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Original poster

London in the 90s

239 replies

Mondayforthebin · 10/02/2023 09:41

Just having a nostalgic 10 minutes and thinking about when I first moved to London in my early 20s from my small town in middle of nowhere, fresh out of University. Moved to leafy North London with 4 other friends for a really cheap rent (wow, how times have changed!) No proper job so just temped and did some bar work and was out all the time on seemingly very little money as I earned very little! Went to see loads of bands, drank lots, wore v little and made some amazing friends and generally had lots of fun.

I know I definitely have my rose tinted specs on but miss those days and feel quite sad for DS that he'll probably not be able to afford to have same experiences as London is so expensive now.

OP posts:
Didcotdidnot · 10/02/2023 21:24

@Mars27 Are you talking about Roadhouse? The entrance was right by the market.

puppacup · 10/02/2023 21:24

@SybilWrites well in my experience venues are a lot stricter on IDs & illegal warehouse raves aren't really a thing anymore. Tbh I didn't think young people did much clubbing these days!

Original poster
Mondayforthebin · 10/02/2023 21:25

WinterFoxes · 10/02/2023 19:31

feel quite sad for DS that he'll probably not be able to afford to have same experiences as London is so expensive now.

They find a way! Grin DS is in London and he hacks living there cheaply to a fine art. He goes to theatre, music gigs (and even opera!) for £5-20 a ticket, he knows all the places where you can get a cocktail and dinner for about £10. He gets freebie coffees and juices all the time. Then with all the savings he's made, sometimes splashes out on a really nice dinner with his girlfriend or flatmates. He's having an amazing time.

I love this!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mondayforthebin · 10/02/2023 21:26

helloelsie · 10/02/2023 20:35

These memories are the Same I have

But they no longer exist as they were

They are long gone

You are romanticising your past

Show quote history

Literally nostalgia... as per my original post 🙄

OP posts:
EmmaEmerald · 10/02/2023 21:30

Couple of videos for street watching, from 2000s though, but sums up the era

Joe Strummer

Chemical Brothers
possible TRIGGER - don't watch if you had experiences with chemicals that you'd rather forget.

Echobelly · 10/02/2023 21:35

I always lived in London (North London) mates and I got full advantage of the Britpop scene, lots of hanging out in Camden, we even sold a fanzine for a couple of issues!

I also liked dance music and did managed to go to two fairly legendary nights - Andrew Weatherall's (RIP 😔) Sabresonic and Carl Cox's Ultimate B.A.S.E

It's weird the 90s are so long ago now and now all the stuff I wore - printed mesh tops, tea dresses, combats/baggy cords, clompy shoes - are for sale in Urban Outfitters 😆

LexMitior · 10/02/2023 21:36

Jesus the Chemical Brothers!

That car park at the end has gone now. Should save flashbacks

EmmaEmerald · 10/02/2023 21:39

LexMitior · 10/02/2023 21:36

Jesus the Chemical Brothers!

That car park at the end has gone now. Should save flashbacks

I thought I was the only person who'd notice Welbeck Street Car Park. I think the image is in my brain because of the video though - I never noticed those panel things when I drove my car in!

Shekissedagirlandshelikedit · 10/02/2023 21:47

I worked and lived in South London 1988-1990 straight out of uni. I took home around £600 a month and rented a room for £50 a week bills inc. I felt really rich! The first few weekends I didn't know anyone so bought myself a travel card and spent the days on the tube and buses and absolutely loved the freedom. Loved my A-Z too! I made some brilliant friends. A German au pair who worked for my boss introduced me to loads of other au pairs who showed me the night life. I can't remember that many places.. tatershall castle? the pub on the boat? Many nights spent climbing up on the trafalgar square lions completely blotto. Lived on mcdonald's. Relocated after 2 years back to near my home town, met dh quickly had dc and have been here ever since. So glad I had that brief experience!

LexMitior · 10/02/2023 21:48

The castle is still going

Forestfever · 10/02/2023 21:53

EmmaEmerald · 10/02/2023 21:20

Isn't that G-A-Y that was demolished for Crossrail?

Show quote history

I think GAY was, but the place I'm thinking of was a pub. Maybe it is still there. I left London in 2016.

EmmaEmerald · 10/02/2023 21:55

Forestfever · 10/02/2023 21:53

I think GAY was, but the place I'm thinking of was a pub. Maybe it is still there. I left London in 2016.

Show quote history

Some of the pubs nearby were demolished to make a little modern block of eating places. Takes up part of what was a bus lane, just to make the bus journey even harder.

GabrielleChanel · 10/02/2023 22:08

And me
Moved there for university in 95 stayed for 13 years
Just realised I have spent longer here in the leafy Home Counties than in London yet I consider myself quite londoj

illiterato · 10/02/2023 22:26

Loved my A-Z too

they were indispensable.

I still remember one Saturday getting woken up by the house phone. It was my flatmate. She’d met a guy the night before and gone back with him. Left the next day. No idea where she was . She knew the name of the road and the postcode as it was on the street sign and wanted me to get the A to z and talk her back to the nearest tube.

Mars27 · 10/02/2023 22:26

Didcotdidnot · 10/02/2023 21:24

@Mars27 Are you talking about Roadhouse? The entrance was right by the market.

YES! Thank you!

bendmeoverbackwards · 10/02/2023 23:02

Iwantabloodypizza · 10/02/2023 10:32

What was the club off tottenham court road?

I think it was the St. Moritz? Used to host an indie club night on a Thursday called Cigarettes and Alcohol.

Then there was the indie nights at the Camden palace before it became KOKO - £1 a bottle of lager.

@Iwantabloodypizza I LOVED Indie night at Camden Palace - Tuesday nights. Do you remember they had those bizarre naked models attached to the ceiling??

bendmeoverbackwards · 10/02/2023 23:06

SybilWrites · 10/02/2023 13:27

Borderline too!

The Borderline was a great gig venue! I saw the late great Kirsty Maccoll there, early 90s. Best gig ever. RIP Kirsty 😢

Doodar · 10/02/2023 23:10

from 1984 onwards, lived notting hill, regents park, hampstead, camden,little Venice. peanuts in rent.
ministry when it didn't have a drinks licence,Freds, gardening club, milk bar. raves at Park Royal,Love ranch, Blacks.always on the guest list, free drugs, BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE! freely roamed through Tate Britain, NHM et al, never any crowds. saw the same people week in/out in Soho,clubs.

bendmeoverbackwards · 10/02/2023 23:12

JustAGirlInACountrySong · 10/02/2023 20:19

Ashton’s nightclub on Cricklewood broadway….rough as, but we loved it!

@JustAGirlInACountrySong do you remember a pub in Cricklewood called the Production Village. My (much older) sister used to take me as a kid. They had a garden with small animals such as rabbits in cages.

bendmeoverbackwards · 10/02/2023 23:16

Does anyone remember - I think it was called Rock Circus at Piccadilly Circus? It charted the history of pop music with singing and dancing wax models of singers.

SquatBetty · 11/02/2023 03:48

There was a smaller venue next to the Astoria called the LA2 (London Astoria 2) which was where GAY was originally. The LA2 was closed down for Crossrail way before the actual Astoria was, so GAY moved to the Astoria (and was never as good after that).

The Spanish bar on Hanway street is called Bradley's and is still there and going strong.

I was in London all the way through the 90s. Went to loads of indie gigs , who remembers the Powerhaus in Islington, the Garage at Highbury & Islington, ULU, the Town and Country Club in Kentish town, the Underworld in Camden, National Ballroom in Kilburn ..?

SybilWrites · 11/02/2023 07:13

Oh yes LA2 and GAY!

I went to those gig places too @SquatBetty ! Maybe you were my gig buddy?!

Borka · 11/02/2023 07:24

bendmeoverbackwards · 10/02/2023 23:16

Does anyone remember - I think it was called Rock Circus at Piccadilly Circus? It charted the history of pop music with singing and dancing wax models of singers.

Yes, it was an offshoot of Madame Tussaud's. A friend of mine worked there and I worked at Tussaud's in the early 90s.

Original poster
Mondayforthebin · 11/02/2023 08:44

Love all these memories. I also remember going to a place called Disgracelands on Essex road and Kate Moss was once there. To this day it’s one of the high points of my life 😂

OP posts:
Duckdown · 11/02/2023 09:33

@Yourownpersonaljesus @SydneyCarton @Whycanineverever another regular at the Venue in New Cross! I lived in London from 88-99 and have amazing memories of going out in between late and early shifts (student nurse / registered nurse).
We also went to the Swan in Stockwell, The fridge in Brixton, Madame Jo Jo's, Bang, Heaven, G.a.y. and the vauxhall tavern. There was a pub at Borough Market that opened in the morning at 6 or 7 for a few hours. After a week of nights, it would be full of nurses from Guy's hospital on a Monday morning. We'd have a few pints, go to a greasy spoon for breakfast and go home to sleep, pleasantly passed!
There were brilliant comedy clubs too. Anyone remember Up the Creek in Greenwich? I had my hen do there!
I moved to Chelsea in 92/93 and remember a place called the shindig in Earl's Court. I went to so many amazing gigs.
We loved the Fleadh every year - some amazing bands. Often got free/cheap tickets to the theatre too.

I live in a rural village in Ireland now and it suits my time of life perfectly. I'm very happy and settled. But my years in London were absolutely the best of my life. I feel so fortunate to have experienced them. This is a great thread.
@EmmaEmerald I would definitely read your book 😊