Which defunct shops/restaurants do you miss the most?

[Hairbrush123]

For me, Topshop. Was really gutted when it closed down. Restaurant: Herman ze German. Expensive but always enjoyed the food!

Older men needed Dunns.
DH and DS really miss Maplins.

No idea what they bought there!

This is a bit left field but there was a Turkish restaurant in Cardiff Bay called Bosphorus, it was my favourite place and it's now a coffee shop

@Pyewhacket

Ultimately, I think it was internet shopping that took it's toll on the High Street

I think it was doomed long before the proliferation of online shopping.

I remember back in the 90s there were people complaining of "identikit" High Streets with all the same chain stores and few independents, plus pedestrianisations, one way systems causing traffic congestion, high council car park charges, more convenient out of town retail parks, huge supermarkets etc. None of that is new. The internet and online shopping has been the nail in the coffin rather than the cause of the High Street demise. After all, places like C&A, Tandy, Allders, etc went long before everyone shopped online, and places like Woolworth were already on their last legs.

Woolworths was a magical palace in my own childhood and in my children’s, I miss it so badly. B&M is fun though, and very good value. It’s just not Woolies!

I loved SpudULike, I can’t understand why it closed (there was still one in Cardiff about 8 years ago, is it still there?)

Woolworths. Christmas shopping just hasn't felt the same since woolies disappeared.

Clas Ohlson - they took over the Woolworths space in our nearest town and were so useful. They still supply some items via Amazon but it’s a very limited range.

M&S have started to close stores. There was one near me that had been there for 40 years and it closed on Friday for good. They have however moved to a watt brothers old store for food hall only.

The one in sauchiehall Street is closing down as well. And that still has a massive empty store that was British home stores.

Borders yes. Tower Records.
There used to be a restaurant in Bath called the Walrus and Carpenter that was amazing.
Also Le Caprice in the West End. Spendy but lovely for a treat.
I liked La Tasca too.

@LookItsMeAgain
I fully agree re Roches Stores being bought out by Debenhams.
It was so useful, the staff were lovely and so helpful.
I miss Clerys in Dublin too. It had really upped its game and O' Connell Street is not the better for its loss.
The treatment of its staff by that property company led by that businesswoman was despicable. The Debenham staff too who were made redundant were treated badly.

Percy ingle bakeries iced buns, growing up in the east end a trip to percy’s was a real treat. I also miss all the old style bagel and pie and mash shops that got taken over and turned into noodle bars and chicken shops

Boots. I know it still exists, but it's got no soul since it got taken over by venture capitalists. It used to be filled with teenagers/early 20s, having fun. Now they're in Superdrug. I feel sorry for the Boots staff, who all seem despondent.

And I second BHS for lighting, they were absolutely brilliant (sorry for the pun). Habitat stores were a total inspiration too.

@GrandTheftWalrus

M&S have started to close stores. There was one near me that had been there for 40 years and it closed on Friday for good. They have however moved to a watt brothers old store for food hall only.

The one in sauchiehall Street is closing down as well. And that still has a massive empty store that was British home stores.

Oh no, it'll be the Boots on Sauciehall St next - there are always more staff than customers.

Woolworths from the 80/90s looking through the vinyls.

Arding and Hobbs Dept store in S. London far too expensive but everything was so shiny. Love watching Mr Bean because they filmed there and shows the high street as it used to be before the 586 phones shops

Does anyone remember the Covent Garden General Store? I think Boots is there now, but it was one of those quirky places that sold everything.

@beguilingeyes

Does anyone remember the Covent Garden General Store? I think Boots is there now, but it was one of those quirky places that sold everything.

Only just.

Pizzaland. The pizzas were much better than from Pizza Hut.

Woolworths.

BHS
Woolworths
Past times
Pier

Army and Navy in Victoria in London. Especially the bridge that went over the road.

The Pier - why on earth did it close down
Pizza Express pre takeover - before it transformed into a grabby, badly managed chain which just happens to have a similar menu to the old one!
Fire &Stone - pizzas were hideous but it was so much fun]

I am not out shopping much and I was not aware that half of these places don't exist any longer.
I have been to C&A several times in Austria and Germany and it is still great fun and can be as cheap as chips!

HMV when the bands would turn up and perform!

I keep remembering more - Fatso's pasta joint, Bus Stop clothes and Sacha shoes in Birmingham, Chelsea Girl, I can still remember the smell of that shop, I am obviously very old.

Mk One
Dolcis
Sweater Shop (memories of wearing these in '96 with a satin blouse underneath in a vile shade of lime)

Wendy burgers/wimpy and Little chef, not journey was complete without a pancake and maple syrup
Millets
Laura Ashley and Habitat
Butter markets/indoor markets used to be everywhere too
Record shops with boothes
Agree about WH Smiths, they used to have a whole case filled with fountain pens and posh biros that would last a life time as you just bought refill ink