Your Guide to Laindon - Part 1 - Laindon Shopping Centre

After our recent visit back to my home town, I thought I would write a post here describing the wonders that await any visitors to wonderful Laindon. I begin my Visitors Guide to Laindon with the Shopopolis that is Laindon Shopping Centre!! Forget London, New York City, or any of those other places - Whatever you need, you will find it in Laindon...

Laindon Shopping Centre was built sometime in the early 1970's, and has such major landmarks like Clock House (with the clock that very rarely tells the correct time). Many shops have been and gone in the centre over the past 30 years or so like Rumbelows, Godfreys, Laindon Lanes Market, Peachey's Fresh Fare, Internationals, plus many, many more. In fairness, during its heyday it was an extremely popular shopping parade, but in this day and age of supermarkets like Asda and Tesco, nobody wants to buy from small shops anymore. Still, the large amount of empty shop units in the centre is still partly because whoevever owns the centre is still overcharging on the rent for the units. I don't think it will be long before the whole centre is pulled down - infact, there is a rumour going around saying that IT WILL be pulled down eventually.

Anyway.... the guide...

1. As you approach Laindon from the old Alcatraz Estate (The Five Links Estate) - Note the paths that haven't been looked after for years. When I was a little boy, I actually made a camp with a few friends beneath that bridge.

2. Walking over the bridge. The excitement as you approach Laindon Shops is getting unbearable.

3. Looking west while on the bridge, you can see Laindon Shopping Centre. The rusting sign at the entrance of the near empty carpark welcomes everyone to this wonderous shopping mecca.

4. Walking down the slope leading to Laindon Shopping Centre. To the left (up the steps) is the Laindon Health Centre. The building on the right with the boarded up windows was once the thriving Laindon Library. When it closed, it was empty for some time before being turned in some African Centre - a place which apparently tried to promote African culture (in Laindon?????). They moved out and the building is now empty.

5. Walking into Laindon Shopping Centre. Be careful not to get crushed by the enormous amount of people who visit these shops. The old library (and ex African Centre) is to the right, while old abandoned offices are to the left. At the far end of the picture is an empty unit which I remember was once a place you could rent out computer games. Even today writing is still on the windows offering potential customers the chance to rent out "Amiga, Atari ST, Game Gear, IBM, Gameboy, and Megadrive games".

6. This is it - Look at that!! Laindon Shopping Centre in all of its glory. Remember, this picture was taken during the towns busiest period (about 11.30am in the morning). On the left is some cheapo shop selling.... crap. It was once a large Kwik Save. Laindon has a couple of those cheap shops that sell total tat to people. You know the ones!!!!!!

7. Mega Save (which has been shut for over 7 years now I think!!!). It was once called Lo-Cost, and before that I remember it being the freezer shop "Cordon Bleu". The shop to the right of Mega Save was where I once worked. Peachey's the Fruit and Veg shop!! I worked there from October 1995 till around December 1999. The shop closed a couple of years ago I believe.

8. Another view of Mega Save, and Peachey's, with the pillar where we once displayed all of our flowers and plants which we sold,

9. At the other end of Laindon Shopping Centre. A Fish and Chips shop is the first unit on the left, and they are actually quite good. We had an Abbey National bank here once but they went ages ago. The unit remained empty for ages before being turned into an Adult Shop. Speaking of banks, we had just about every major bank in the centre once.... many moons ago.... I think the only one that remains now is Lloyds TSB. Oh, to the right of the picture is the Laindon Shopping Centre's only place to go at night and get pissed..... The Joker!! It wasn't a bad pub when I lived in Laindon, although I'd hate to say what the place is like now. Just looking at the boarded up entrance in Picture 10 kind of puts me off going in and getting a drink.

10. The boarded up entrance to The Joker public house. How welcoming.

11. Slope leading down to EVEN MORE shopping delights in Laindon Shopping Centre. If you carry on, you will find the towns toilets - I would advise not to use them... you don't know who lives in there.

12. As you can see, this part of the centre is as lively as the rest. We have an off-license, a card shop (where my mum works by the way!!), a pizza place, oh and more importantly a Funeral Directors.

And there you have it. Visit Laindon Shopping Centre, and try not to spend too much money.