Aberdeen, Union Street Shops, 1992

A detailed look at the shops, buildings and businesses on Union Street, Aberdeen in 1991. The rot has started, with closed shops and "For Sale" signs starting to appear, but much of Aberdeen's long-standing shops are still in place. C&A, Woolworths, Boots, and Dunns have gone, but E&Ms, Littlewoods, Bruce Millars and Chivas Bros are still there.
Shot on an 8mm Sony camcorder one Spring Sunday afternoon in 1992.

[@russelljohnston6069]

Anyone else notice how much cleaner it is. Signature clothes shop STILL there wow.

[@fannycraddock99]

Most of these shops no longer exist. Union Street used to be a wonderful shopping destination, now it's a poor shadow of itself!

[@caveatrotters3324]

Wonderful? Yeah, if you're from Buckie 😆

[@devils58reds59]

Council ruined it by closing union street also covid

[@festivitycat]

I would have been 7 years old. Watching this during pandemic makes it feel even more heartbreaking! Good times! Don't know why but what really got me was seeing the double decker Bluebird bus. I'd totally forgotten about those. I don't think you can see it in the video but it also reminded me of 'What Everyone Wants' round the back of the Mercat Cross area. Thanks for the video!

[@invasion23]

Where has the time went? I remember at school, if you shopped at What everyone wants, you got slagged off haha. I would definitely like to go back to the old world, the 80s and 90s and stay in that era forever.

[@drybokes7055]

Not 1 jakey, junkie, or street beggar. Zero. That for me is the biggest change.

[@Midgar2310]

In Aberdeen, the shop fronts may change, but the sound of seagulls in the background will be there forever.

[@charlesgodswill6161]

heheheheheh

[@willsharpe9225]

Amazing foresight to think of doing this and then actually getting out there and filming. Respect!

[@hardylane]

It was a boring Sunday :)

[@coopertrooper87]

@@hardylane I wondered why Union Street was so deeid!!!! Lol

[@selectman6352]

Watching this during post COVID Aberdeen. Wish I had a time machine.

[@HighTen_Melanie]

A fantastic bit of filming! I left school in 1992. I loved Bruce Millers and still miss it! Union Street was a much better place than it is currently. Let's hope that it will look forward to a major investment soon! Many thanks for posting.

[@john4bears]

Wow this takes me back to fond memories, sadly Union Street not so flourishing now. Thanks for posting. John

[@vinodhnb4u1]

I have been this wonderful city 8 times and I am from Bangalore - "SIMPLY AMAZING CITY - LOVE IT"❤️❤️❤️

[@GRAY8618]

Loving some of the old cars! Couple tidy mk3/4 escorts, fiestas Orion's! Even a 280 Capri! Nice Quattro too!

[@jimbojimbo7103]

Callum Gray think i seen an escort rs1600.

[@HighTen_Melanie]

J W Always wanted an XR2i

[@conandagostino2939]

Noticed that as well. We seemed to love fords back in 1992!

[@bjeffalicious]

I was there, once, in July 1994. Just watching this to get a sense of how it looked like around that time. I was only twelve.

[@Revolver1981]

It looks exactly the same now.

[@mook16v]

Such happy memories, I remember what everyone wants! What happened to Aberdeen, it’s now a run down dirty old city, I miss the good old days

[@BusClippie]

I remember Aberdeen from the mid 80’s .Attitude the clothes shop top of Union Street , Terracotta , Willow Bank Road,Cupid’s the pub on Union Street,Cafe IcI,Mr Gees ,Cafe Society ,No10,The Albyn .Grampian TV at Queens Cross ,E&M’s ,Frazers ,Norco in George Street .I loved Aberdeen great city .

[@howverycliche98]

Thank you for sharing this! it's nice to see something so familiar yet before I was born!

[@EnvyThaGamez]

1:31 that church building is now a fancy dance-type-pub

[@tweedy151]

looks a lot better than now. 40 years of oil and nothing to show for it, infact we've gone backwards.

[@tpmbe]

Great archive footage.... so many businesses gone....simpler times and good memories... It just shows also how Aberdeen has never embraced change and built upon t's potential to be a vibrant city.... very sad .......only the seagulls thrive ..... Councils here are to blame for the degeneration and lack of any modern foresight to mix modern with old and provide a good environment for which to enjoy. Civic pride is not something Aberdeen is good at.

[@GB-vn1tf]

Unfortunately that's the problem as too many people didn't want change and moaned at everything that did. Union Terrace Gardens as a prime example. Anyone that tried anything got shouted down.

[@saraforno8690]

Used to be brilliant. Never go near Union Street now

[@Revolver1981]

Don't be stupid.

[@madmaxmcinnes4102]

Union Street - for being our 'main thoroughfare - is an utter embarrassment ........ and I'm a fcuking Aberdonian!!!!!!!!

[@lizet3more]

Shame most of these stores no longer exist. Even that post office at the end of union street

[@simkins91]

My god feel like being in a time machine

[@HighTen_Melanie]

simkins91 I was just thinking the same thing! Would be great if you really could..

[@lindawarwick8643]

Bought all my punk records at The other Record Shop .I was heartbroken when it closed down

[@ronpirie]

I was a 'mini-punk' (aged about ten) and used to sit outside The Other Record Shop with the older cooler punks... One of the older punk girls always looked out for me and took care of me. Suddenly she disappeared :-( I was gutted.... I learned later that she was in fact Annie Lennox . If only I'd played my cards right ;-)

[@MrG77]

Nearly all that shops are to let now. Union Street is dead . Only a few clothes shops, Mac Ds, lots of coffee shops and a couple of bookies and a Poundland. That's basically it. Very sad. I would have been 15. Great memories.👍

[@dannyharrison9211]

When life was normal 😢

[@thewhatorwhy]

Decade after decade, century after century it's still a depressing sight. All straight lines, shops and greyness.

[@cheech180]

@K A fit use is outdoor cafes? It's always either too cold or too windy to sit outside 😁

[@ronpirie]

@@cheech180 And the bloody seagulls steal your food !

[@jeffreysmith6280]

The amazing thing is the number of empty shops and offices, even 30 years ago. The only difference between now and then is the cars. I remember a lot of those shops and some I don't. I got my first computer at Computerworld.

[@capitol7950]

Hardly anything left now, apart from a forest of to let signs.

[@kevinmcgowan1620]

Bonny aberdeen lol lived there from 91 to 94

[@hannofranz7973]

This is exactly how I remember Aberdeen from my stay from 1989 to 90.

[@vanderark89]

Union Street was never ‘pretty’ and all the buses used it so it was noisy. The big change is there were shops. Now mainly charity shops. They spent so much money building three shopping centres and then wondered why Union St isnt what it used to be. Union Square was totally unnecessary i would have left the old railway yard instead. It crushes the soul

[@EOTA564]

British cities aren’t generally known for their ‘prettiness’ with the exceptions being smaller historical towns such as York and Bath. I lived in Edinburgh for most of the 00s and to be honest aside from the New Town I find the city to be far more cold and depressing than Aberdeen. Lothian Rd and the A7 through to North Bridge are grim as f*ck. Leith Walk has gentrified but will never be an oil painting. Aberdeen has its western suburbs which are frankly nicer than the posh parts of Edinburgh.

[@vanderark89]

This is true. Maybe because I went to school 2 minutes away from Union St I’m just nostalgic. Edinburgh is much nicer than Aberdeen although not dissimilar.

[@miche11e76]

Lovely walk down memory lane! Changes in Cars and fashions seem more dramatic than in shops!

[@SamaraBroere]

wow Aberdeen looks so different stores like BHS and Woolworths don't exist anymore

[@mwc6397]

A lot of groovy cars. When the world was so much simpler.

[@Revolver1981]

Shut up the world's much simpler now.

[@cheech180]

@@Revolver1981 Corona, antifa and BLM beg to differ 😁

[@baltic8558]

@@cheech180 i dont understand how they end up here. most of the "problems" they fight for don't exist here. most likely kids trying to break stuff and get away

[@RosheruCell]

A lot shops and establishments are still there 23 years later - most notably banks, building societies and RS McColl's! I remember Littlewood's and Bruce Miller's from back in my school days. I was surprised to see the Macdonald's there - I thought that was a more recent addition. Where's HMV? I thought that was one of the older shops!

[@YubelMalevolent]

HMV is just before he looks across at Presto. Can't see it too clearly but it is there

[@hannofranz7973]

There was a café bar called "The Wild Boar" with green furniture.

[@paulc6210]

On Belmont Street just off Union Street. It's still there, called "Wild Boar" now.

[@JohnSmith-ii9ci]

the bakers oven where you used to get lovely fish and chips. there was one in St Nicolas centre too.

[@TheCaitlin1496]

Great footage really shows how much has changed! Just wondering if you could help me out with a project I'm doing at uni? I'm a second year at Grays school of art and my next project has the theme of the 90's, mainly focusing around the politics of the time. Would be really great to get some statements as to what Aberdeen was like back then. Were there any news story's or events that spring to mind? If so how has that shaped the city today? Thanks for your time Caitlin

[@JorRob001]

Hey i live in aberdeen and my grandma was a history teacher, want me to ask her? Good luck

[@billmcq1]

This must have been filmed after August 1992 as I see a K reg Ford Fiesta 0:34. Great video though :)

[@hardylane]

Yes I've corrected the description

[@ebertapia1297]

50 % of those bright and decent shops in union street .. are now close And looking creepy and decadent..

[@MrPanacea999]

It's hardly changed at all in 28 years (apart from the shops changing hands), unlike some parts of Aberdeen, like the railway station. That green and yellow livery on the buses takes me right back.

[@Revolver1981]

The railway station is exactly the same. They've just built a shopping mall onto it. That's all that's changed. They're planning on refurbishing the station.

[@davidhenderson7433]

shops boarded up street looking run down, whats changed. Still as many shops boarded up and looking run down, Union street has always had a raw deal. I remember when it was like this, i remember every store, brings me right back to when i was 21 walking up and down when back from the rigs. Aberdeen does not really change that much, the shop frontages yeah but the place still is pretty much unchanged its only every revamped, same as all the clubs and pubs, lick oh paint and new carpets lol.

[@EOTA564]

@@lf1683 I wouldn’t say Aberdeen is any more of a shit hold than comparably sized cities in the UK but given the wealth that has gone through the place it’s current state is unforgivable. Union Street has seen better days but then so have most UK High Streets. Union Square was a mistake but the ‘shiny and new’ factor always seems to bring in the major retailers and restaurants. The problem is that the City Council spent years on the pedestrianisation of Union Street which would have provided redevelopment opportunities but it went nowhere. The West End is still really nice...

[@GB-vn1tf]

​@EOTA564 the council destroyed the city centre when the built the St Nicholas and Bon Accord centres that are now a joke. Union Square will end up the same in the next thirty years as the Bon Accord centre took to become old. If they had pedestrianised Union Street back then and not cut off George Street Aberdeen city centre might not have become what it is now.

[@nigelbarrett4091]

1938 Union st. was shown on a Gerry Davies videocassette I have.There were other amazing footage like Celtic,s visit to Brora in the 1932 Scottish cup.

[@700brickhill]

You should upload it.

[@harlawkid2]

2:22 KKeith Lemon casually walks down the street LOL!

[@RockaFellaa]

there's about as much people on union street here as there is at 4am on a Monday morning these days. where is everyone?

[@michaelriddle1615]

It looks like this was filmed on a Sunday, back in the old days shops closed for a day every week!

[@shirleygibson]

There Used To Be A Presto Shop Which Opened From Mondays to Saturdays, But Then It Was Closed On Sundays. Before HMV On Union Street, There was Presto Shop Which Located On Union Street In Aberdeen which opened near The Trinity Centre way back In May 1984, but sadly, It Closed Down On The Last Day On 11th May 1996, and the shop was closed, but It Was Changed and converted Into An HMV Store which opened way back On 25th July 1997 Near The Trinity Centre In Aberdeen In Scotland. HMV Store was located On Union Street In Aberdeen In Scotland which opened way back On Friday 25th July 1997. HMV Store Used To Have Videos and Cassette Tapes, but Then Videos and Cassette Tapes ended At HMV Store In Aberdeen In Scotland By Early 2006. In December 2007, New High Defination Discs called Blu Ray Discs were avaliable at HMV Store In Aberdeen In Scotland. HMV Store Only Has CDs, DVDs, and BLU RAYS So That people can buy Their New Releases On DVD or Blu Ray Please. HMV Store was opened On Friday 25th July 1997 On Union Street In Aberdeen, But Sadly, HMV Store Will Be Closed On The Last Day On Sunday 5th March 2017, and HMV Store will Be Closed And It Will Be Converted and Changed Into A New Burger King Restaurant To Be Built On The Former HMV Store In Aberdeen Which It Will Be Due To Be Built and Opened By July 2018 Please. Do You Think HMV Store Will Be Closed On The Last Day On Union Street In Aberdeen By Sunday 5th March 2017 Please?

[@dustinmacdonald785]

Hi, I am doing a college project on how Aberdeen has changed over the decades and how different generations experienced it. Would i be okay to use some of your video please for that purpose?

[@bettyrobb8219]

Good Idea!!👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇨🇦. Good Luck.🙋‍♀️

[@stevenlornie1261]

here's how it went. Great to good to utter shite!

[@AndyGibsonTV]

What happened to the shops at 5:07 and 5:23, was there a fire?

[@si-yuandong6450]

Rise of internet, death of high street.

[@Mouse2113]

I was also 6 back then and remember it like this, its a sorry state now

[@francesmcleod3159]

Union Street is now full of empty shops looks very scrufy.

[@rossco5409]

The video is full to let signs, looks just as depressing then

[@fixesall1894]

Interesting to see old cars and seen few russian models of VAZ (Жигули) WOW!

[@harold3165]

I know this sounds stupid but it's weird how similar it all looks to its current state. Apart from the cars and the video quality, you wouldn't guess this was over 30 years ago.

[@BabylonianCaptivity]

Now i live doon south and all i can think is phas all the folk? England is heavin compared to this. Aberdeen better back then too! Unquestionably.

[@petes3011]

blimey they sold a lot of Fords in those days.

[@davidanderson8591]

🎼 You’ll be impressed in Presto! 🎼 👍

[@shirleygibson]

The New Children's Theme Park "Storybook Glen" Is Located In Maryculter South Of Aberdeen In Scotland was aimed for children ages 0 to 6 years old was opened way back In April 1983. "Storybook Glen" was a children's theme park In Maryculter South Of Aberdeen In Scotland was aimed for parents or grandparents to take their children or grandchildren ages 0 to 6 years old when it was opened way back In April 1983. The Children's Theme Park also has children's nursery rhymes and Children's Fairytale Stories and Children's TV Characters At "Storybook Glen" In Maryculter. "The Den and The Glen" in Maryculter South Of Aberdeen was aimed for children's birthday parties from ages 1 to 6 which opened way back In April 2013.

[@derby1884]

Must have been filmed on a Sunday as a lot of the shops appear to be shut. It didn't look great back then (even in hindsight) but it's still a bloody sight better than it is now. Everything started to go downhill once the St.Nicholas Centre appeared on the scene. I just find it sad to see so many pawnbrokers and payday loan "shops" in the street now but perhaps it's a sign of the times? And I worked in Union Street for 26 years....

[@ryanbonner25]

there has clearly not been enough change for what has been the oil capital of europe for such a long time. people around here have no imagination.

[@frankthomson8051]

Many thanks to the person who had the foresight to do this excellent piece of filming. I'm sure I saw myself walking into work at Clydesdale Bank in Union Street!

[@alexcore697]

Few of the shops are still there,,,I would have been working in the cafe in what everys at this time

[@michaelinkster4977]

There were banks on Union Street back then I see!

[@selectman6352]

There still is.

[@zigor4]

Ah 1991 good memories of living in Edinburgh

[@rspcba850]

Bit like a time machine bloodybrilliant

[@rovercoupe7104]

RGIT-RGU 1989-1994 BA(Hons) Business Studies. M.

[@joshimitsu96]

Great vid

[@caveatrotters3324]

Isn't it funny that it was always better for some people when they were younger? 😆

[@aberdonian321]

glad 2 c that McDonalds is there

[@scottchristie7158]

Opened in 1991. The now forgotten second Mcdonalds at Holburn Junction had not opened yet.

[@Isaacjmj]

all those shops gone now, union street is a canyon of misery with nothing but the screams of drunk rich students to fill the void.

[@Gabriel-fj2es]

I can only think in Nirvana.

[@davidshand1393]

00:43 sounds like GTA Vice city 😂😂

[@peterlovie6682]

I was 3 years old 😂😂

[@bencb3]

Dat bus do

[@Southwinds7736]

The sun is out 😅

[@bettyrobb8219]

Disappointing, 🙋‍♀️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇨🇦

[@ronpirie]

Not nearly as much "ethnic diversity" back then ... 🤔

[@ZipAye]

First of all, lovin the video, very nostalgic as I would have been 6 at the time! @Chorlton Media would you be able to message me direct?