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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Lee Dalgetty

Things we could do in Glasgow in the 1980s we can't do now

All the way back in the 80s, which was over 30 years ago - Glasgow had a lot of loved and lost venues that are sorely missed today.

As the saying goes - you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone, which certainly applies to these spots that we took for granted.

We’ve put together a list of some of our dearest lost businesses, but make sure to let us know if your favourite is missing.

READ MORE - Mind-blowing Glasgow snaps from the swinging sixties show a changing city

Enjoy a burger in space at Buck Rogers

The greatest restaurant that ever existed for many Glasgow weans.

It feels like a bit of a fever dream, but sat in the city centre was once a Buck Rogers themed bar complete with alien and robot servers.

Buck Rogers in the 25th century was a hugely popular TV series, which saw the main character travel through space hoping to save planet earth.

Back on solid ground, a burger station was opened on Queen Street that gave diners the chance to dine in the 25th century. With the walls and décor done up like a spaceship, it was quite the experience.

It closed over 30 years ago, leaving Glaswegians disappointed.

Party at Mardi Gras

A night out to Mardi Gras on Dunlop Street was the place to be in 80s Glasgow, the first club in the UK to have an elevated dance floor.

Famous footballers and local celebs rubbed shoulders with the ordinary folks, and huge queues of party go-ers lined the streets outside - eventually heading to the nearby Warehouse disco if they were refused entry.

At one point in the 80s Mardi Gras allowed under 18s in, though this was changed as the decade went on.

Celebrate a birthday at Little Marco’s

Housed within the Templeton Business Centre, Little Marco’s can be summed up in a word - chaotic.

It was a nightmare for grown ups, but a dream for any Glasgow child - and a must for any birthday celebration. With their gigantic soft-play centre, go-karts and arcade machines - Marco’s was endless fun.

The Demarco family, who ran children’s soft play centres across the Central Belt, shut down the Glasgow venue in 2008.

Grab a meal at Wimpy

Long before McDonald’s and Burger King took over, Wimpy was the fast food favourite.

Arriving in Scotland in the 60s, Wimpy offered food served to the table with real plates and cutlery. At one point, Glasgow enjoyed several outlets including at the Sauchiehall Centre, Ingram Street and Union Street.

When McDonald’s came to Scotland in the 80s, Wimpy had serious competition. By the end of the 80s, it was losing ground to its competitor and Wimpy owners United Biscuits sold the 381 British locations to Grand Metropolitan.

The new owners, who had also acquired Burger King the previous year, began to convert the outlets into Burger King restaurants - which had more global recognition.

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Grab a pint at Kings Café

After serving the people of Glasgow for over 100 years, Kings Café closed its doors for good in 2015.

A host of famous faces including Billy Connolly and Peter Capaldi had passed through the café doors, as well as late night clubbers and skint students.

Serving the Scottish delicacy of deep fried mars bars, it was a loss felt by all when the café disappeared for good.

Pizza at Dino’s

First opening in Glasgow in the 60s, Dino Ferrari was a familiar favourite in the city for decades.

The family business acquired several spaces over their time, and was hitting its peak in the 80s - known for being a great spot amongst young daters.

While margherita pizza and pasta carbonara may be commonplace today, there was once a time when these dishes were considered an exotic treat - and no one did it like Dino’s.

Sadly, Glaswegians mourned the closure of the city institution in 2014.

Sample some cuisine at the Danish Food Centre

Famed for smoked mackerel and Smorgasbord cuisine, the Danish Food Centre on St Vincent Street became a firm favourite after opening in 1969.

Offering Glaswegians a unique dining experience, worlds away from a pie and chips, and even offered a few shops selling Danish art and other goods. While it was massively popular in its time, it closed in the late 80s.

Dance the night away at Henry Afrikas

Regarded as ‘not just the hottest nightclub in Glasgow, but the hottest place in the Northern hemisphere’ - Henry Afrikas was the place to be in the 80s.

It originally stood in York Street, before moving to the old Panama Jax building on the waterfront.

Many will remember the overdressed bouncer and over the top interior, which all made for a nightclub we won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

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