Whether it was browsing Parrish's department store, a trip to The Apollo cinema or buying fruit and veg from the local greengrocer - generations of Geordies have happy memories of Shields Road through the years.
But today the once busy Byker high street has declined beyond recognition. Graffiti covered shutters line the street where popular stores once traded, litter is strewn across the street and those who visit the area seem to agree that there's very little left for people on Shields Road.
James Arrowsmith, 74, said he was born over the road from Parrish's department store and would frequent the area when he was younger. He has witnessed the area decline over the years and believes it is now beyond any chance of being improved.
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James said: "The area is out of control and I don't think it can be improved."
He added: "There's nothing here anymore. There used to be four or five picture houses on this road and I used to come here for a drink but now I don't bother."
In an article published by The Sun in June, Shields Road was branded as the "UK's 'worst high street'" where "junkies brawl in broad daylight, pickpockets rob grans and locals are scared to visit". It also referred to an area of Shields Road nicknamed "Suicide Square", located outside the local swimming baths, "where drug addicts and alcoholics waste away the hours".
Shields Road was ranked Britain's worst shopping destination on a list of 1,000 retail locations compiled by strategic retail property consultancy Harper Dennis Hobbs (HDH) in 2019 and in 2017. The index ranked high streets using factors including the number of upmarket shops, discount retailers, pawnbrokers and empty shops.
In May 2022, police recorded 49 crimes along Shields Road. Among the most recorded crimes were public order offences and anti-social behaviour.
James Joseph, 67, said: "I don't like the place. There's lots of drugs around and people sitting on the road asking for money."
James was born in Newcastle but spent much of his adult life working around the country in the scrap metal trade. When he returned to the city he noticed that Shields Road had declined significantly while he was living away from the area.
He added: "It wasn't like that years ago. There was never any problems then. I used to have good memories of the place, but not now. I don't like it here."
His views are echoed by Albie Reid who had lived in the area since 1973 and can remember when Shields Road was "good". The 62-year-old previously worked as a taxi driver for Fossway Taxis and explained that Shields Road was always busy.
He added that there was a real sense of community in the area, with local businesses receiving advertising from the the nearby cinemas. However, he believes that support for local businesses has decreased over the years and it's no longer affordable for independent businesses to trade on Shields Road, which has resulted in many commercial units being left empty and many of those which are occupied being owned by charity shops.
Sonia Murray-Hill moved to the East End of Newcastle as she likes the surrounding Ouseburn and Heaton Road. She currently lives in Walker after moving from the Byker Wall, but often visits Shields Road and is particularly fond of the many charity shops located on the road.
The 32-year-old said: "I like the area. There's lots of charity shops along this road and I love them. I think there could be more food places here, like places to have a sit down meal, but I like to come here for the charity shops."
She added: "I remember there used to be shops like a butchers but they're gone now, probably because of the supermarkets."
Two large supermarkets are now located at either end of the road and many people in the local area feel this has created challenges for local businesses to compete with larger retailers.
Despite its challenges, Denise Lunn, who was visiting the area with her grandson, said there is still a lot of positives about the area. She said: "It's sad to see the place you've grown up change so drastically people used to come from all over Newcastle to shop here in its heyday.
"There is still a lot of good here - the people are friendly, some of the businesses here have been around for years, and when you come here often you tend to see a lot of the same faces, so people are still coming to the area.
"There's also a lot of lovely buildings here. There's a lot of potential here and I would love to see it return to somewhere people were proud of."
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