Derby Main Centre, Then and now 1963 to 2003

[The1200sportster]

to true doctor xtv i do too . derby is now a wasteland of empty shops or ready to close down ,west field is just a souless acade you can see in anytown now

[socomwet]

I remember seeing ghostbusters & starwars at the odeon back in the day

[comedyhunter]

@socomwet Them were the days, thick smoke and the icecream lady before the main feature.

[socomwet]

Comfy chairs but squeaky, Massive queues up towards C&A. Sticky floor in the cinema. all good though!

[comedyhunter]

@socomwet Great memories but it has to change for the better :(

If you like local content check out my other 182 videos.

Andy

[DoctorXTV]

RIP Derby shopping, I go Leicester now the whole of Derby has almost closed down...

[rockbabeellie]

some of you lots are a bit sad the new westfield is better GET OVER IT!!! i mean who would want some trampy run down shops and cafes rather than nice clean shops where the ground aint covered in FILTH and it aint all scummy and nasty. Well obvs you lot but what the hell??? everyone else in the world would definately think that wesfield is better. And it is blatently. Just like the old bus station was a load of crap too. And now theyre building a nice one what hobos dont live in. ITS BETTER.

[abhudson14]

The main centre was northing like the bus station. Westfield is just a load of rip off shops that never close and think everybody got nothing do in there life but shop

[Georgiahulse]

So true! There's no character in Westfield - you could be in Durham or Derby and you wouldn't know; because they're all the same places. No character, no individuality, no uniqueness - that's why I hate them and continue to support local shops that have been in Derby for literally hundreds of years.

[MCTVAnimationStudios]

that brings back many memories...

[abhudson14]

One of Derby's best shopping centres out door shopping as well. pity it had to go. for westfield

[lillabethsmum]

@abhudson14 They should have made the Main Centre an undercover complex and developed Duckworth sq similarly pedestrians would still be frequenting both ends of town

[oxleyfamily]

I used to own the Main Center Cafe ,I miss all our customers

[brettadams1970s]

My dad used to own Main Centre travel!

[TerraErro]

oxleyfamily, many thanks for all those fantastic full english breakfasts I ate i your cafe! One of your brekkies used to set me up for the day.

[senbean]

i feel like crying

[Emgie63]

I'm glad it's not just me.

[Monklady]

Talk about going back in time! I'm trying to work out where these were taken from. Would the cinema be behind you and the Spot to the left? If I'm right, Clouds disco would be behind you to the right?

[comedyhunter]

Yes you have it, the former Gaumont Palace cinema/Odeon cinema/Canon Cinema is directly behind me. Now Zanzibar nightclub.

The Spot is about 40 yards to the left.

I have never heard of Clouds disco, what year are we talking?

[Monklady]

Clouds was several premises up from the Odeon up some steep stairs in an upstairs room. Desomnd Decker singing "Israelites" was the club anthem, that makes it 1975 - 1979 I believe. It was more of a hippy type of venue,

LSD was 30p a 'drop' on the door as opposed to 50p at Baileys and Tiffanys. My goodness, hope the grandkids don't read this, they may believe Granny was young once!

[MikeyManchester]

Wilkinson Hardware store (where the discount store was) along with Argos are now located across the road (behind the camera shot) in the refurbished Victoria Chambers.

[Markdorman]

I lived In Derby for 2 Years 88-90 and used to run the Dilly Bar in the Old Bell in Sadler Gate. Do you have anything from Hartington Street or Sadler Gate from that Period, the Shire Horse delivery at the Bell in 88 Stands out in my Memory. Very Happy Days, Come on you Rams.

[melbungle]

I wonder what they did with the statue of the boy on the ram.

[comedyhunter]

The boy and Ram statue is located in Derby river Gardens, next to the council house. i.e. it overlooks the river Derwent.

[oldagetraveller]

I was an apprentice in Derby from 1962-66 and remember the Main Centre and the Eagle centre, but can't remember which is which. As a treat, we would eat out at a Chinese in one of these Centres. The meal would cost about 4/- (four shillings {4 bob) in real money) or 20p in metric.

[MikeyManchester]

The Main Centre was the outdoors area between what was the Colliseum/Castle Street it was known as Castlefields and the Eagle Centre was the undercover shopping area. Now all this is disappeared under what is now M&S, Debenhams, Next and the Westfields Roof top Carpark access/exit ramps.