SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

My earliest memories of the Merrion Centre are the moving pavement which ran up a slope but not at the main entrance - just a crappy gimmicky thing. Don't think it lasted long.I also remember going to see Lady Penelope's car, FAB1, from the Thunderbirds which was on display there. Must have been around 1965.

It used to be in open in those days wasn't it? I've seen a pic when they used to have a town cryer in there too. I can remember seeing him making a right racket!

There is a great pic on Leodis where you can see the Merrion Centre from above during its construction. The whole of the area where Woolworths is and Superdrug was uncovered, this was before Morrisons was built and if you look in some of Jim Soapers Leeds Transport books, he mentions that the busses went right through here. If you imagine a line going through from where the Costa Coffee entrance is now (where the little watch repair shop is) straight through to the to of Belgrave Street, this is where Rockingham street once stood. Apparently the foundations of this still exist under there and can be accessed through the doors that are at the back in the Superstore. If you go into the Superstore, down the 60s wooden steps into the lower part and turn right straigt away the doors are on the back wall there. Anyone remember going into Ritzys there- what a nightclub!

That would be interesting look around through those doors.....I remember Ritzy's very well, queuing all up them stairs to get in, wondering whether TC's would be a better bet, throwing a quid in the fruit machine inside, being well pleased when I won a tenner, being well miffed when it came out as tokens, risking that dodgy burger place in the corner, oh the joys!It's part of Oceana now isn't it?

Yeah Oceana now. rememer the psychadelic carpet they had in there. I am sure they had it so that the sick blended in!

I remember it being sticky. I shudder to think what was on that carpet!!

I've heard about Rockingham street still been under there myself LS 1.. It would be great to have a look. The only trouble is it's Town Center Securities who owns it. I remember just how negative they were when it came to trying to capture the mothballed Odeon in there. Still i hope there happy now it's all been ripped out, lost forever without any decent article about it. Don't think i'll be asking them for a look at Rockingham street unfortunately mate

i remember the first time i went to tiffanys as it was called then, i was 13, god knows how i got in, i remember the ultra violet lights, but was that scared of being found underage, that i didn't enjoy the night.

jane666 wrote: i remember the first time i went to tiffanys as it was called then, i was 13, god knows how i got in, i remember the ultra violet lights, but was that scared of being found underage, that i didn't enjoy the night. i remember going to cinderellas and rockerfellas...same place...different name.

No it isn't!!! Cinderella Rockafellas was at the back of the Merrion Centre, what is now stick and twist! Tiffany's was upstairs in the Merrion centre, along with Bali bar!!