HOME PAGE / @awalkwithphil WEST BROMWICH High Street has at least 5 main problems that some can be fixed while one of them looks like a drifting oil tanker going nowhere.
Ruddy ell, it's depressing, really depressing. NO character. Nothing. Barbers,vapes, so called nail & beauty???. It's an eyesore just crap spewed on the floor. Saturdays 30-40 years ago were literally a day out. Ohh I'm sad seeing my home town gone down the road to ruins... The COUNCIL honestly should be held to account for this utter mismanagement and disregard for our once great shopping center 'corruption,backhanders'£???£. The inner water fall was iconic and a meeting place to sit, rest, eat a sarnie and even have a conversation. GONE all GONE.!. SAD times😢
I've fond memories of eating at the Poseidon fish and chip shop opposite the old bus station and of shopping trips with my mom in the once-impressive Queens square. Boing boing!
Big thanks Phil for taking the time to put this together. I spent a large part of my childhood in the Star and Garter in the 60's and 70's. My Mom and Dad, Jim and Maura along with Frank their head barman ran a very good pub and even opened one of the first steak house's in the West Midlands. I know our memories always have a bias towards the good but all I can remember was "The Star" as we called it, being wedged from opening time till closing! The whole of the High St was the same. I had two Saturday jobs over that period. The first was in Thomson's and Rose's literally next door! and then Proffit & Westwood's at Dartmouth Sq. Two very busy shops where the working day just flew! I remember the shopping centre opening but I think it was called the Sandwell? We would get off our School bus and head into Tesco's and get freshly cooked jam doughnuts, a relatively new culinary delight! Happy days heh! Proud to say still a Baggies supporter for me sins! Let's hope we have a good season. Boing Boing!!!!
Great memories, (yes it was called the Sandwell Centre when it first opened) and many thanks for your support. I've put together a quick video of my short walk to the Hawthorns along the Birmingham Road, which will be posted next. Thanks again
Very much sign of the times phil with internet taking over online shopping etc but so sad to see remember as a kid entering West Bromwich town centre by the multi-storey car park walking down the ramp past the toilets and then kwik save and seeing how busy it used to be was literally packed so many shops then tho boots, tesco, comet or I think it was dixons then birthdays right at the bottom on the right then losing WHSmiths Woolworths. I’ll never get why they got rid of the old bus station so many memories again then the underground walk ways you mentioned to b&q over the road and the old police station Poseidon was always a fave chippy of mine with the blue shutters could sit in at the back treated my self to a fair few bags of chips after night Albion games back in my later teens haha happy days all the best mate look forward to the next video Ps that art gallery shocking!!
Thanks for sharing your memories. The old bus station should have stayed, this would have meant the Queens would still have thrived. There was also a record shop down by the card shop and Bell and Jones the camera shop. There are no shops anymore where you can sit and eat, like the old spooners and Wimbush.
I do remember that chippy, they did great chips! One of my downfalls was coming out of « Curves » having done a class or 2 , smelling the chips cooking and heading straight over to buy some Fab days !😊
@@awalkwithphil totally agree phil I also think In my opinion that new square they have bulit will be the final nail in the coffin for the kings and the other pre scent so sad to see councillor’s at the time have a lot to answer for letting these ridiculous new builds go ahead without thinking things through. In an ideal world I wouldn’t have bulit the new square or the art gallery would of used most of that funding on both pre sents kept them thriving wouldn’t have been as busy as it was I no due to times changing but it wouldn’t be a ghost town West Bromwich as lost a lot of its old character if you ask me all for the sake of some fancy new over the top buildings ridiculous
I remember the seating in the Queens Square! However the fountain may have stopped in the late 90's, but it was just covered over with a black surface with the seating remaining there, the seating got removed in 2013 when they started to refurbish the shopping centre, leaving the clock the only original feature from 1971. It remained as open space until about 2017 when that cafe arrived. Another thing to mention about the clock, it's broken on just after 8:05, for several years before it was done up, it was broken on around 7:35.
Appreciate the info, especially about the seating. Extended Stopped and broken clocks are just another symptom of neglect that seems to pervade this so called shopping centre. Very sad to see.
I agree with the paving area comment. Why has such an investment been made to have it pedestrianised only to have it cluttered, with an assault course feel to it. The ambience they have tried to create JUST ISNT THERE! I certainly wouldn’t feel as though i could pass a bit of time people watching from those seating areas 😢. Princess parade & Duchess parade I’m afraid are mutton dressed as lamb!
Times change, the Internet has killed much of high streets throughout the UK. The days you remember are long gone. You'd be better off cherishing the memories but don't dwell on them too much because it'll make you feel sad.
Such a shame. I spent many Saturdays shopping up in West Brom in the 1980s, especially the record shop (was it called Sounds Good?), Mackays, Chelsea Girl, WHSmith and I remember going to see loads of films at the Kings Cinema, queueing outside for ages to see Grease!! It was always a busy shopping centre. I've not been back in years, so I've not seen the new shopping area.
Since the New Square was built it condemned the Kings shopping to oblivion, it will never recover. I also think the rot set in earlier when they needlessly moved the bus station. Thanks for the comment Beverley
That old M&S site on the high street is atrocious. I agree with those market stalls spilling onto the high street looks terrible and like a 3rd world.country. I liked to go to band shows and comedy nights at The Public when it was opened and then suddenly closed. Complete waste of money
Hi Phil your right about these market stalls they should be indoors it looks a bit third world I remember Star and garter Thomson and Roses and Hepworths the Taylors in the shopping centre and littlewoods by Marks and sparks and boards look like graffiti West Bromwich would look better with more investment around Dartmouth Square
Hope you enjoyed this short look around the Middle High Street in West Bromwich. Consider subscribing to this channel by hitting the SUBSCRIBE BUTTON in order for me to continue making films in and around West Bromwich and it will also ensure you are alerted to new video content. As always, all comments, questions, and feedback are welcome. Thanks for watching!!
hi phil i was brought up in west bromwich when the days of Halfords was in the old street and a very lovey place a young person growing up there . i never go to west brom now . such a shame the way its gone no big brand shops there like it use to be . younger people want branded names . to many tick tack shops
Did you ever do a video of West Bromwich Town Hall? It's the most beautiful place. I went there for a dance event a few years ago. It's gorgeous. I'll never forget it. Sprung wooden dance floor and splendid ceiling ❤
It's on my list there is still a lot of remedial work going on atm with loads of scaffolding all around the building. I'll see what I can do once all the work is complete. Many thanks for your comment
I went into the public when it was open as a arts centre, they had this tree that had like plastic leaves that went to the ceiling, I asked the person who worked there it’s purpose they told me that when the light was on the tree it reflected around the room and crated all lovely shades of light etc, I asked them why the light wasn’t on which they said they wasn’t allowed to put it on because it was too expensive 😮. Typical Sandwell council like to waste money and spend it on stupid pointy stuff.
A huge vanity project by the local council at the time which your comment typifies. It cannot now be undone as it will stand there for ever more like some kind of cut adrift oil tanker in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. Many thanks Sharon for your comment
I work at that end of the town and it's really gone downhill, so many big name stores have gone i.e Wilko, Argos, Walter smith butchers, farm foods, WH Smith the list goes on and replaced by shops where stuff is just strewn about outside, it looks awful and trade has really died as more people avoid it and go to the New square area. Later in the day you get a lot of riff raff hanging about by Maccies and the bookies....from experience shop lifting is rife even in the charity shops.
Just before they built this, I was little and the old people said it wouldn't be the same, which was probably right, it was always packed in the 80s, but I think the new part killed it off, what's the betting it will horrible houses and flats soon, I had a Saturday job at smiths fancy goods that had 2 shops there stopped going in late 90s could see what was coming, dudley as well which was more up market, now has died, cos of merry hill and that isn't the same
Yer I'm from dudley and the town used to be a great place to shop in the 70s an80s but now dead as a dodo councils couldn't plan a piss up in a brewery .such a shame how everything as gone
@@ste123456754 It seems the more these councils try to improve areas the worse it all gets, I cannot see how Carters Green will ever be able to be what it once was
The stalls make the place look like market day in Bangladesh it’s full of litter boxes crap. Shame really because the paving and seating looks lovely. Shocking…
I use to live about 5 mins away from West Brom town a good 19 or so years ago, Wow how its changed and not for the good! It was starting to go downhill before i left and moved away out the town far, but i see the councils have pretty much just okayed everything to be built without any thought into is is REALLY going to improve the town, Again all comes down to money end of the day they want to spend that budget and make friends happy and rich handing out huge build contracts, Regardless of the outcome...they don't listen to what the community's REALLY need.
I used to wag school in wednesbury an catch the 79 up to west brom wiv my mate, can remember the three degrees in the square on a Friday afternoon, next day they were on the pitch at the Albion with big Cyril & Laurie, great days in that town, labour council make me sick..killed that once great town
The apna punjab shop should be closed as the council put notice on the gymnation that used to be next to it that was for elderly women. Thst was closed as the council said they were demolishing that side for housing. Good how they close a useful hub for elderly women but leave foreign cheap tatty shops open !!!!
As an Asian born and bred in West Bromwich, I agree the town has gone to shit.. But we as residents have to take our share of the blame… we elect our councillors, our government on the ground premise of their campaigning, when we know they’re all corrupt as fuck.. make a stand, revolt or stand up to the tyranny by being real and put yourselves up for election and stick up for us locals without being tempted by bribes to benefit certain people. Reply and let me know your thoughts..
My god why all the moans. Why don’t you run for council if you got all the answers ? You failed to show the area around the new Tesco and that part of the town That could be used as a start point into trying to make the rest of the town better In the old square they could put Bowling alley, better restaurants, pop up shops, bars etc which would tie in with the Tesco development but and it’s a BIG BUT, rent and rates must be realistic and not rip offs I am with you with doctors surgeries and health clinic's, that would be a fantastic idea, especially pop in walk in centres It’s not just WB which is changing, the whole shopping dynamic has changed and that’s UK wide WB needs to attract better shops but the retail industry hasn’t got confidence in this council….Pound shops equals pound shoppers This council needs investigating as to why they have been allowed to demolish iconic buildings to then be left for years I can go into any Town and complain about goods on the pavements but again it’s down to the council to maintain rules and regulations and fine those breaking the rules
Excellent points and well made. I accept rent and rates could be a barrier but at the mo I see nothing but decline. As always I will follow up this film looking at areas around the New Square and hopefully showing the once great town of West Bromwich in a more positive light. Many thanks for your comment
Have you tried getting to the new Tesco from the bus station? The elderly find it a trek. Not everyone has a car. If you have and want to visit the "old" high street you`ll find most of the car parks have gone!!
