Sheffield retro: 39 of the best nostalgic photos to leave you pining for the 80s

The 80s were a difficult decade for many people, with record unemployment, the miners’ strike, the Hillsborough disaster and growing anxiety about nuclear armageddon as the Cold War escalated.

Yet, despite all this, it is a period many people look back upon fondly.

These nostalgic photos capture some of the familiar sights of the 80s around Sheffield, including lost landmarks like the famous Hole in the Road subway, with its fish tank built into the wall; the Goodwin Fountain at the top of Fargate; and the notorious ‘Eggbox’ and ‘Wedding Cake’ council buildings.

The lost shops pictured include Sugg Sport, Woolworths, C&A, Schofields department store and Dolcis shoes, among many others, while the old Castle and Sheaf markets are also seen during their heyday.

Many people will remember learning to swim at Sheaf Valley Baths, taking to the slopes at Sheffield Ski Village, or watching a film at the Gaumont or ABC cinemas, but can you recall in what year The Never Ending Story, Police Academy 2 and The Care Bears Movie all came out?

Among the much-missed nightclubs and music venues pictured in this retro photo gallery are the Crazy Daizy, Turnups in Nether Edge and the Compleat Angler, formerly the Black Swan. Memorable gigs by the likes of Kylie, at the Roxy, and The Who, at City Hall, are captured too.

Other unforgettable venues during the 80s included the Stone House pub and the Sicey Hotel, with their quirky interiors, and you might also remember hopping on a Bendibus or watching Phillip Schofield open the new Superbowl bowling alley.

Do these photos bring back any happy memories for you of the 80s?

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