13 Comments

• At 2008.12.14 12:53, Dave said:

  Hi Beth, nice one and good info…

  Yes I remember the old WHS - it was much better in those days; you might remember you used to be able to cut through WHS and exit just opposite Grainger Market - I think Cafe Royal is there now…

  If you ask me WHS days are numbered now - not just in Newcastle either!

  Cheers, Dave

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• At 2008.12.14 13:38, mo said:

  On the theme of demolition/construction/eldon square….in the early 70’s I worked on the 12th floor of Wellbar House on Gallowgate (Wellbar House also bit the dust a couple of years ago) so we got a bird’s eye view of the whole process. I remember they had a helluva job demolishing the 20’s (I think), reinforced concrete employment exchange that used to be on Prudhoe St….the wrecking balls were at it for weeks! It might have been good coffee break viewing but it was sad to see so much of central Newcastle being torn down and turned into a huge building site. The irony is that they’re now pulling down some of what was built then…less than 30 years later.

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• At 2008.12.14 14:02, Rob said:

  I remember WHSmith in Eldon Square as well! The one in Northumberland Street (still there last I looked) isn’t too bad though.

  I don’t know why the city centre post office closed. If they couldn’t make that one pay (and it was always busy), then I can’t see how any of the others make any money, even if they don’t pay as much rent as the city centre one.

  And who’s going to move into the eldon square extension given the current doom and gloom? Especially if they get a pitch on the less salubrious other side to the Gate (opposite the Garter or next to the Clock?)

  Rob

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• At 2008.12.14 21:25, Sue said:

  Thanks Beth - I’d forgotten about Smith’s being somewhere else until you reminded me. Moving the Post Office in there had to be the craziest idea ever. If anyone else is bored with spending their lunch hour queueing in it, I’ve just discovered that there’s a place in the Post Office on Forth St (behind Central Station) where you can post your parcels and buy stamps.
  Suppose we should be grateful we live in a city where there’s a choice - my parents live in a village where their PO comes to a large cupboard in the village hall two days a week :(

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• At 2008.12.14 23:33, Antonella said:

  Hi Beth, This shot is a stroke of genius. You can make a fantastic poster out of it! As I said many times, I love Newcastle, the city, the shops, the architecture, the bridges…even the accent!!! Have a nice weeke. Ciao. Antonella

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• At 2008.12.15 15:06, Mike said:

  I remember the WHSMith’s in Eldon Sqaure, I also remember the John Menzies shop where that Gallery shop is now next to the monument metro entrance.

  There is also a post office opposite the civic centre, sometimes its busy, but sometimes you get served quite quickly.

  Antonella, I wondering, have you been to Panis Cafe? I thnk you will enjoy (I do!) - it is one of the most authentic and best Itallian restaurants (and reasonably priced!) in Newcastle, perhaps next time you are here for a bite to eat, after a hard shopping session! http://www.paniscafe.co.uk/index.aspx

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• At 2008.12.15 16:13, Mosh said:

  Yeah, I remember Smiths being there. In fact, I got a shock when I visited home one time to find it had moved! It took me a while to locate it where HMV used to be (it was HMV’s spot they took, wasn’t it?).

  I still remember when HMV had a Hamleys in the basement. And there was that great toy/model shop next to the original Odeon. They used to have a train set running around the ceiling. They moved to the back end of Eldon Square - I got my first proper remote control car there - but sadly they died a death about five years ago. Can’t recall the name of the chain, either :(

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• At 2008.12.15 20:03, Beth said:

  Dave I don’t remember being able to cut out the back of WHS! Wish you still could, it’d be a handy short cut! Why do you say that about their days being numbered? Bit of a nightmare if so now the post office is located within - what a faff to move it AGAIN.

  Mo I used to work in Citygate, with people who had just moved over from Wellbar House only a couple of months before! How bizarre! We watched the destruction of Wellbar and they were all quite sad about it. Watching the greenmarket car park go was sad… not so much the car park but knowing that the green market was going at the same time.

  And Rob, re who will move into the extension - exactly. Although there’s a nice deli on Clayton St now… Olive and Bean maybe? Maybe other nice shops will follow. Although I’d be a little surprised…

  Sue, that’s good to know, thanks - wrong end of town for me when I’m at work but handy if I’m in town. St Mary’s Place is random - sometimes quiet sometimes busy, which isn’t helpful when you’re in a hurry.

  Antonella, thanks so much. Glad you like it. I love the Geordie accent too - when I first lived up here and was round visiting my now-hubby and his best friend I used to just doze off sometimes listening to them talk - gorgeous accent. They have nice voices too so it was really soothing :)

  Mike - John Menzies! I’d entirely forgotten about them. I remember them only in other places, not here. I like Panis too, have only discovered it recently.

  Mosh, the hubby only remembers the toy/model shop next to the orig Odeon. He remembers the ABC cinema (or maybe another Odeon?) at Haymarket though - remember that? And the Cannon on Westgate Road - he went to the last showing there - maybe a Batman film?

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• At 2008.12.15 22:24, Dave said:

  Hey Beth,

  Don’t take too much notice - I’m probably wrong about WHS’ days being numbered - I’m just being a grumpy so-and-so because I don’t think it’s as nice as the original! And I’m not keen on having to go in that Post Office; however as your correspondents point out - we have a choice!

  Yeah you used to go in the main ground floor, and through to a department that sold more specialist stationary items like posh pens - and there were a couple of doors that took you out on the road where Cafe Royal now is.

  Ahh someone mentioned the wonderful old Odeon - remember that?! Take a look at this:

  http://cinematreasures.org/theater/3307/

  and this, for some wonderful photos:

  http://www.newcastleparamount.org.uk/

  …and next time you’re passing, check out those wonderful Paramount emblems at the top of the building - I remember my dad pointing them out to me as a kid!

  Cheers,

  Dave

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• At 2008.12.15 23:33, Mike said:

  Mosh, it was Beatties the model shop. Bought my airfix model airplanes from there.

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• At 2008.12.16 22:35, Sue said:

  Antonella, take Mike’s advice and head off to Panis as fast as you can…. we were in there at lunchtime and I had the Aubergine Parmigiano (prob not how it’s spelt!!) and it was gorgeous. As is the extra thick Italian Hot Choc - can stand the spoon up in it :) And it’s open in the evenings as well.

  See if you can find a table that gives you a view of the kitchen…… poetry in motion :)

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• At 2008.12.17 22:58, Beth said:

  Dave - I don’t go in WHS any more if I can help it. If you’re not part of the solution…. ;o)

  Wow I had no idea the old Odeon had been an Odeon for so long. What a shame it was de-listed! I went in there once or twice but don’t really remember much, just the foyer really. It looks so sad and derelict now - I can’t believe nothing’s happened to the site in so long.

  Would be great to get in on the next Heritage Open Day….

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• At 2008.12.18 10:10, Antonella said:

  @Mike & Sue: Thanks for the tip. I’ve never been to Panis but it sounds really good. The website looks appealing too. I love aubergines especially Melanzane (aubergines) alla Parmigiana and the idea of the thick Italian chocolate makes my moth waters! I will definetely go there next time I come to Newcastle. Hopefully soon!!!! Ciao to everybody. Antonella

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