with PJ and Duncan. Please tell me this is true!
Metroland
The one thing that gets mentioned more than anything else - Metroland! A giant funfair inside the Metrocentre! This one blows my mind! When I'm sitting in Nandos enjoying my chicken I just can't imagine what it must have been like having a rollercoaster racing round the mall - I definitely missed out.
The Tuxedo Princess was just the best. It was perfectly still and didn't wobble at all (unlike the dancefloor) but it was on a slant!
ReplyDeleteYou could pay £12 entry on a Saturday night for entry and unlimited drinks - such a good deal!!!
Steve and I had our auction leaving party on the boat when we'd only just got together :-)
Unlimited drinks?!! OMG that sounds dangerous!
DeleteHow could you not mention the Mayfair! Fabulous rock club and a haunt in my student days. Its now The Gate. The Cooperage pub on the quayside was also a favourite, it used to have live music on a nighttime. The building is still there but sadly its empty now. The steps next to it are said to be haunted. Never went into the Tuxedo Princess but I do remember it
ReplyDeleteOh wow really?! Can't imagine The Gate without The Gate!
DeleteMetroland is such a huge miss - they should bring it back! Maybe it was a health and safety risk... Loved reading this as although I was only an hour away I also missed out on so much!
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing it would definitely fail a lot of the modern health and safety rules!
DeleteAw Metroland brings back so many happy memories of my childhood! It was the first rollercoaster I'd ever been on and I thought I was so brave at the time haha! My best friend always said we had to get seats at the back as it went the fastest there, apparently. I also used to love the swing carousel and the ferris wheel that was in the style of hot air balloons. Happy days! :) xx
ReplyDeleteI have no concept of how big the rollercoaster was! I guess when you were young it probably looked absolutely huge!
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