Many things have changed in Wirral over the years, with a variety of shops, restaurants, nightclubs and more no longer existing.
Although new venues have appeared in their place, people are bound to miss the businesses that lined our streets in the 1980s. While some may struggle to remember what life was like then, others will have fond memories of life in Wirral four decades ago.
The 80s saw a rise in pop culture and was arguably the best decade for iconic films which included The Empire Strikes Back, The Breakfast Club, Labyrinth, and Top Gun. Meanwhile, radio stations were playing the likes of Michael Jackson, Madonna, U2 and Prince on repeat.
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The list below includes shops, restaurants, nightclubs, activities and more that people enjoyed in the 1980s but sadly can’t anymore. Of course, it doesn’t include everything, but hopefully it’ll bring back some happy memories.
Let us know in the comments section below things you liked to do in Wirral in the 1980s that you can’t do now.
1. Party at Rupert’s nightclub
Rupert’s in Birkenhead was the place to go if you wanted to spend your night surrounded by celebrities and top performers. In the 1980s, it was one of the most popular night time venues in Wirral.
Pete Price worked there for a time and often frequented the club. Writing for the ECHO in 2020, Pete recalled Singing In The Rain by Gene Kelly being confiscated at Rupert’s, because every time it was played, people would “sing the words and throw drinks over each other” which ended up with “buckets of water and umbrellas”.
2. Buy pick 'n' mix at Woolworths
Wirral had a few branches of the iconic Woolworths chain, including stores in Heswall and Birkenhead. The shop had an eclectic mix of goodies, from kitchen supplies to clothing, but for many of us it’s the pick 'n' mix sweet wall we miss the most! Woolworths fell into administration in 2008, with all 800 stores closing in January 2009.
3. Enjoy drinks and pizza at Quattro’s
If you frequented West Kirby in the 1980s, you more than likely will remember Quattro’s. The wine bar was well-known for its drinks and pizza, with diners able to get free pizza on some nights with a ticket they received at the door.
The latest series of Memory Lane is in major retailers including Asda, Tesco, Home Bargains and selected newsagents now. This series of the bumper picture special looks at fun in the sun - with stunning photographs and treasured memories of family holidays from years gone by. You can also buy Memory Lane online here.
4. Take a dip at New Brighton baths
New Brighton ’s much-loved outdoor baths are greatly missed by not only the locals, but tourists, too. The attraction opened in 1934 and accommodated 2,000 swimmers and 10,000 spectators. During the 1980s, many people flocked to the baths for what would be its final decade.
This included television company Granada who in 1984 used the location for ITV’s New Brighton Rock. The four-day event featured 10 pop stars including Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Spandau Ballet, Nik Kershaw and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. The event was filmed for a 90-minute TV show.
On February 26, 1990, the Mersey burst its bank and damaged the baths, causing horrific damage that would cost millions of pounds to repair. As a result, the venue was demolished and the site remained unused until 2011 when the land became part of the £60m Marine Point development.
5. Have a bop at The Admiral’s Inn
A favourite Wirral pub in the 80s was The Admiral's Inn. Part of the now demolished Parkgate Hotel, the venue was often crammed with people enjoying a drink and a dance.
It was particularly popular with those aged 18-30 and was loved for its very loud music and TV screens. The Admiral’s Inn was one of the first places to show back-to-back music videos, including MTV. The venue closed in 1988 and residential flats have since been built on the land.
6. Enjoy a meal at What’s Cooking?
Restaurant chain What’s Cooking? was founded in 1978 and had branches in Heswall (which opened in 1981) and West Kirby. The restaurant was adored by Wirral families for its variety of American diner food and drinks, including burgers and steaks. One What’s Cooking? remains in Liverpool’s Albert Dock.
7. Browse the shelves of Bookland
Bookland was a household name in the 1980s for those who shopped in Liscard Village, with many people choosing to spend their book tokens at the store. After trading in the same building for 60 years, Bookland closed its doors for good in 1997.
8. Dance at The Tavern in New Brighton
Love it or hate it, many people boogied the night away at The Tavern (better known as ‘The Tav’) for decades. The New Brighton venue on Magazine Lane first opened in 1960, and while it caused a lot of controversy over the years, it remained open until 2015 before being reduced to rubble in 2016.
9. Enjoy a night out at Westwood Grange
Westwood Grange nightclub in Thornton Hough opened in the 1970s after Derek Lilley, who later co-founded the Est Est Est restaurant group, bought the building in 1973. In the 80s, many people enjoyed a drink and a dance at Westwood Grange, before it became a restaurant in the 1990s.
Westwood Grange later became The Grange, a popular wedding venue loved for its basement nightclub which was known for its sticky carpets. The building is now The Red Fox restaurant and pub.
10. Tuck into a potato from SpudULike
Restaurant chain SpudULike specialised in baked potatoes, with a variety of toppings on offer. The first branch opened in 1974 in Edinburgh, with one later opening in Ellesmere Port. Down the road in Chester, the SpudULike restaurant was open for 35 years.
All of the branches eventually shut in 2019, but TV chef James Martin has since relaunched the company and has opened various SpudULikes in other parts of the UK.
11. Disco dance at Leighton Court
Another popular place to spend your night during the disco era was Leighton Court in Neston. The venue opened in the 1970s and was a popular nightclub and casino for several years, with many local DJs providing the soundtrack. This included Pete Price, who said in his article for the ECHO that he created the “Gang Bang Dance” at Leighton Court back in the day. A fire badly damaged the building in 1988, leading to its demolition.
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