Stockton-on-Tees - It's grim up north

[@JoeDeeFitness]

I just recently moved from London to Stockton last year, and I really love the town & people in Stockton On Tees.

[@waynewayne4787]

Stockton high st was magical for me in early 80s as a kid ..will always be that place in my mind. Not what its become

[@Brookesey]

Cherry picking some.of the worst spots, there's some beautiful places if you know where to look, a short walk from the high street is Ropner Park. One of the roads off the high street called Silver street has some of the best independent shops. And should've come on a market day, not a day when it would be empty.

[@fugdefano]

I haven't been to Stockton town centre for quite a lot of years. This used to be a bustling vibrant shopping centre the widest high street in the country. Market day war Marvelous. i used to enjoy some Great really GREAT nights out in Stockton. however there are some very nice parts of Stockton the High street sadly is a shadow of its former self. This isn't just Stockton Though many market towns have gone the same way. Hopefully it may become great again.

[@markodavo273]

Stockton Town was amazing in the 80’s & 90’s. High st used to be busy as hell on a Saturday especially with the market stales that stretched from one end to the other but sadly online shopping and Teeside park shopping centre killed the high street. Lesley browns in the 80’s early 90’s was the best toy store loved that place as a kid 👌

[@JasonSmartTravel]

I loved Lesley Browns, even better than Romer Parish in Boro.

[@MichaelSwinhoe]

i worked in Halford on a Saturday whilst at St Mary's College in Middlesbrough. In the 80's and 90's the place had an awesome market and lots of nice pubs. Loved partying in the Mall Nightclub. last time i was home i drove through Stockton and didn't stop as it didn't look safe. we did go to Middlesbrough and got back in the car asap. What has happened to my North East?

[@JasonSmartTravel]

I was at St Mary’s 6th form as well. 87-89 I think

[@MichaelSwinhoe]

I was there around the same time. Came from St Michaels

[@gm2407]

Next to the centre, there used to be a roundabout with a statue showcasing 'Stockton home of the friction match'. But the model was of the modern saftey match. Difference was that John Walker's friction matches were blue because they were a sulfern solution. The flame was blue as well and they were nicknamed 'Lucifers', but the safety maches just look like what you get from a modern box of matches.

[@TempersFlare]

To be fair from your footage, it looked clean and free from rubbish, which is more than can be said for some other places.

[@brianferguson7840]

I grew up in Stockton in the 60s when it was an impressive town. I went to school with Jeremy Swift and James Gaddass the actors, Richard Hind then Grangefield Grammer. Every "development" scheme has left the town more sterile and barren than the last. Its market was "The Biggest " weekly market in britain with nearly 200 stalls. Now its a couple of stands selling phone cases. It's a damn shame.

[@Likeitorlumpit]

I’d rather live in Stockton than Bradford, Birmingham, London, Leeds etc

[@73ND41]

Is the Royal Oak still open?

[@Nemo59646]

Yes! It doesn't serve food anymore.

[@KevinHunton-k2b]

Slot place was there in the sixties.every place you've shown is the high street the high st starts at the lampton castle no 1-4 high street

[@ChingolaChick-tz3dx]

I live in Stockton and agree, it's gone down the pan. Full of drug addicts and dealers and two years ago I had a prostitute walking round my dining room, we had left the door unlocked😫. Such a shame it has so much potential

[@JasonSmartTravel]

I don’t know whether you intended it? But this comment made me chuckle!

[@ChingolaChick-tz3dx]

@@JasonSmartTravel Defo not, first time we forgot in 30 odd years!!! Bad bit was, she had a loaded needle of heroin on her!!!!

[@JasonSmartTravel]

My god!

[@b4tm4nrubin33]

Visit Swindon. Its much crappier

[@Ukboss1]

London is actually the worst place to live in the uk followed by Bradford and Birmingham

[@73ND41]

Ia the chippy still near the church?

[@Nemo59646]

Yes. Its not as good as it once was.

[@Neil-so1gn]

It's been ruined you never modernise a historical town, also modern technology has closed shops due to online shopping most towns are like this now, i remember counting down the days until saturday going to woolworths when the town was packed now they scamming beggers postioned outside cashpoints, so sad to watch this lovely town decline so badly, at least the ducks are having a good time !

[@73ND41]

I knew a lass in Stockton, her name is Willow.

[@gm2407]

I think you are overselling it as the worst. I mean just down the road are some really deprived areas in Country Durham and North Yorkshire. Redcar for example makes Stockon High Street look like Oxford Street in London. The whole country has some real problems with ghost towns due to lack of employment and online shopping.

[@chazsach6594]

Last time I went to Stockton I got a £100 parking fine for using a free car park I had used for 30 plus years. I boycotted the high st. ever since.

[@Nemo59646]

Teesside Park ruined Stockton High Street.

[@geofflodge4734]

The market on a Saturday brings the place to life 😊 When the new Police station was built over the border in Middlesbroughs red light district , the women simply started working in Stockton instead. Open street prostitution on Yarm Road …. Daytime included .

[@victorpaylor9102]

no matter how much more of our money is spent on developing the town the character is lost !!!

[@Neil-t4m]

Stockton is a town not a city and the same for Darlington from your other video!!

[@allanblakemore381]

It’s unreal how many things you got totally wrong here. If you cannot do it right, don’t do it at all.

[@keypoint1293]

It didn't look that bad.

[@Kikogilesproduction]

While you're 'home' in the UK, I'll suggest some other northern places to visit, one being worse than Stockton for sure - Mansfield: former mining town, centre very neglected yet big. Seems similar to Stockton but worse. - Chesterfield: just half an hour from Mansfield and it's gorgeous. Famous crooked spire, cobbled streets, had one of the oldest pubs in it but think it closed down. You're close to Chatsworth House and the Peak District too, which is great. - Nottingham: less than an hour south of Mansfield, really young city. More pubs per 1000 people than any other city in Europe I believe. Oldest Inn in the country (Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem), a bar with a canal going through it (The Canalhouse) and The Malt Cross (formerly a music hall, the oldest Victorian music hall still with the original features outside of London). They have caves underneath which link up to a load of other pubs - you can't go to the pubs through them but they historically link up). After that, head to Hockley, where all the shops and bars are individual and non-chain. I think you'll find it one of the best cities in the UK. Great vids and all the best

[@JasonSmartTravel]

I might do some of the towns at some point. Mansfield sounds great . . .

[@Nemo59646]

i live in Stockton its a shit-hole .

[@kateballam6942]

I beg to differ. I live in Dorset. Each county has its own problems. I was born in Stockton and am looking forward to returning there soon. I can't wait to be honest.