90's London

[Sweetasstevia]

I've lived in London for nearly 25 years now but rarely get into the centre these days (I last worked in town in 2008.) I'm always stunned how much things have changed and have been feeling very nostalgic lately for the London of my uni years and youth: 1990 - 2000.
For starters I miss how Covent Garden used to be with the mechanical toy museum and Neal street East around the corner. I miss burgers at Ed's Diner and Jonny Rockets. I miss seeing arty films at the ICA, the montepulicano lounge club and whirligig, the mad market in South Kensington and how Camden used to be before it got all posh!
What things do you miss?

Did Plastic People have gay/transvestite nights?

The description and location I've read on here makes it sound remarkably like a club I went to with my boyfriend at the time and Jimmy Somerville (long story!!) when I didn't twig that it wasn't a run of the mill club night until I went to the ladies and found various men and a few transvestites getting amorous

Did the Soho Sol become Vodca? Or am I mixing me bars up ...

^theQuibbler Wed 24-Sep-14 20:45:50
HeyLuciani I remember the Bass Clef/Blue Note very well - drum and bass night on a Sunday. Tax on the door was £6 and Goldie would DJ. So hipstery - before hipsters were even a thing!^

And it felt like it was miles away in some secret place. There was really nothing else in the area at the time to go to, apart from the Whirlygig. Ever other building around there seemed to either be dodgy strip pubs and/or half demolished. That end of town felt so desolate - seems bizarre now when you think how close to the City it is.

I remember a colleague buying an off plan flat in Clerkenwell in about 96-97 - everyone at work was a bit - it seemed like an odd place to buy... obviously she was laughing within a year or two

elportodelgato, I used to work around the corner and went for lunch at SOAS every day

In my defence, it was very cheap.

Tethers under the church was the crypt I think I went there but I loved dance music

Tethers, I was introduced to the joys of the SOAS bar by a mate we had back then called 'Bill the punk'

Happy days. I still live in London but it's different now, probably because I have kids and a mortgage!

jungle club in Angel - think it was called Paradise - was supposedly cool, but was a bit rough and sweaty grin

That was my best club ever - they had that cafe in the corner that served the best cup of tea ever! Oh it was strong, creamy and loads of sugar, beautiful. The Jungle upstairs started out good but there was a period when all the music went all dark and ragga like and a different crowd started coming it wasn't the same but the downstairs garage room was wicked.

Does anyone remember I think Pushca over in a warehouse in Park Royal? Danny Ramplin, Luv'd Up oh gosh can't remember but there were twin brothers who dj'd together? Loads of brilliant nights there!

Plus, if I wasn't on the list - I wasn't going!! Queue? Never!!

Never being searched going in to a club, remember? Searched the men, not the women!

Did anyone else ever sneak into the student union bar at SOAS where everyone used to go to get stoned?

Not sure but I remember the YMCA at Russell St, vaguely!

MrsKoala Wed 24-Sep-14 21:27:18

Was it Emporium?

Also remember going to the Blue Note over in Hoxton during that acid jazz period and later on for drum + bass

YY

oh christ, Caspers telephone exchange on princes street

went there for friends bday, we were asked to leave as she wore a practically see through dress, she was a knock out and there was too much commotion for them . Phones were only going one way!

That sounds familiar Beyond. (it's all a bit of a hazy blur )

Our hang outs were The Saint, near covent Garden, Mondos, with Michael on the doors, Emporium, and a few others.

I remember Office Bar, on Rathbone Place I think. Always played cheesy music and guaranteed to have a laugh.

Bar Italia is still there isnt it?

Omg am now on nostalgia overload!

Oriel - was there every weekend pretending to be civilised. Devastated when it shut. The garage , the markham arms. North and west London, I floated between the 2 my first few years before settling in Chelsea. The pub (name I've forgotten) that's now a fucking baker and spice - i used to meet my alcoholic boyfriend who lived in leather trousers in there.

And plastic people! The Atlantic! All these memories! I just used to RUN AROUND the whole of London chasing the party is so ridiculously lame these days

I did walk past Freudian the other day and have VOWED to have a boozy girls' catchup in there for old times sakes

And I had my 21st dinner in granita ffs. So on trend

The Atlantic

YY and china white.

I went to a club once called Heaven under some arches near Embankment, we had to go through metal detectors to get in, frisked, no where to sit, I hated it, flashing rottweiler images coming up on big screen....awful

bar italia YY and the other place on the corner near there....served food till late

The Yacht Club on a boat on a Sunday morning all dayer thing, did anyone go there? It stayed moored on the Embankment but was nice to sit on deck and chill out.

*freuds

Heaven was great

And fabric in Smithfield

Are Sofra restaurants/cafés still around? There were a couple in Covent Garden and you could get lovely lentil soup and Turkish bread for £1.20. Spent many a lunch break there... Never been nostalgic for the 90s before, it always seems so recent, but I guess time is slipping past I bet Cranks (veggie restaurant) has long since closed too.

Heaven was great

Not heaven to me

momo ?

Penny loafers. That's what I miss. Ox blood penny loafers. Want some NOW!

pink panther late night drinking bar in soho, had to tap on the door to get in, was also a brothel?

got caught there once in a police raid! had to hide in the loos

FREUDS!! That was the downstairs friendly bar in Shaftesbury, wasn't it? Thanks

Pink, as you used to go to Office, did you also frequent Partners on Newman Street? We worked above it - our lift went straight down into the bar. Convenient.

Gordon's wine bar is still there. Going strong!