What was Brighton like in 1984?

[Ernest]

Couldn't beat a bit of Matthew wilder on a Friday night.

 

[ozzygull]

1984 I was 12, my memories of that time was London Road and Churchill Square. London Road had a Sainsbury on the corner and we used to do our food shopping there. I remember a big Coop and the open market, and a great Woolworth which I bought my first single. Bakers street use to have a pet shop, bike shop and a shoe shop.

Churchill Square, I remember a Habitat, and a Big Tesco that was on two floors. Top floor sold clothes and toys.

The place to go for a 12 year old was the Top Rank Suite on a Tuesday night. Open to under 18's until 11pm

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

You had to buy your Albion kit in either David Rose Sports or the one in Duke Street that I'm forever forgetting the name of.

Wisden's I think.

 

[Monkey Man]

In 1984 Brighton was still largely populated by born-and-bred Brightonians, or at least people from the surrounding area, and definitely felt like a Sussex coastal town - a kind of amplified Hastings, Eastbourne or Worthing.

These days it's been invaded by people from all over the country and has become its own little enclave - it's lost a lot of its Sussexness as it's got (simultaneously) richer, more bohemian and - let's be honest - more up its own arse.

I've lost count of the number of Brighton relatives and friends who have moved away since the 80s, in most cases because they can't afford to live there, and in a few cases because they no longer want to.

 

[desprateseagull]

http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1984.shtml

 

[symyjym]

Just to jog a few memories from the 80's

 

[The Spanish]

Just to jog a few memories from the 80's

View attachment 50222

vinyl roof cortina!

 

[getreal1]

Churchill Square was basically deserted.

The land adjacent to the Prince Regent Swimming Pool was a rough car park, and had been since 1970. North Laine was nothing like what it is now; it was mostly former local shop fronts (butcher, baker, ironmonger etc), boarded up, except for Kensington Gardens, Sydney Street (which seemed to be mostly second-hand record shops), Gardner Street and Bond Street.

The area immediately east of the station - former goods yards - were car parks and builders yards.

London Road was more thriving with Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, Timothy Whites, Woolworth's Co-Op and Fine Fare all very busy. MacDonalds was a painting & decorating shop (Corbyn's).

Hannington's was the main department store in Brighton, Hill's of Hove its western counterpart.

My memories of Brighton in the 1980s aren't especially positive. It's much better now.

Reminded me, the area east of Brighton Station - the old Comet Warehouse before they had proper shops. Right spit and sawdust stuff.

 

[symyjym]

vinyl roof cortina!

The Ford Anglia

 

[tinycowboy]

The Ford Anglia

Used to love Volkswagen Beetles.

 

[seagurn]

I drove through Hastings a couple of years ago and I thought I had actually gone back in time.

120% this.

plus most of us drunk in the eclipse or the exchange in hove pre-match.

 

[Bladders]

vinyl roof cortina!

Its a Mk4, probably the rarest Cortina now as well.

 

[Bladders]

Just to jog a few memories from the 80's

View attachment 50222

Nice Triumph 2000 and Citroen DS there if I'm not mistaken. (or is that an Anglia? )

...........and a shit Beetle. Could have been my Uncles, he had a yellow Beetle then.

 

[Chicken Runner61]

Savannah Club under the Queens hotel Xtreems Club in West street, Fagins, The parrot and shades bar

 

[Northstander]

I seem to remember a man near the station, used to sit in the shop window blowing glass animals. Always had people stood watching

 

[symyjym]

Used to love Volkswagen Beetles.

Considering they were designed 75 years ago the one in the photo still looks futuristic in comparison to the others.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

I seem to remember a man near the station, used to sit in the shop window blowing glass animals. Always had people stood watching

Yes! That's right, I'd completely forgotten that!

 

[Bill Cassidy's tie up]

Nice Triumph 2000 and Citroen DS there if I'm not mistaken. (or is that an Anglia? )

...........and a shit Beetle. Could have been my Uncles, he had a yellow Beetle then.

Def DS I reckon

 

[Chicken Runner61]

I seem to remember a man near the station, used to sit in the shop window blowing glass animals. Always had people stood watching

The Glass Animal Man - I used to work with his son in law.

 

[symyjym]