How Eldon Square has changed since 1985
New plans have been revealed for the future of Eldon Square shopping centre in Newcastle. Here, DAVID MORTON looks back to how the centre was nearly 40 years ago
WHAT do you remember of 1985? It was a year marked by Live Aid, the end of the bitter national miners’ strike, and the launch of the BBC1 soap opera Eastenders.
In our region, a young Dunstonborn footballing talent called Paul Gascoigne made his debut for Newcastle United; American rock superstar Bruce Springsteen jetted in to play two sold-out concerts at St James’ Park; and the Swan Hunterbuilt aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal was commissioned four years after being launched on the River Tyne.
Riots and picket lines: Looking back on 40th anniversary of the start of the Miners’ Strike Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East with our free newsletter It was a time when a gallon of petrol would knock you back £1.90, the average UK house price was £40,000, while down at the local supermarket, a loaf of bread was 49p; a pound of cheese, £1.30; and a packet of crisps, 14p.
What you understandably might not remember from that time are the shops that traded in Newcastle’s Eldon Square Shopping Centre. A full-page advert from the Newcastle Evening Chronicle on Wednesday, November 6, 1985, lists alphabetically every store, cafe, pub and outlet doing business in the retail mall nearly 40 years ago.
It’s an interesting piece of social and retail history and a good summary of the existing ‘high street’ landscape. Then as now, the likes of Marks and Spencer, Fenwick, and Boots were Eldon Square staples, but so many stores on our list have since been consigned to history as shopping trends and consumer tastes have ebbed and flowed over the years. Look today for once-popular stores such as Mothercare, Habitat, Miss Selfridge, Wimpy Bar, or Virgin Records (a regular port of call for my younger self) and you’ll search in vain.
Back in 1985, Eldon Square was approaching its 10th anniversary, having opened in 1976, and was firmly established as the region’s foremost retail destination. But it was also facing an imminent challenge from across the River Tyne where Gateshead’s very own state-of-theart shopping mall, the Metrocentre, would open in April 1986.
The Newcastle mall needed more than ever to keep on top of its game, and the Chronicle advert was intended to let shoppers know what the place had to offer, as well as reminding them it was accessible by Metro, bus and car, and it was open until 8pm on Thursdays.