Newcastle's Lost Malls

[@PhattyBolger]

So glad that such a historic part of the city was torn down to make way for Eldon Garden, a shopping centre with about 5 annual visitors.

[@helennelson959]

I only went to Eldon Gardens for Lake Land cooking supplies and that moved years ago.

[@mistakay9019]

Hidden toiliets for eldon square basically. it looks really nice as well.

[@moramento22]

​@@helennelson959 and now Lakeland in Eldon Square closed

[@mcculloch29]

It wasn’t just me then, it was everyone. I just visited as there were no queues for the loos.

[@Drevilbreakfast]

5 annual visitors ! must have been a busy year

[@nolslifegren]

These days cities would kill for a Handyside arcade , poshed up with niche upmarket retailers it couldve been a tourist attraction .

[@BonkersAboutAlice]

Like the arcade in Morpeth.

[@ADonny1995]

Like the central arcade, it's always nice to walk through there

[@patmillar961]

Totally agree....👍

[@thefurrybastard1964]

I used to hang out at handyside arcade, usually outside the Kard Bar back in the mid 80s.

[@bojack40]

If people used them they would still be there. They are not wanted

[@fitnesswithkeith2578]

They have ripped the heart out of the city, the malls were not just a place to shop but were familys and friends would meet up with cafe's and shops with communitie spirit everyone new each other, cafe owners new there customer's by name and visa versa, now everything looks cold and lifeless

[@shingshongshamalama]

Nowadays everything's too expensive because the rent in malls is absurd, everyone does their shopping online or at a supermarket out of town, and the social spaces are removed to make more room for cars and ads. Malls should be publicly-owned and filled with local businesses. And preferably, a farmers' market.

[@mattysyko]

Thank you so much for your work, you're teaching me so much history about my hometown I'd never have known about without your channel.

[@pauldavis3621]

The Green Market had two of my favourite shops, Charlies Games and rhe comic stall

[@terryhall6766]

At least the arcade was used and full every week every hippie mod and music fashionista loved the place me included

[@ld6433]

As a kid I loved the water features in Eldon Square, putting pennies in, listening to the water.. was something about it..

[@MrsMagpie]

So did I 😂 I got wet a few times playing with the water as a bairn.

[@allisondrummond951]

I was very sad when the Mayfair was closed and the farmers pub was shut God the memories I had in there

[@CityBoy5705]

Haymarket pub too. And the cinema nextdoor. The gate is a white elephant and the car park was the Mayfair. Diabolical 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[@zeddeka]

Bet you have some tales to tell. Wasn't the farmers rest where Michael Straughan was last seen in 1992?

[@avictorbell2835]

​@@zeddekaThat's a name I've not heard for years, I used to occasionally drink with him in The Haymarket We'd park our bikes in the lane beside the pub He had a Kawasaki gpz900 if I remember rightly

[@stephenwhittaker4683]

Lived there for 20 years, from the end of the 1960s and saw many imposing buildings destroyed, not just old Eldon Square, but the Y.M.C.A and an exhibition hall in the Bigg Market. However, the disruption during the construction of the Metro system was well worth it and the city seemed to be really on the way up. Have not been back in recent years and fear that disappointment could await me.

[@stephenfletcher2439]

A very good friend of mine ran ARCADIE and the Kard Bar in the Handyside Arcade and it was a great place, another friend of mine had Rivendell, an rpg and alternative shop and both did very well until they decided to shut the place down.

[@BonkersAboutAlice]

As a far younger, slimmer no grey hair man I started a new job with an office supply company. First week on the job we delivered a ton of equipment to a few portacabins on a field Gateshead in the middle of what seemed to me to be nowhere. I asked the guy what they were building and they said a shopping mall. I told him that would never work, who would come shopping to a field. He said it was going to be called The Metrocentre.

[@KC_Lake]

Amazing!

[@shingshongshamalama]

Did you tell him it should have a Metro connection?

[@lisaodd3196]

What a way to start the day, strong coffee and a bit of Nairn. Brilliant, keep them coming 👍😊.

[@PaulCole-71]

I used to go to Newcastle shopping every Saturday in the late 1980's - you couldn't get moved for people, there was a real buzz around the place. I went back to Newcastle a couple of months ago and as per your video it was a hollow and empty place, full of phone repair shops. Sad to see the decline.

[@sirgaz8699]

Most of those shops are money laundering as if you go in to get your phone repaired there are only 2 in the entire city that will do it.

[@britishagent]

The council killed the ease of traffic flow in Newcastle which in turn has killed trade. They’ll never admit to it, nor do they have solutions that last. When everyone drives electric vehicles will they revert - no because emissions was never the problem, it was the flaws in policies.

[@sufeeb]

We moved from Edinburgh to Morpeth in 1978….used to love going through to Newcastle with my mates on a Saturday, checking out the KardBar, Windows Arcade, Virgin record store….happy days. I’m afraid Newcastle has seen better days…sad.

[@keithweelands5822]

You are a real credit to your craft. Keep them coming, loving everyone

[@linmorell1813]

I found this very sad, I spent my youth near Newcastle and have some happy & vibrant memories.

[@robertcook4705]

Even after all these years I still remember the feeling of angry loss at the destruction of the Handyside. The whole story seems to be one of clueless vandalism by fools at the planning department. The damage is done now and I rarely bother with the town; online shopping will finally deliver the coup de grace. How different things would have been if we'd adopted the Italian solution, respect the old beautiful things and preserve the historic centre, and build new stuff elsewhere. We'd have a beautiful old city that had evolved organically rather than this collection of huge ugly concrete monsters that go nowhere and attract no one.

[@macauleysmith1046]

Yeah, have you been to Italy? It’s an absolute dive.

[@TayWoode]

I used to love Eldon square and the metro centre with all the themed bits like the Mediterranean village and metroland

[@dom.b1972]

I moved away from Newcastle in 1998 and am shocked to see what has come and indeed gone from the beautiful city.

[@rsb8653]

Decline.

[@dom.b1972]

@@rsb8653 elaborate

[@dianethompson209]

​@@rsb8653I'm sad that it's now like a mini London now. I'm just waiting for a new nufc stadium to be built on town moor/nuns moor

[@50upss]

@@dianethompson209 They can't build on the town moor as it's protected by law, plus they don't need a new stadium

[@olivm035]

I remember Monument Mall quite vividly from when I was a bairn. I moved away for a couple of years and when I moved back it was gone and I genuinely thought I was losing my marbles until I saw the little Monument Mall signs still up in the station that proved it once existed.

[@grahambell9831]

Great city centre video, a trip through late 20th century to current plans and future thinking. The passages of time inevitably flow and with that comes change to city centres. Adapted properly, Im certain Newcastle's city centre will have a prosperous future. Thanks for compuling this video Jordan, brilliant work as always......👏👏👏

[@Gamesb0nd]

Thanks for documenting these long lost malls, brought back some memories!

[@honeybadger3902]

Glad this popped up on my front page, brilliant video and really well narrated. Looking forward to going back through your previous videos and future ones to come. I also remember there being a card company in the green market called the Kanny Kard Kompany... Bit unfortunate with its initials.

[@jamesmainmusic]

A wonderful walk down memory lane and beyond. Very well made. Thanks.

[@joejames8797]

Expensive parking charges and confusing traffic management are the main reasons for people avoiding Newcastle shops and using the Metrocentre with it's free parking and easy access

[@beatbonjon1384]

Agreed driving in town is a nightmare bloody one way system everywhere

[@silkdestroyer]

@@beatbonjon1384 A couple of weeks ago, for the first time in years, I tried to drive across Newcastle from the Byker direction to the arena area. Emphasis on the word tried. It seems immpossible. I came off the 'central motorway' foolowing signs for the city centre, intending to go past the Haymarket, under the hideous walkway, to turn right at the round-a-bout just past the police station and onto the road for the Redhough bridge. Of course, going under the walk way you see signs telling you to do a 'U' turn at the round-a-bout. Why, for Gods sake? It's only a couple of hundred yards up to the junction of the dual carriageway going over the river. I drove up there anyway, and nothing drastic appeared to happen. But then, after all of that, I took the wrong turn off that road. I wanted the turn for the 'Life' centre, where I thought that I could then take a right and then 2nd right again. But instead, I ended up taking the turn leading down to the central station, and I knew that the planners, in all of their wisdom had already decided that we shouldn't be allowed to drive past the station anymore. So, I ended up going past the flipping Casino. What a palaver! Why are councillors always so anti car? Like a lot of other people, I used to be a regular visitor to the Town, (except on match days, of course!) Now, it's very rarely, and usually just for something specific, rather than a general mooch around.

[@50upss]

Don't drive into town then, get the bus or metro. We don't want heaving traffic ruining the city

[@Ratisha_Official]

@@50upss then don't cry when the city dies because no body bothers visiting anymore. I'm sure the main customers of stag/hen dos in the big market surrounded by the druggies they attract will remain though as they mainly come by train... you know the part of the city we are all real proud of. The traffic is a shit show and a huge reason everything is failing, cars are not the issue bad management is.

[@StephanieHenderson-t7m]

@@50upssnot everyone has a metro or decent bus links. I loved shopping in town when I was younger and always chose it over the Metrocentre but then the bus lanes started and they sold off the main car parks I used. I can’t be bothered with it now.

[@rain_down_]

The original Momument Mall with the link through to the Virgin Megastore was peak!

[@silkdestroyer]

Who remembers Virgin records when it was in what appeared to be a terraced house some near where Santander bank now is?

[@murielscott9958]

City planners cannot just leave things alone. Their ‘improvements’ can rarely be described as such.

[@thesummerofsam]

Local Geordie and so many memories of green market, monument mall and eldon gardens

[@davidwhitton9050]

Eldon square opened in 1976 a decade before the MetroCentre hardly built in competition. I had forgotten the handyside arcade ever existed, memory is a funny old thing.

[@russellwynn9790]

The Metro Centre could have killed Eldon Square if it had been built with the right Transport links. It was always a pain in the arse to get to the MC when I was a student so we stayed city centre. However, just like American Malls, they are both dying a slow and painful death. A combination of a lot of retail moving online and a council so full of their own self importance to care, busy building cycle lanes that a few Lycra wearing fitness fanatics use.

[@davidwhitton9050]

@@russellwynn9790 Not to mention huge vanity projects that bring no tangible benefit to the people in the area.

[@PH5221]

​@russellwynn9790 Lycra wearing fitness fanatics... you dont go outside much do you mate? Thousands of normal people use them. Spend a bit less time on the internet and you might see them, you look like you could do with a good cycle!

[@russellwynn9790]

@@PH5221 I go outside plenty thanks. Been out in the countryside getting some fresh air with good company. My reference to cycling is that not many cycle in the North East, though some do, but not enough to demand millions of pounds being spent, when we can't even get our rubbish collected properly. It isn't a particularly flat landscape even by the coast. Yet our councils seem obsessed with putting cycle lanes on main roads, despite there already being many great cycle routes in the area. Unfortunately I have health conditions which prevent me from exercising regularly.

[@alexmartin770]

excellent work. Great research and archive material. I lived away from Newcastle during the end of the 90's for 25 years. Arriving back in 2018 I was lost. Totally alien; especially around where the Mayfair used to be. Even now, six years later I still find it an alien environment.

[@AdamOpie]

Fantastic video, well researched. Despite living in Newcastle my whole life I did learn some new things, well done!

[@hasenphelt526]

At 65 years old I can remember a lot of the old arcades, if you needed something odd, or out of the ordinary you would normally be able to find it in one of the many arcades. If they didnt have it they would 99% of the time be able to tell you where to go to get it. All this was lost when they closed them down, knocked them down and rebuilt.

[@Theredladydribbles]

Little gem of a channel 😊

[@srhwilliams97]

Absolutely fascinated to learn about the old stone in Heaton Park, I never had any idea what it's story was!

[@hexusG4Z]

Great video Jordan, hard to believe they demolished Handyside to replace it with such a colossal failure, and then to go on to build another extension while that whole section was already sitting mostly empty... as if the writing wasn't already on the wall in 2013.

[@thabudmaster]

great video. I grew up on these streets until my 30s, been living in NZ for the past 20 years almost. Nice to see how things have changed since I was last there & hear some stories about the place. Looking forward to your future videos

[@adamtaylor5749]

I walked down Handyside arcade last week it was open. Overhearing one of the shop owner who was annoyed that he was losing his shop because order from the council. Ground was uneven been repeatedly dug up for maintenance of gas, water and usual power lines in the old arcade.

[@ValderiValdera]

Really well researched and thoughtful film. Although it would be lovely to have a building like the Handyside arcade, I doubt it would've survived as a shopping mall. I'm 70 & don't have the nostalgia for it that others of my generation seem to. I don't remember it as totally full of shops. The people in that photo seem to be hanging out rather than shopping. Eldon Garden initially seemed to have more upmarket shops & never seemed that busy. Maybe too out of the way to get the footfall. Has the council moved most remaining traders to fill in gaps in busier areas? I don't envy planners trying to work out the future of city centre buildings, issues faced not only in Newcastle but also across the country and worldwide.

[@northeastpyro8796]

Such a talented young man. Very informative. Me and the missus checked out here like a ghost town.

[@jasminemaxwell7970]

As someone who moved to Newcastle two years ago I love the shopping options, indoor mega mall? Outdoor pedestrian areas? small indoor market? All walkable distance? The dream.

[@EtherealSunset]

The Royal Arcade looked fabulous.

[@Vince_uk]

What a first rate video Jordan, fascinating and informative.

[@shotokansmudgemosmith2346]

Have to say that I'm from Down South! Have been here continually since 20/09/1993. Even I have witnessed some changes in Newcastle since my relatively recent arrival here!! I've also been SO lucky to have known a Very Pretty, Beautiful... Proper True, Cheeky & Proud Geordie Lass. We knew each other from mid 2005, & married on 20/01/2007. She was admitted to The RVI on Thurs' 19/01/2023 & was taken on Mon' 23/01/23. Her name is Maureen. On a positive note Little Mo' would say - "Gerrin & Divvent Gerroot".

[@shotokansmudgemosmith2346]

Sorry folks. Should also have wished ye aal the best Tae Y'All.

[@TeamCGS2005]

A fascinating insight and brilliantly done documentary Jordan. Thanks for putting the time and effort into making this.

[@Britpopsoul]

Wow what a trip down memory lane. Thank you.

[@6sek]

I remember filming in the empty shopping centre (the Swallow Hotel one back in April 2015 the last shop to go was a pound world I think? Personally I think that metroland should have never closed but I would be happy if something like it comes Eldon Square. Ocean Beach at South Shields is the only thing similar that still exists today.

[@T3RRAFORM]

Thanks for doing this video. It’s been a great trip down memory lane for me.

[@cabdav]

Fascinating video, thanks. Handyside was a glorious old thing, but I think the rather alternative and veering in to seedy nature of some of what was there really upset the city council. I think another site with really interesting history would be Leazes Arcade. Also, I wonder, is there still a small indoor shopping centre on Queens Square or has that long since gone?

[@DannyBoy00X]

Excellent video Jordan - real nostalgia seeing inside the Green Market again. The city centre has gone to pieces

[@tonyhunter1892]

Eldon Square was opened 10 years before the Metrocentre.

[@L1nKo64]

Miss the green market, loads of moochy stores there...then all gone..for supermarket and some pish

[@thebykergroupcic1556]

Eldon Garden has just been brought by someone, i think its probably The Reuben Brothers, i think the council have gone for like 1% increase which is the way to do things!!

[@marcl4701]

Amazing video! Thank you!

[@POLITICAL-BIAS.]

Thanks for the upload

[@Jupitaah_]

Metro centre will be the next abandoned mall… barely anything left in there now. Got a whole entire wing of the metrocentre down towards where Marks & Spencer’s is where there’s so many empty units. Loads more empty units dotted through the rest of the metrocentre aswell to be fair.

[@Ratisha_Official]

Someone needs to restore it back to glory. Its the same issue as Eldon Gardens, they strip everything out and then looks for stores like Harrods to open, in the north east, one of the most poverty stricken parts of the UK. Every single time they make an announcement they are told to let out units to smaller affordable local business but they just never listen.

[@F80.M3]

⁠@@Ratisha_Officialone of the most poverty stricken areas of the UK, yet I’ve never seen so many brand new BMW M3’s and Range Rovers

[@KillerFknWolf]

arcadia x-army, there's a blast from the past. hung around the arcade a lot, playing video games in the pitch black back room of a unit

[@BABYCHAOS26]

Class video as always, really enjoyed it.

[@spritefun9362]

Awesome video, ty! I love these kinds of videos, I hope you do more!!

[@jonnyjobes3621]

Fantastic work! Really interesting, brought back many memories.

[@youcantalwaysgetwhatyouwan8419]

I used to cut through the royal arcade to get down to the riverside in the late 90's, spooky place at night, really isolated.

[@rawhide4164]

So happy I have found your channel. Hi from Newcastle and thanks for your work! :)

[@Littlemoo403]

Newcastle resident here great documentary 👍🏽👊🏽💯❤️

[@gordy3714]

Great video, Gateshead Indoor Market was another great place to shop, look at it now. Are they going to do anything with the high street.

[@bobbysmall]

That Gateshead council entertained man Steele, shortfall by them 😩

[@averagejoeyo]

This is class, especially seeing the pictures of now compared to then

[@derekmarsden8934]

Great video. Fascinating, informative and well balanced .

[@iheartmudlarking1955]

Oh my gosh, lots of stuff I didn't know even though I've lived in the area all my life. Thank you for the video.

[@FatNorthernBigot]

So much work has gone into this video. Very impressive 👍

[@afcoleman2141]

Proper trip down memory lane this, used to love Westgate Games workshop store

[@brenb8897]

Loved the Handyside Arcade there was a 'swap shop' way before the kids programme in tv,

[@madmeister407]

Hi fi opportunities and cardbar were my favourite shops in the Handyside arcade.

[@Clare-ot6vl]

This is so interesting and I’m only enough to remember when the swallow arcade (I called it Newgate arcade) was actually not covered in and open to the elements. I worked at Woolworths and you’d see the snowfall outside the side door in the winter and it was bitter cold. I also remember an arcade which I think suffered a fire at one point in the 90s?? It was leazes arcade and had little craft shops and a cafe.

[@GoldShoreRecords]

love your vids nice work man

[@axvingaming152]

Fabulous work!

[@geordieghoulette7142]

Theres a closed off part of Eldon Garden that is a time capsule of 80s shopping centre design. One of my friends snuck in and got some really nice photos before being collared by security. If they opened that part up again it would probably be quite the attraction given how the 80s aesthetic is popular again.

[@kicksywicksy]

Great shots in the ghostly space of Eldon Garden

[@fe3bal]

The loss of Debenhams has really ruined these large malls. The extremely large unita were made to order for Debenhams and only good for their purpose. Poor planning has meant no consideration was ever made for anyone else to use these units.

[@thecheesefactor]

This was what happened with the Bradford Debenhams. I don't think it even lasted five years before they shut it. The big M&S store nearby closes next month. Not just the effect of the internet, but the low pay resulting from austerity policies. It was the wrong decision to cut spending power of ordinary people.

[@jean2740]

I remember Elton Square when they had gold fish in ponds ,and walk ways running right through the middle and seats to sit on . I loved going through with my friend, we would sit on the seat for ages people watching,, it was a lovely pieceful place and know onecwas concerned about anyone els, it felt safe to be in there so unlike y Today ,dangerous place

[@ecwfanatic]

I'm 37 and even in my teens the monument mall was in decline. It seemed that Virgin was the only decent shop there and the food court was struggling. It's a shame because I used to enjoy walking through it and visiting the shops. I also used to love going into the Green Market for some crab sticks and a haircut (not at the same time 😂). Eldon Square is clinging on with the introduction of more restaurants. The Eldon Garden section is barren but this too has been in the same slow decline for about 20+ years. Retail needs to find a way to adapt or it will die. Most of the shops outside of these malls are gone and visiting the city every few months is noticeable when you see more units shutting down. I'll be interested in what the town looks like in another 20 years

[@hobbyinggary7499]

Great watch! Why no Central Arcade? An amazing space in the city centre?

[@paulekstorm-hughes1894]

Because it's not lost?

[@EtherealSunset]

Central Arcade is still there. The video is about "lost" ones.

[@mcculloch29]

Excellent. As well as Leeds, the real City of Arcades is Cardiff, which has beautiful Victorian and Edwardian arcades packed with independent businesses. Think Central Arcade x 6.

[@shauntaylor7597]

Amazing video! Loved in Newcastle my whole life and I love hearing about the history, even if it does make me sad that we are losing all our character to make way for huge companies. Where are those parts of the arcade that where overgrown?!

[@paulashaw-sk1ek]

Loved the Haymarket pub key club splice great times

[@nolslifegren]

TynesideLife stop ripping off this young mans work

[@M0XXQ]

So many fond memories of the former Newgate Centre, many quriky shops including the now long closed Tandy had something Eldon Square could never offer. Many a great night below the Newgate Centre in Idols Bar during the late 90's and early 00's, like many of the bars and night clubs of newcastle during this era, not one were the same, different crowd, music and atmosphere.

[@notrut]

The Internet has killed everything. My neighbours are a prime example ... usually 10+ vans per day screaming into our cul-de-sac delivering trash.

[@joecalder1998]

10+ per day don’t be so silly 😂😂

[@wclifton968gameplaystutorials]

It's not just the internet that has killed City Centres though. We can blame Amazon or eBay all we like but they aren't the sole cause of the decline of UK high streets. It's worth noting the huge proliferation of "Retail Parks"/"out of town shopping" areas in the past 3 decades or so now with their huge stores and free parking which allows for easy access by car but not really anything else. I also highly doubt your neighbour sees over 10 vans per day worth of deliveries, well assuming he's not running a business from a house.

[@Miuhno]

Stunning! I've always wondered why there were always so many vacancies for shops in Eldon Square and The Gate. It's unfortunate to see such historic landmarks be taken down, makes me wonder how it would've been if I studied here in the 90s or earlier instead of now. When is a video of Newcastle Uni going to drop?

[@jackward3311]

Loved the green market.......what were they thinking while re vamping it to a nothing block of rubbish. Loved Sun Travel which we used loads x

[@RetroAdz]

Really nice video, interesting to hear all about the history, especially Eldon Gardens. I'd recommend being careful with your editing and work on your flow/scripts. It's a bit jarring when music suddenly starts and stops

[@davidgoodfellow2384]

I won't drive in the town centre every bastard time I get a ticket they have changed all the bloody roads

[@arandorapress7561]

My brother and I used to go to the Handyside Arcade. Newcastle has been butchered.

[@alexadorexa]

This is a wonderful piece of journalism. Really enjoyed it. Thank you. I love history of the north east . I hate when they removed the green market it was wonderful. The metro centre has gone down hill it used to be wonderful full of plants and cool features such as the village and fountains. Everything is boring and bland now.

[@gabaghoul87]

Interesting stuff. Do you have any info about the arcade/shops that is abandoned behind the new bridge hotel? I've always wondered what this area was ever used for, it's such a dump now.

[@roadaheadmedia]

Many thanks! The Leazes Arcade was rather nice, although short lived and not quite a mall.

[@rogerdickinson6944]

Great video, if you go to Eldon square on a saturday there is no obvious shortfall in footfall. I'm always surprised by Eldon Garden, how can a centre attached to such a successful neighbour fail so badly?

[@Cartamandua]

With a bit of thought, Eldon Gardens could attract the quirky sort of shops that the Handyside had.

[@adsheff]

Sadly Newcastle fell foul to the car industry and their useful idiots in government. The central motorway is an abomination and adds nothing to the city, yet takes so much away. These people tried the same in Edinburgh - but there they fought back. We are lucky that so much of Newcastle's beautiful city centre survived these people.

[@zandor5657]

so very true

[@blackadder1966]

If i remember correctly, the swallow shopping centre had a wimpy and Malcolm McDonald shop.

[@philipw468]

Eldon garden centre is now practically full of empty units. Heard rumour upper level is supposed to be conversion to flats, but will apparently take a few years to do.

[@MrsMagpie]

The last few days of The Green Market were very sad, saying goodbye to shop owners that had been there most of my life, they are ruining The Grainger Market now, old shops that have been there for years are now closing like the leather shop and the Big Boot has gone from inside the market.