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?

We used to go to up all nights and crazy larrys after work

I used to think Northcote Road was incredibly 'naice' back in the early 90s.
I hadn't a clue!
I really think the 'gentrification' needs another name. It just doesn't go far enough to describe what has happened.

Ah bagleys and Trees for London nights. I remember Home too, it was a massive club.

Camden was definitely more run down, it's too corporate now. Still full of tourists.

Last time I drove up islington high street, it had lost most of its cool bars and shops. Granita is now a food chain, like nandos or something equally bland.

I lived in London in the early 90s. Nearly everything has changed, but Wong Kei's is still going on Wardour St for late-night cheap Chinese food. The service last time wasn't as surly as I remember, though.

Whirl-y-gig is still going! I went in May. It's once a month now.

Northcote Road kind of exploded, a few interesting shops and pubs and then the estate agents took over.

I moved to London in the mid 90s for my first job and rented a fab room in Covent Garden. Aldgate East tube station was still in operational Used to love wondering around and the freedom of it all. I now live in Greater London, but agree it's all changed, especially the area around Charing Cross Rd/ Tottenham Ct Road. I hardly recognise it now. Does anyone remember the Stockpot cafe on Old Compton Street ( don't know if it's still there). You could get a home- cooked 2 course meal for £6! Remember being unable to get to work because a bomb had gone off on a 171 bus right outside.

I moved to London in 1997. Buses were very cheap, if a little scary.
Yes to record shopping on Berwick Street, and Seattle Coffee Co. Soooo much nicer than Starbucks.

There were second-hand book shops on Charing Cross Rosd. And on Upper street. Unimaginable.

Still here, but rarely go into the centre now. Am traumatised by the demolition of the. LA2, the black gardenia and other haunts I was too out of my mind to pay attention to the name of

Miss the old Camden, Kensington Market, Shoreditch as it used to be (i.e. a wasteland)... Does anyone remember the Dive Bar in Chinatown? It was in the basement underneath a restaurant and had a sticky plastic bar with caverns to sit in. I loved it so.

Oh and I miss people-watching from the cafe in Books Etc on CXR.

Thecat, I remember buying a second hand cooker on Upper street

I remember the Dive Bar. Could hardly see a thing for the smoke!

The Stockpot cafe, yes! I think that's where I went with some friends before a night club on my hen 'do'.

Hell yes to the Stockpot! DH and I used to go there when we were "courting" and skint, and feast on moussaka, apple crumble and cheapo table wine for a fiver. Awesome!

Dive bar, yep. Stockpot, yep.

Oh have the horologists gone from Clerkenwell? Oh no!

A family I researched in the C19th turned out to be Clerkenwell watchmakers and chronometer makers, and one went into technical patents and introduced to the UK an early mechanical calculator from France, the arithmometer.

Apparently Clerkenwell was an area where highly specialised trades concentrated, forming secondary industries supplying the actual watchmakers. Sad if there's nothing left there at all now.

I'd forgotten about all the second hand book shops on Charing Cross Road. Do you remember when Foyles was like a big jumble sale, before it went all upmarket?

I'm feeling very nostalgic now. I stayed from 1997 until last year so all the change was so gradual I didn't really notice, but on reflection it is sad that so much of the character has disappeared. It was a great place to be a student back in the late-1990s but I can't imagine how the heck anyone could afford it now. [old gimmer emoticon]

Zen Stock Pot is no more Loved it there!

Docklands was wasteland
Kings Cross was old disused film studios and railway arches (The Cross anyone??) Fucking fantastic club!
Convent Garden had it's soul ripped out of it horrible place now, can't remember the last time I was there!

Being able to park your car anywhere!

Loved Kensington Market and there was another little clothes shop across the road opposite where Boots is now that sold the most amazing clothes. I bought a lime green lacy dress, leather mini skirts, little tiny crop tops, perfect raving gear!

I still live loving here but the lack of individuality everywhere is so sad. No major fashion trends, music is bland, shops same everywhere, we used to shop in Wembley for a certain kind of jeans, Shepherds Bush for something else and what was that massive second hand shop on Long Acre? Smelled like sweat and mothballs? Miss it !!

The Loft in Camden on a Wednesday night was OMG can't even find the words, fantastic doesn't even come close!

I'm lie tethers.... Can't remember the names of any of these places, too busy being high on life I think!

I was in London in early 90's, working as a nanny..

*like

The Cross!! I got many a parking ticket on York road as I could never work out the signs.

A friend had a flat on fashion street just off commercial road in the early 90's. The area was full tag traders and totally deserted at the weekend. We used to go to the electricity show room in shoreditch for a drink and it was the only place there!

Oh, yes. Gosh. I can't remember names of things! I'm amazed I can't remember the name of the big second hand shop on long acre, or the Italian cafe near camb circus end of old c street.

The french house, anyone?