My Nanna used to take me down Bond Street in the 80,s as a child. It was lovely back then! Lots of good shops... and respectable people!!! Thanks for these videos.
Such a sad state ...for our coastal towns to look this way ...I can imagine that high street in the 60s n 70s b4 the invasion ............... Such happier times ........... All governments past n present should be held to account ....... 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
@@vincentjohnson3763 Tetley brought the idea of the tea bag to the UK in 1939, but teabags were introduced only in 1952 when Lipton patented its “flo-thru” teabag.
Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.I am really enjoying them although it has to be said that its a little bitter-sweet for me like a few people have commented this is very painful to watch. Blackpool is a big part of my life ive been going (with the exception of last year) every year for the last forty years. Me and my late mother who is buried in blackpool used to go every christmas without fail. The shops and markets on waterloo road, bond street and hartes christmas shop were always one of our first ports of call. She would have been horrified to see this such a shame.
Sad to see it .. I remember Woolworths, Motorcare, Taylors and Melody House.. I had a summer job in Tesco which was down there back in 1978, packing meat in the butchers.. not a great job but made some great memories .. used to spend a lot of time in Melody House back in the 70's ... great video .. all the best!
Bond Street South Shore was a thriving commercial street it had the Rendezvous cinema some lovely bank buildings also THE CAVE coffee shop, very trendy ,my sister owned the fancy goods shop on the corner of Station road and Bond St, there was a high class photographers there too he took my photo when I was 5/6 still have it. So so sad the people were proud the people were strong the people were kind and happy and had respect not only for themselves but for each other, they were well dressed loved their country loved their families , what the hell happened ? Some bastard is to blame and if I knew who it was I swear I would swing for rotten bastard
Thank you Stephen I had forgotten that Woolworths existed until you reminded me in this video,I only went in it once and never thought of it again until I saw this. The shops are now looking worse for wear😢 shame really because I can recall it being a thriving community. Another great video Stephen thank you.
I grew up in south shore in the 60's (lived in St, Bedes Ave, just behind Waterloo Rd.) South Shore was a nice part of Blackpool then, I remember The Cave coffee bar, The Espresso coffee bar, Taylors Jeans shop - still there bought some jeans on my last visit. The Rendezvous cinema (saturday morning matinee with Batman, Flash Gordon etc.). South Shore was buzzing in the 60s and by and large Blackpool was a safe place for kids. I met and spoke to Jimi Hendrix in the Fun House on the PB in '67 I think it was. Fond memories of Blackpool, shame its gone to the dogs. Thanks for the memories and your interesting videos.
Love your channel because you keep it real. You show the rough area's as well as the decent. Stayed at the norbreck castle hotel last year it was on the spur of the moment trip.(national express) coach 4day holiday the hotel was shit. But we were out all day loved it.
Was born near the football ground and spent many years on Bond Street 70/80s; Polish joes,melody house woolworths etc. Best music store was Beach market where they sold rarities on vinyl especially punk then later 2Tone but had thousands to wade through. Was the only place you could buy Pistols,DEVO and many more. Melody house was good but rarely catered indie music. Great video Stephen 👍
Good memories of Bond St/Waterloo Rd area. We used to stay at a BnB in Osbourne Road. It's SO sad to see it looking like this. We particularly liked the toy (Star Wars) shop and Hartes.
Soooo sad that businesses have closed and lots of derelict buildings, but with everything that is happening now more places will end up like this.😭 Great video yet again. Thank you.
Thanks for another great vlog. Fond memories of a better Bond Street in the 80s. Used to live not far from this section and we were always shopping down there. Bond Street Fabrics, Woolworths, the Melody House. Remember a shoe shop down there with all the shoes just piled up in pairs all over the shop.
Another great video!. Every time i am on holiday in Blackpool i take a walk down to Bond street to visit the sci - fi shop. It's sad to see so many empty shops in the area, especially Hartes.
Thanks Stephen for showing so many areas in Blackpool which some of the names of the places down to the memory lane..l used to live at Chesterfield Road in central Blackpool l think..
I stayed at the Bond Hotel each year for several years, it was lovely going into the little shops at that time but it is looking really sad/depressing now.
Thanks for sharing. Remember Melody House in the early 80s. Legendary! Plus Woolworths on the corner. Bought my first 12" vinyl there: The Sound of the Crowd by The Human League. All looks a bit grim now 😔. Greetings from Melbourne Australia🇦🇺
Just seeing this video...fantastic and depressing at the same time. After school, I'd often wander down Waterloo Road to Bond Street and hang for a bit in Taylor's jeans/western store (he's my uncle). I too remember Melody House, and Bond Street Fabrics before it burn't down and was rebuilt. Wooly's when it really was Woolworths. Polish Joes. Spent many many days in South Shore....and still take a drive down there when I'm in Blackpool.
@@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool It was, still is, opposite Woolworths, there's a newsagent next door on the North Side. He still opens the shop up from time to time.
The Street Died when the PB shut early and the Collasium moved as you know Sad really. I lived down there in the early 90s when the Grand casino and Holiday flats were there and a great Curry house called the Charcoal pit opposite the church .Great days thanks again
You missed the Rendezvous Cinema, Stephen :-) It was where the discount lighting place is now, near your old record shop.Another good picture house where I saw the musical Camelot, starring Richard Harris. Went one afternoon with a group of young ladies.
I grew up on Withnell Road, back in the 80's and it was a cracking place. Spent many afternoons in Melody House myself too... Visited last year and was saddened to see the decline.
The building is home to a Mini Market - opposite the Trim-It fabric shop - with flats in the two floors above. The pebble dash rendering on the gable end of the upper floors has partially collapsed, sending loose bricks crashing onto the roof of an empty unit next door.
Just come back from Blackpool for the first time in two years for a mini Rebellion festival, the full event having been cancelled due to covid. It was so sad to see how many places have closed down. The town centre and promenade still look fine but things like the tram line to the station are still not complete? I really get the impression the council don't know how to manage projects. On the plus side they have done wonders with the Winter Gardens and Blackpool Tower since buying it but areas outside the centre are looking worse than ever. I sometimes think the best thing you can do with places like this (Bond Street) is pull the lot down and redevelop the area but there needs to be huge investment to trigger this. To really succeed Blackpool needs investment in industries away from the tourist sector which is seasonal and unappreciable. Tastes also change which is why places like Anglesey have become so popular. PS I love your videos, you have genuine and natural talent :).
I was born in Blackpool and tbh there doesn't appear to be many off us left. You can hear it in the accents people from all over live here and not always for the best.
I can remember Bond street back in the 70s 80s and 90s from my holidays in Blackpool and it was never as bad as this, what the hell has happened? It used to be a nice street with lots of shops , I remember going to the Duple social club with my parents, it's now closed , I remember the record shop, there used to be a shop with the lock Ness puppet in the window and I remember a great little cafe bistro called The Stables in the 90s , I blame the politicians and with the coronavirus God knows its gonna get worse.
Sadly Bond Street died a little more a few years ago when Hartes closed. Hartes was my favourite shop on Bond Street. Where else could you find an all year round Christmas shop. The staff were so friendly and helpful. The staff and Hartes will be missed so much. 😢
How sad! Someone needs to ask to council where has all the money gone? For such a thriving place in normal times, this is a disgrace! Thank you for a great video. Keep up the good work chap 👍
Waterloo Road where Blackpool South Railway Station is? I lived in St Annes as a child and would often go to Blackpool by train. Remember there being quite a building at Blackpool South, now just a lump of concrete..
Love your true to life vlogs Stephen. Do you have a couple of minders complete with bull terriers following on behind for protection? Very dodgy area especially at twilight.
Hi Stephen I remember walking down Hornby Road and I and my Mrs where spat upon nearly put us off Stephen you do an amazing job with the videos and you have much knowledge, I remember the video you did it was spectitular of the Starling birds never seen so many birds around the pier was it at centre pier
It’s a desperate looking place and I can’t think of any circumstances under which people will want to invest in these retail premises . If the fun fair ever goes it really will die. Well done for making these it may stimulate the place a bit
What a nostalgic and yet painful video to watch. My dad was bought up at the Taylor's Army and Navy type stores on Bond Steet. He was a lifeguard who trained at Derby Baths and saved a girl from drowning under the pier. The sad state of the street makes me very sad and I wonder if the Tayors shop is still standing and if so you would please identify it for me. Thanks for your great videos. Caroline Costa
Hi Caroline. I think Taylor's is still open, at least under normal circumstances. If you look a door or two from the pawnbrokers at the 6:00 mark it's one of those shuttered up shops I think.
I remember going to the then 'Balmoral Hotel' ( later The Argosy ') back in 1971 with my mum, dad and bro. Our window overlooked the pleasure beach and you could see the Grand National (?) going round. Sadly gone now. Blackpool is disappearing fast.
Nice to meet you outside the cottage fish shop on wednesday tea time nice having a conversation with you.me and the wife go back home on Saturday back to tipton West Midlands.
On the corner opposite Hartes I bought a leather bomber jacket in 1975. I wrote a cheque (my first ever) for, I think £15 (£130 in 2021), made payable to 'Rowley and Tobin'. No banker's card yet I took the goods with me! I loved that jacket.
I came there just before Christmas to see the Funny Girls and oh my days. Blackpool has never looked so grim in all my life. I know its business rates that has done this to our society but OMG. It was so disheartening to see so many shops shut and B & B closed. Last time i came here was when the "Big Breakfast" was up there and it was buzzing loads of people around shops open. Such a shame.
Jerky m I must admit I was surprised just how bad it is here. I thought the video I did on Central Drive would show the worst parts, but I think Bond Street is even worse, but it doesn’t get mentioned very much.
Blackpool can be expensive to go for a holiday, a room for 2 on the prom hotels can cost over £500 for the week and that's just bed and breakfast, no wonder people go abroad , I love Blackpool but it needs to be cheaper to attract more tourists .
What a crying shame that good old Blackpool has been turned into a complete shithole. What happenned? Who fucked it all up. No disrespect my friend. But I wish I hadn't seen this vid. I remember Blackpool on the 50s. I never returned for many years until I was transferred to the fire and rescue service there. Just in time for the disastrous fire at woolworths. Remember that?? Now fond memories have bee reduced to rubble, as has Blackpool. Sad times we live in, sad times. Congratulations on putting g together a highly informative and well constructed vid.
Thanks Mate for your tour. But what a depressing, dellaptated place. Why would you want to go there. I was last in Blackpool a few decades ago, and I must say I had the best cod and chips and steam pudding. Can you still get that these days in Blackpool?🇦🇺
Yes certainly. Blackpool has by far the most arcades of any seaside resort in UK. We also have several casinos. I agree, it will be very much like AC, but our heyday was in the first half of the 20th century.
@@AWalkontheWildSideBlackpool I'm from New Jersey. Next time You're there you should visit Atlantic City. The boardwalk is nice. You should visit Wildwood too. Remind you of Blackpool I think.
Another trip down memory lane. Gotta get Banksy onto this. Some odd characters loitering. PS new to this....so a belated to your Electric Blackpool photograph, which was quite stunning. Thanks.
Seems that all coastal towns seem dilapidated from. Penzance to. Blackpool. Seems that junkies can get rehabilitated quicker. National government and Local councils just leave these areas to become a former shadow of their former selves, very little inventive or regeneration going on in the. North. Love your videos.
terry kemp Thanks Terry. Our town centre & shopping mall has been awarded 8 million pounds of investment, but not a penny of that will go to an area like this. It seems as if they want it to literally fall down before something is done.
OMG what has happened to B/Pool, record shops gone! this is my old ground. I went to Thames rd Primary. So much has changed, and its so sad to see. I would love to move back home, but seeing this I wonder what is to move back to?
Do you know if they took their sign with them Paul ? I was really annoyed with myself for not offering to buy it when I was visiting a good few years ago. Melody House actually used to be a coin shop before they got records in, and were still selling that stock off ages after they changed it.
It's a rough old town. The social deprevation, poverty, drugs. The life expectancy is 12 years lower than average for men, 10 for women. 26%of children live in poverty. 24% of children are obese, hospitalisation for alcohol related harm and for self harm is higher than average. Teenage pregnancy, smoking during pregnancy.... the list goes on. Yet I do kinda love the place.
When I first read that I thought it said _"The life expectancy is 12 years old"_ and was thinking that it's certainly gone down hill a lot since I lived there 😂
Hartes was amazing they did a huge christmas department so sad ....people wouldn't carry on like that in the 70 s and 80 s screaming and shouting at each other.. like that maybe the odd you hoo or cooee but not bad language people have lost respect for themselves and anyone around them now
