WE ARE GOING ON A 1993 RETAIL THERAPY TRIP
We like to take an occasional look at the social and retail scene on Wearside from times gone by. And this time, we’re taking a silver anniversary look at what was going on in Sunderland in 1993. Lots of you love a good movie and there were some greats at the cinema. Indecent Proposal was on at the Cannon, and so was Loaded Weapon. The Crying Game was pulling them in at the Empire Theatre and there was Nowhere To Run and the Robins Cinema in Durham. Friday night was disco night at the McEwans or, if you fancied a real treat, the Windmills had just reopened after a six-week refurbishment in Station Road, Fulwell. But what about the best places for a retail deal? There was Linden House Furnishing in Holmeside if you fancied a new three piece. Or for the latest fashions, Books in Derwent Street had jackets, blouses and skirts as well as huge reductions on wedding outfits for the mother of the bride. Joplings had an electrical sale with washers down £60 to £439. Elsewhere in the store, the sale was just getting underway as well with sprung beds from £399. At the Job Lot Trading Company – which had stores in Sea Road Fulwell as well as Herrington, Seaham and Peterlee – you could get tea bags for 19 pence or coffee at 59 pence, or beef curry for 29 pence. Or, if you fancied chilling in front of the box, why not do it in front of a 14-inch colour telly from Colorvision in High Street West. Yours for £114. Summertime meant the ‘knockdown sale’ was on at Liverpool House in High Street West and you could save more than £1,000 on three pieces, including a ‘mink floral velour’ number. Who remembers the bargains they bought in 1993? Get in touch and tell us more. After all that bargain hunting, why not wind down with a sauna at Crowtree Leisure Centre – just £1.30 if you went off peak. On the housing market, properties in the High Barnes and Humbledon areas would have knocked you back about £59,950 25 years ago. On the sporting front, England were having mixed fortunes in football with Graham Taylor’s team suffering a World Cup defeat to Norway, going down 2-0 to the USA and fighting to a 1-1 draw with Brazil. Back home, you could watch
it live in pubs such as the Round Robin, Torrens, Wavendon, Cauld Lad, Willow Pond and The Greens. Mind you, the alternative entertainment of a nonsporting nature was possibly a decent option. It included The Russ Abbot Show, On The Up, Wildlife 100 and Bodger and badger on BBC1. There was Quantum Leap, Gardeners World, and Delia Smith’s Summer Collection on BBC2, or The Bill, Blockbusters, The Darling Buds of May, and The Raggy Dolls on Tyne Tees. Or maybe Channel 4 was worth a go with Mork and Mindy, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Fifteen-To-One all among the options. If you liked your entertainment with a more local flavour, the Seaburn Show was on and highlights included the Derby Serenaders Latin American showband. If you got along to Rosie O’Grady’s in Gilesgate, Durham, there was a carvery area and a chance to select your own music free of charge. Or how about a night at the dogs? The Regal Sunderland Stadium in Newcastle Road had racing every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with the first race at 7.30pm. For the budding singers among you, St Peter’s Wharf was holding the Grand North East Amateur Karaoke Championship where you could win up to £250. Who remembers having a go? And one hugely popular venue in the area at the time was the Jingling Gate at West Pelton which boasted “party style disco dancing” - and you could strut your stuff every night apart from Sundays and Mondays. We would love your memories of Sunderland, Wearside and County Durham in 1993. Tell us more by emailing chris.cordner@jpress.co.uk
“Who remembers the bargains they bought in 1993?” ECHO REPORTER
“Strutting your stuff at the Jingling Gate five nights a week” ECHO REPORTER