Thursday 26 May 2011

The Ridings Centre, Wakefield

If the Waverley Centre was 'a bit much', lets visit the whitewashed chill-out room that is Wakefield's Ridings Centre.


A nice view this, giving us the full vista of 'The Garden', a central snacky-communal-mingling area. Quite a bit to look at here - most notable is the streamlined and illuminated 'Metropolis' style lift, which takes you from outside Miss Selfridge (pink neon sign = ace) and sets you gently down amid bubbling mini-waterfalls and garlands of flowers. A good place to relax before you go to ...


Britain's premier door fittings and domestic fixtures outlet! Don't worry if you haven't seen a branch for a while, they still have a reassuring presence on the internet. Speaking of reassuring presences, the chap with the khaki bodywarmer seems to radiate good vibes - people pass him in the arcade and can't help but be drawn to him. As he descends the stairs to browse for a clock in 'Knobs and Knockers', an old couple bow and curtsey to him as they pass. You don't get deferential old people like that anymore. I like the style of the young chap with the green cardigan, looking a bit Miami Vice as he strides past the lamps and brass fireguards in Ks & Ks window. No accessorising necessary for him.

As for the decor, we've got it all really; mirrored panels, mock street lights, little coloured in-fills on the railings and that honeycomb roof-material that looks like it's made of balsa wood. This riot of colour and artifice has all been a bit much for me so next time we're going back to the sixties. Until then ...

6 comments:

  1. I was just wondering............Did Sid James work behind the counter at Knobs and Knockers??????? in Fact was this not the Hardware shop in that 80s classic Carry on Hardware

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  2. This must have been post-miners' strike, when the 'proletariat' were pacified by consumerism and the opportunity to become shareholders in public utilities.

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  3. Knobs and Knockers ... I mean ... what were they thinking?? I think that this place was what the former industrial north got in exchange for the decimation of its industry and communities. A bum deal.

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  4. It's the shopping centre that's firmly stuck in the 70s. Everything from the nasty beige brickwork to the hideous Morrisons store that has the co-op style polished concrete floor, low ceilings and crap lighting.

    On a busy day today you might see as many as twelve people in it at any one moment ;-)

    Come visit Wakey, we've got a lot of pound stores.

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  5. Wasn't built until the 80s....

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  6. Nice post thannks for sharing

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