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!

Allders dept store - we kitted our house out when we first bought it, really good for sensibly priced/quality furniture, fittings, interiors, etc. We've still got our pan set, mirrors, from 25 years ago.

Woolworths

@Gardeningcreature

I miss Pizzaland. It was so much better than Pizza Hut. I have found memories if going out for a date to Pizzaland. I also have fond memories of Woolworths. Buying clothes for dd, taking her in the cafe with my mum when she was a baby, buying toys for my nieces and nephews. I also miss Debenhams. The one in my town was new and clean. The cafe was spot on and I bought lots of clothes from there.

I think it was Pizzaland that sold a slice of pizza with a baked potato and coleslaw. I moved to London in 72 from rural Lincolnshire and this was my first taste of pizza. We still have pizza, potato and coleslaw now.

Spoils kitchen reject shop

Co op toy department
Tandys
Toys R Us
Tower records
Top shop

The Berni Inn - the melon boat with a slice of orange for a sail.

You knew you were a member of the group of people 'really going places' when you had one of those as a starter.

Actually I don't miss it at all, it was rubbish really but the options for a starter were a prawn cocktail, an orange juice(!) or the gourmet's delight - the melon boat.

Topshop, Index, Mk one.

I'm seeing several shops on here that still exist. Do people mean they miss the way those shops used to be?

Neal Street East in Covent Garden - I used to spend hours in there as a teenager in the 90s. And I miss how Covent Garden was in general back then - lots of independent shops, but now it is mostly shoe shops and chain clothing stores.

Mothercare closing was a real shame, I remember going there as a child with my mum, and I liked the fact that I then went there with my own DC.

It's odd because Australia still has Woolworths - why can't we!?!

@DrSbaitso

I'm seeing several shops on here that still exist. Do people mean they miss the way those shops used to be?

A lot of shops have closed a lot of branches. I suspect that this is what some people mean. It’s what I meant about John Lewis and Muji.

Woolworths and Carluccios.

The Sock Shop
Tie Rack
Athena
Woolworths
Adams

@megletthesecond

Cafe Rouge. Ours was bright and airy. Really chilled place for brunch. We tried the alternative, Cote, but it was a grim experience.

Agree - Café Rouge was much nicer than Côte. Don’t really understand why some places do well and others don’t.

Topshop for me too. I used to spend all my Saturdays in Topshop Oxford Circus, spending my pocket money our parents gave us for good grades at school.. we used to add new grades with a red biro 😂 but that’s beside the point! Topshop online at asos is nowhere near the same thing. x

Cath Kidston! I was a huge fan since 2008.
I know they still sell online and have their flagship store reopened in London and few outlets around the country but it’s not the same and none are near me.
They also changed the ownership, the prints now are horrible, a such not like Cath.
I loved the experience to go in, seeing all these quirky beautiful spotty/flora bags and buying it, seemed such a bright and happy place anytime I was in.

Thought of another - Patisserie Valerie

Also mothercare is a sad loss I agree. Is there anywhere comparable now? I used to love the toys all over the floor 😂 and the sales staff were always really knowledgeable. X

Debenhams in the late 90s/early 2000s when it was good.

John Lewis, which has vanished from my nearest city. Went to the nearest one (an hour and a half drive further away) to discover the scruffy individuals who I thought were just loafing about in their loungewear were actually members of staff, and a part of the shop which used to be a lovely toy department was set up as a jumble sale of random items. That was the Nottingham branch, btw, if anyone from John Lewis is reading this, and if you are reading it, I’ll just point out that if you are going to shut loads of your shops, the ones that are still open should be fucking tip-top amazing, with incredible customer service, gorgeous displays and staff who actually look like John Lewis staff, not like they spend their day on the sofa without brushing their teeth.

I feel better for getting that off my chest.

Laura Ashley
Debenhams
The swiss centre restaurant in Leicester Square

Wimpy
Woolworths
Timpsons Shoes

Dickins and Jones on Regent Street. Loved it.
Locally - Debenhams, Jones Bookmakers, Esprit, Warehouse.

I came to say The Pier too

@OneTC

There is, to this day, a Woolies shaped hole on every high street

Indeed.

Our Woolworths is now a gym - as in gymnastics. There are asymmetric bars in the window and I fret about someone getting it wrong and being flung into or even through the window!

Mine is Debenhams. The online offering is appalling.

Knickerbox