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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Jess Molyneux & Remy Greasley

Things you could do in 1980s Liverpool that you can't anymore

It's been over four decades but for some the eighties will seem like only yesterday.

It was a time when George Michael was in his prime, The Smiths formed and each week families would settle down to watch the new show Brookside. Margaret Thatcher was prime minister for the whole decade, and Liverpool was undergoing a period of 'managed decline' under the Tory government.

Blacklers wasn't yet home to the Irish pubs and Wetherspoons that inhabit its space today and, if you wanted to, you could happily smoke indoors in most places, as well as visit the Silver Blades or even the Coconut Grove.

READ MORE: Met Office predicts 40C temperatures with heatwave set for July

In Liverpool, how we shopped, dressed and socialised in the eighties has completely evolved, with a number of our nightclubs, stores and buildings now being a thing of the past. Many of the things we loved to do back then are now confined to the history books, but still live on in our memories and photos.

We've collated well over a dozen things you could do in the eighties you can't anymore. Did we miss anything out? Tell us in the comments.

1. Dance the night away at Coconut Grove

If you loved a night out in the 80s, there's a good chance you spent at least one memorable night at the Coconut Grove. Otherwise known as 'The Cokey', many will remember its tropical theme, from Pina coladas, to Hawaiian garlands and plastic palm trees.

It first opened its doors in 1982 on the corner of Green Lane and West Derby Road in Tuebrook. The site later became The Venue in the early 90s.

2. Shop at Blacklers

Blacklers Department Store seen here in January 1982 (Mirrorpix)

Opened in 1908, Blacklers was one of the biggest department stores in the country and employed almost 1,000 staff - including a young George Harrison. It was much-loved by city residents and became famous for its Winter Wonderland Christmas grotto, the huge Father Christmas - which is now being restored by the Museum of Liverpool - and its famous rocking horse ‘Blackie.’

But by 1988, Blacklers closed its doors for good. The site later became a branch of pub-chain Wetherspoons named The Richard John Blackler as a nod to its origins.

3. Attend Larks in the Park

"Larks in the Park" music festival, Sefton Park, Liverpool. August 26, 1982 (Mirrorpix)

Liverpool festival Larks In The Park ran from 1980 to 1985. Its unique layout saw the stage built upon an extended version of the park bandstand with a moat between it and the audience.

Remembered for championing many local bands, the festival also showcased the likes of Echo and the Bunnymen, The La's and Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Other UK acts that went on to experience massive success that also played the festival include Big Country and The Stone Roses.

4. Walk across the Roe Street walkway

Roe Street, Walkway, Sky Bridge, Liverpool. Picture shows pedestrians using the walkway, also known as the sky bridge, October 12, 1981 (Mirrorpix)

Liverpool city centre once had a network of 'walkways in the sky' which connected the city as part of a bold plan for how our public spaces should look. Roe Street, Old Hall Street and James Street each had their own 'sky bridges' which allowed pedestrians to get around without using the pavements.

The isolated walkways were unpopular and the scheme was soon abandoned, with the bridges getting pulled down and the walkways closed off or forgotten. In the early 1990s the ECHO campaigned for the demolition of the Roe Street walkway, which spoiled the view of St George’s Hall, with its fate making the front page in August 1992 under the headline "It’s Gone."

5. Dine at the revolving Tower Restaurant

Before Radio City took over the top of St Johns Beacon in 2000, it was once home to the revolving Tower Restaurant situated nearly 400ft up in the air. Construction of the Liverpool skyline landmark tower began in 1965 and took five years to complete.

The Tower Restaurant opened at the top of St Johns Beacon in 1971 and ran for over 10-years. It reopened in 1980 however this was with a reduced capacity.

What do you remember about the eighties? Tell us in the comments.

6. Settle down to watch Bread on TV

It's been over 30 years since the cast of Carla Lane's Bread gave viewers a slice of Liverpool life. Set in Liverpool in the mid '80s, the series focuses on the devoutly-Catholic Boswell family and first aired on May 1, 1986.

The street featured in the show was Elswick Street in Dingle. and ran over eight series until 1991. During its time on our screens, the cast could be seen filming in the city.

7. Smoke Indoors

For many of the next generations, it's hard to believe that smoking indoors in your local pub or a fancy restaurant was the norm. But throughout the 1980s and 1990s it was, until the smoking ban was introduced in the UK in 2007.

What do you miss about Liverpool in the 1980s? Let us know in the comments section below.

8. Skate at Silver Blades

A typical scene from the Liverpool Palace ice rink, which was also known as Silver Blades (Trinity Mirror Copyright)

When The Silver Blades Ice Rink opened its doors in 1935. it was the place to be in Liverpool. Originally called the Palace Ice Rink the site was used for roller skating but re-opened some years later, changing its name to Silver Blades in the 60s.

Despite its popularity with locals, Silver Blades was closed down on July 4, 1986 as it was deemed financially unviable. But it is still remembered fondly by Liverpudlians.

9. Watch a film at The Forum

The ABC cinema on Lime Street first opened as the Forum in 1931 (@UrbexCoupleAC)

Lime Street was once home to three ABC cinemas - The Forum, The Futurist and, just before you arrived at Renshaw Street, The Scala. The Forum itself first opened in 1931.

It was renamed the ABC in 1971 and is still widely known by that name, despite the company changing hands in 1986, with the cinema becoming The Cannon. The cinema closed its doors in January 1998 with a final showing of the film Casablanca.

10. Eat at the Berni Inn

Undated picture of the River Room restaurant at the Pier Head, which was opened February 13, 1967, and was then set to be converted to a Chinese restaurant the Shanghai Palace (Liverpool Echo)

The Berni Inn restaurant and steakhouse at the Pier Head was a popular choice for many diners, with another Berni Inn also being located in Exchange Flags.

In the early 80s, it served some classics with prawn cocktail, scampi and chips and Black Forest gateau all on the menu. In its life, the site has also been River Rooms, Shanghai Palace and is now home to Matou.

11. Have an undocumented night out

The 1980s was a time before mobile phones and social media. Back then, you could live your best life without the worry of being captured on camera and feeling the need to post online the next day.

For more nostalgia stories, sign up to our Liverpool Echo newsletter here.

12. Head to Cagneys

Cagneys, off London Road, was the place to be seen for New Romantics. The club was run by managers Phil McDonagh, Dave Sumner and John Sumner and was a popular place for clubgoers during the 80s.

Steve Proctor ran nights there, featuring bands including The Human League and Duran Duran. Above you can see photo of what inside was like.

13. Visit C&A

Church Street, one of Liverpool's shopping areas. October 3, 1984 (Mirrorpix)

Department store chain C&A closed its UK stores in 2000 and 2001 though they are still a familiar fixture on the continent. In Liverpool it had a store in Church Street, in what later became the Next store and now Decathlon.

14. Buy a Texan chocolate bar

A milk chocolate Texan chocolate bar during its brief return in 2005 (Birmingham Post and Mail)

A striking American-inspired chocolate was the Texan Bar, with the US colours emblazoned within each letter on the packaging. Once you opened the wrapper, you were met with a nougat and toffee bar covered with chocolate.

It was manufactured during the ‘70s and ‘80s before being withdrawn from sale. It was withdrawn in 1984 but made a brief return as a limited edition in 2005.

15. Have a drink at Kirklands

Kirklands Cafe bar, Hardman Street, Liverpool city centre (Liverpool Echo)

When Kirklands opened on Hardman Street in 1975, it heralded a new era for Liverpool's night scene, quickly establishing itself as the place to be for a night out in the city. The bar continued to run in the 1990s, but closed its doors for good in 1999.

This brought an end an era for Liverpool's clubland that still retains fond memories for many. It was re-opened in March 2004 as The Fly in the Loaf.

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