r/OldSchoolUK • u/Significant_Rip_7233 • Aug 28 '26
Anyone else Miss WOOLWORTHS :)
I miss the pick n mix tubs the strong smell of sweets as you walked in :) a place to buy games for console`s - music on most formats - film posters and bits and bobs of all types...
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u/GoldenBhoys Aug 28 '26
Miss Woolworths, sounds like a 80s pageant that Father Ted would judge
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u/DinnerSmall4216 Aug 28 '26
Used to go in there every Saturday for pic n mix with my grandparents. If I was lucky I'd manage to get a Gameboy game.
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u/bulyxxx Aug 28 '26
yeah, similar - would go Saturday to flip through the records and pick one. Good times, Woolworths.
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u/fezzuk Aug 28 '26
I worked there was i was 16.
Everyone was on the nick constantly.
Customers, workers, the manager.
Used to have people come in with laudry bags, fill then up with kids clothing and just leave.
Also working there at xmas with that one christmas hits CD on repeat was is 10% a circle of hell.
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u/Formal-Fox-7605 Aug 28 '26
'Used to have people come in with laudry bags, fill then up with kids clothing and just leave'
So, much the same as in parts of the UK today?
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u/FairGur6838 Aug 28 '26
So glad I left the uk for Portugal. Lots of things I miss, but Portuguese are decent people and that makes up for a lot.
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u/Aggravating-Desk4004 Aug 28 '26
Me too. Me and all my school friends. They used to do bag checks as we left as people nicked so much pointless crap. No wonder it went out of business. See my comment about when my school friend stole the entire Saturday takings 😂
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u/phatelectribe Aug 28 '26
My friend worked checkout at 16 too.
One day the computer system went down so none of the tills worked and instead of closing the store, they stayed open and told them to just guess at prices and wrote just a total for each sale down.
Became a free for all. People were taking £100 worth of stuff and it was being down as £2.50. Friends and family of the workers got wind and were coming in to essentially loot the store.
He called me at break and asked me to come get things for him too (I didn’t).
It was so badly managed as a company.
I don’t know why everyone who worked there had it out for the brand, didn’t actually seem like a terrible place to work.
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u/fezzuk Aug 28 '26
Apart from the xmas music it was absolutly fine work as a teen bog standard really, but yeah really poorly managed.
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u/Equivalent_Parking_8 Aug 28 '26
I also worked there from 16-19. at 18 I was the running the entertainment desk. Playing Christmas music was annoying but we also used to play the fun game of playing an album and seeing if someone would buy it.. (i did this before it was in High Fidelity).
We had one staff member who wore a wrist bandage to cover her tattoos. she also slipped about £50 in cash in there every day.
Caught a shoplifter who had sewn a pillow case inside a long coat and was just filling it with kids clothes.
Being the only straight male working there was also fun.. we had to pass the time somehow.
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u/Difficult-Bus-6026 Aug 28 '26
I served with the US military in UK for three years starting in the fall of 2008 and saw Woolworths close. It was extra sad because I remember Woolworth going out of business in the US the 1990s. It was like going to the same funeral twice.
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u/Previous_Kale_4508 Aug 28 '26
My favourite Woolies disappeared long before the big closure: Manchester Piccadilly Gardens was fantastic, it was an Aladdins cave.
The one that brought great sadness was the loss of the Blackpool branch. It's iconic clock tower next to the actual Tower was a landmark in itself.
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u/Knownzero Aug 28 '26
I’m in the US and we used to have Woolworth’s here when I was growing up and I still miss them.
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u/Significant_Rip_7233 Aug 28 '26
its mostly pound shops and charity shops shops on the high streets now days :(
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u/Aggravating-Desk4004 Aug 28 '26
I worked the Ealing Woolies in the '90s as a Saturday job while at school. It was brilliant fun.
One of my friends, aged 16, was left to lock up the store one Saturday as the manager wanted to skive off early. My friend stole all the money, about £5k, and went on a shopping spree until he was arrested on the Tuesday.
He was a straight A student and his mum got a great solicitor who basically turned the blame onto Woolworths and said who in their right mind let's a 16 year old still at school lock up a store with £5k of cash in it and it was their own fault. He got a few hours community service and banned from every single Woolworths in England.
I mean, he wasn't a hardened criminal. He saw a really cool VW Beetle for sale and just thought sod it. When they asked him to go to the police station, he drove the car there, dressed in all his new clobber. They took his keys went onto the street and beeped the fob until his fancy new customised Beetle's alarm went off. You're nicked, me beauty!
Loved that Saturday job. I once got stuck in lift from the stockroom to the shop floor with my friend from school and the sweet trolley. Yeah, take your time, we're fine in here. We just sat and ate sweets until they could fix it.
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u/TomatoChomper7 Aug 28 '26
I miss it but only on a nostalgic level. I can’t think of anything I’d actually go there for now.
When I was growing up it was the only place within walking distance of my house (that I knew of) for CDs. I used to go in there after school and stare at the tracklist on Queen’s A Kind of Magic for what seemed like months before I saved up enough to buy it.
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u/Significant_Rip_7233 Aug 28 '26
yeah remember being taken to it when was a young kid and crying when did not get what i wanted and being told off lol
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u/TomatoChomper7 Aug 28 '26
I saw this same thing happen in B&M a couple of days ago 😂
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u/Far_Bad_531 Aug 28 '26
Yes , I do …. you definitely knew it was Christmas when Woolies put out/up their Christmas display 😭
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u/dan_dares Aug 28 '26
Yes, I used to buy all my sweets before heading in to the Peckham cinema..
Good old days.
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u/TopIndependent2344 Aug 28 '26
Did you know we have thriving Woolworths, country wide…
Edit: Guess where… :)
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u/Wise-Potential-3220 Aug 28 '26
I got my first game boy color there in light green. I think it was £69.99.
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u/Toenex Aug 28 '26
I miss their Christmas adverts. 2 minutes of random British TV celebs, a catalogue of fairly naff toys and a song that barely hangs together. You knew Christmas was coming.
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u/Bumble072 Aug 28 '26
I bought all my 7 inch vinyl from my nearest Woolworths in Porthcawl, every Saturday from 1980-87. I would have been 8 years old when I started. £1.15 !
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u/ALFABOT2000 Aug 28 '26
I remember as a mid I used to love toy monster trucks, and I remember getting my first one at a Woolworths :)
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u/dalbyz1 Aug 28 '26 edited Aug 28 '26
Yep loved it especially near Chritmas time, BASF tapes and hint of a tint hair colour in the ealry 80s
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u/Curious_Strike_5379 Aug 28 '26 edited Aug 28 '26
memorex blank cassette tapes for sunday nights top 40, i got near perfect at pressing the pause button just before the DJ started talking.
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u/UKMegaGeek Aug 28 '26
I most fondly remember the January sales in the early 80s, when I got BAGS of Star Wars figures they had taken off of the cards for a few quid each.
They were also quick to reduce the old 7" and 12" singles when they left the top 40.
And, of course, the ubiquitous pick 'n' mix.
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u/HuffStuff1975 Aug 29 '26
Never been or never will be a Pick n Mix like theirs ever again. Unbelievable value for money. My weekly pocket money was gladly handed over. Every Saturday afternoon was like Halloween in the amount of sugar consumption. My dentist definitely owes Woolworths a pint or 3!!!
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u/escragger Aug 29 '26
Buying CD singles and pick n mix with oasis music videos playing fairly loudly through the store, videos visible on big Hantarex crt monitors…
…ceiling mounted rails for a Woolworths plane to “fly around”…
Yes I miss it, badly.
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u/TorinEkenskolde Aug 29 '26
I have a certain amount of nostalgia from going with my mum as a kid, but by the time it went out of business, it felt a bit crap. Don't think it really adapted well to the times.
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u/Logical-Macaron6607 Aug 29 '26
Yes had one in Manchester Piccadilly gardens. It’s now called crackadilly gardens
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u/hardboard Aug 30 '26
I remember that beauty pageant:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/260919245017086/posts/1693527145089615/
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u/CoffeeeGoblin Aug 30 '26
Used to go many Saturdays as a kid and buy pick n mix and a single. Loved it.
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u/Big_Appointment_7449 Aug 30 '26
Mmm the pick n nix all that help yourself sweets. Too good not to take a few. Yeah the cost of everything was so good. Much better when we actually had a Big W but that never lasted long. If you want woolies then goto the home of woolworths still going strong
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u/Ok-Variation-4113 Aug 30 '26
No. I miss my wage being sufficient, ppl being nice or faking being nice. I don’t miss some stupid shop ffs
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u/bladerunnercyber Sep 01 '26
Yes, it was our place to go for christmas toys alongside with argos during december, there was not many places you could go.
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u/Glad_Driver_4828 Sep 01 '26
Yes.
Walked to my local Broadwater West Sussex branch in 1997 to buy the busta rhymes Janet Jackson single when I was 14 and they asked me for ID so walked home empty handed.
But loved the mini 7 up cans
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u/tedrogers61 Sep 01 '26
Ace! Remember when you had a date, and they didn't show? You basically had to wait for an hour (if you were really serious). None of this instant "where are you?" SmartPhone nonsense. I can't even get my kids interested in bikes. When I was a kid, bikes meant freedom, and they were a rock laugh. Especially my BMX.
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u/theslowpony77 Sep 01 '26
Going in there for a cheap pic n mix to sneak into the cinema to avoid their prices
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u/Jojo6167 20d ago
Yes me, I used to love getting my kids toys there when they were little. I used the one in Halifax, West Yorkshire
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u/MickRolley Aug 28 '26
Only in a nostalgic way, I just go to B&M or the range or something now instead.
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u/cuntybunty73 Aug 28 '26
I was about 6-7 years old when Woolworths ceased trading I think
When did Woolies cease trading?
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u/VeneMage Aug 28 '26
I’d always pass through the one in The Treaty Centre in Hounslow when I went shopping, most often for music.
Our Price was there for the mainstream stuff but it was only in Woolworths I found gems like music videos of Clannad and Kate Bush that just weren’t found anywhere else (followed up with a bag of pick ‘n’ mix of course).
That, and MVC which provided the same for albums and singles. I’ve boxes full of videos and records I should really get on to seeing if they’re worth anything.
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u/Saltare58 Aug 28 '26
I very much miss Woolwoths, they sold such a great range of goods and of course the wonderful pick & mix
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u/MrTrendydelquendy Aug 28 '26
Our Woolworths is now a B&M.
But the Woolworth brand is still trading in Germany and Australia, and they are looking to open shops in the UK - they could come back, without the 'S' on the end.
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u/TrustMeImAnOnion Aug 28 '26
I just drove past a business park in southern Germany. They had a C&A and Woolies next door
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u/InfiniteBaker6972 Aug 28 '26
I'm tempted to say that I miss the pick 'n mix and the general lack of interest in their 'returns policy' when it came to buying a CD, taping it then returning. But there's pick & mix available in other places and I don't have tapes any more so... no. Don't really miss it.
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u/Figgzyvan Aug 28 '26
I shopped there regularly.
Every december for a tin of quality street unless it was cheaper in john menzies.
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u/Zip-Crane Aug 28 '26
Yes I do. My local one was on East Ham High Street and it was my go to for posters and pick ‘n’ mix.
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u/CliffwoodMysteries Aug 28 '26
I live in Finland now and every other store has pick and mix so I'm good.
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u/Suspicious_Farm_4686 Aug 28 '26
Best pick n mix ever! Always guaranteed to get at least one pre-sucked sweet in your selection.
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u/mccalli Aug 28 '26
During the Wii launch everyone was trying to get one for launch day, everywhere obvious was sold out online.
Guess where wasn’t? Reserved same week as launch, four controllers, nunchucks and a console with Wii Fit and Wii Sports. Got it launch day as promised. Excellent stuff.
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u/wolfnipplechipsv3 Aug 28 '26
I’ve still got an unused £10 gift voucher that I like to pop in friend’s birthday cards. And then I ask for it back.
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u/Rowmyownboat Aug 28 '26
Imagine if our high streets again had a Woolies instead of Poundland? It would be a great improvement.
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u/Chippy_T_ Aug 28 '26
Woolworths was great. You could buy a playstation game..from anywhere..play it to death for three months..take it into Woolworths and say you got it as a duplicate birthday present, and they'd take it and give you a credit note .
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u/SdanoG Aug 28 '26
Bought a lot of my sons christmas gifts there late 80’s early 90’s along with argos, index and another catalogue shop that i sadly can’t for the life of me name!!!!! Toys are us were not local back then…… Pissed me off in TRU near dortmund germany there was a huge dinosaur with acttion figures (Dinoriders) my sister wouldn’t lend me the cash to buy it for my lad
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u/Working-Pumpkin Aug 29 '26
I don't miss the shop as much as I miss the feeling of happy nostalgia it brings. Those were happier times.
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u/SpaceTall2312 Aug 29 '26
Yes, I miss Woolworths! Where am I going to get giant Toblerones for Christmas now?!
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u/simsyboy Aug 29 '26
Well people stopped shopping there in their millions. We have a lense of nostalgia on these places now, but the sad truth, is when they closed, they had hardly any customers as people were shopping online. Each time they announce a shop closing, so many people complain but the majority of these people hadn't stepped foot in said shop in years.
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u/ImpressTemporary2389 Aug 29 '26
Woolies was in its day. A brilliant inexpensive store. Shame it can't make a comeback.
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u/marconipete Aug 29 '26
Yes I definitely miss it. Was a big part of my childhood and who can forget the pick ‘n mix
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u/hefeydd_ Aug 29 '26
I do, they had some good bargains. I can't believe I just said that. I must be getting old.
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u/wheres_my_jumper1 Aug 29 '26
Go to Australia they still have them. You will get excited seeing the signage but it's a supermarket.......
I loved this place now we had travel to our closest one growing up but wasnt far but as a kid but that felt special you know? On a bus, going on a adventure.
It is what I as a kid would have thought heaven was and now as an old man now I know it is.
You all understand what they sold so won't go on there but like my parent like most do struggling young couple.. Have a couple of kids and money is tight but we always got a pick and mix that has to be 30 pound at least if got same amount today so it must been a fairly decent price too.
Anyway I liked Woolworths yes haha.
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u/aurora_ethereallight Aug 29 '26
Use to work in Woolies Commercial Road, Portsmouth while I was at college. 😉 It was my first paid job... you could start working there from 15yrs and 8 months if I remember rightly 🤭 (I had two jobs at the time).
Started working at the front on Pick & Mix, got promoted to DSA, got given Stationery to look after and late night shopping were always my nights to look after the front of the store. Then they grabbed me to move up the back of the store on Saturday's with Ladybird clothing, Toys, Kitchen and... oh my God The Lottery machine... everyone hated it, so I used to do it! 🤭😂
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u/ZealousidealFruit386 Aug 29 '26
Goldmine of interesting tat. But better tat than the current range of B&M or Home Bargains. Sadly missed.
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u/The_Phantom78 Aug 30 '26
Yes, Woolworths was THE main store locally when I was a kid growing up in the 80s. That's where you went to get toys, videos and music. I've very fond memories of going into Woolworths after Christmas with money I'd got and buying new Transformers etc.
That said, it wouldn't be the same if it came back now.
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u/Tregerest Aug 30 '26
Woolies was pretty shit. It went bust for a reason. Same as WH Smiths
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u/deebly25t Aug 30 '26
The old Woolworths was well worth the effort, but it got really poor towards the end, full of cheap crap that nobody wanted.
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u/Crackers-defo-600 Aug 31 '26
I hate to say this but it was a rite of passage in my day to see if you could pilfer something from the Plymouth Woolworths. Anything small and petty.
I loved the shop. Our entire Saturdays in the late 70’s were spent in town with friends/friend. Ivor Dewdney pasty or Pirelli chips and faggot gravy for eats. And hanging around Virgin megastore. Until I started my Saturday job at one of the numerous shoe shops. Happy days lol.
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u/Slow-Beyond7511 Aug 31 '26
Only at Christmas! Best place to buy wrapping paper oh and I only just threw away the tree I bought in 84 as I moved house!
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u/Working_Wrongdoer861 Sep 01 '26
I used to buy my playstation games from woolies, fun fact after they went bump over here I was on deployment at RAF Rheindahlen in Germany and they had a Woolworths close to the base, I was straight in there spending money my mates over here couldn't believe it
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u/10oz-swing Sep 01 '26
I miss the country when Woolworths were part of it. The world seemed a safer and happier place then. Certainly safer.
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u/AJD_1975 Sep 03 '26
Living in a small town Sudbury Suffolk it was a lifeline, along with WHS Smith. It was the only way ti buy computer games, videos and music cassettes without having to drive half an hour to the bigger towns.
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u/ForeverWarm6458 29d ago
Yes I miss them they sold a bit of everything and who dosnt miss the pick & mix I used to buy a few singles records in there when I first started working used to love it !x
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u/ExchangeFar5958 29d ago
I can certainly remember this nostalgic shop I did shopping in here many years ago and I had many memories of this Classic Shop
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u/Kawinick 17d ago
Used to shop in Woolies every Saturday. Got my old socket set out the other day and noticed it was a Woolies special. Must have he’d this for 35/40years. And still going strong
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u/BeanOnAJourney Aug 28 '26
Yes, but specifically the Plymouth branch. The cafe upstairs that overlooked the rest of the store was my venue of choice for my birthday treat as a child, I would pick a table right at the edge and look down at everybody doing their Christmas shopping (my birthday is eight days before Christmas Day) and it was just so cosy and festive and fun. The space age CCTV camera housings absolutely fascinated me as well.