It may not feel like that long ago, but it's now been well over 30 years since the 1990s - and there are many things that still remind us of those days.
It was a decade that saw The Spice Girls and Oasis at the top of the charts, films like Toy Story and Jurassic Park first hit cinemas and toy crazes like the Tamagotchi swept through schools. In Liverpool itself, LFC fans said goodbye to the Spion Kop and clubbers danced the night away in legendary city clubs like the 051 and The Krazyhouse.
When it comes to fashion, there was lots of denim, chokers, crimped hair and velour. Chains like Deep Pan Pizza and Somerfield were still around and the Mathew Street Festival first began.
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Despite some great additions to the city in the years since, many of the things we loved to do during the 90s can't be found today and while some things span decades, many memories are tied to their chapter in the 1990s. Here, we've compiled a list of just 34 things from 90s Liverpool and wider Merseyside that remind us of life back then
This list isn't intended to be comprehensive. But if there is something that reminds you of the 1990s in the region, let us know in the comments section below.
34. Uncle Sam's
Uncle Sam's served the city for decades but the final bell rang for the restaurant in 2019 when it announced it had closed its doors for good - 38 years after it was opened by 'Uncle Sam' himself, Hamdi Bichara. The ECHO previously reported how Hamdi moved to Liverpool and began working at the Shakespeare Cabaret Club on Fraser Street.
Hamdi, who many would eventually refer to as 'Uncle Sam', worked his way up to becoming head waiter before opening the first Uncle Sam's on Renshaw Street. The restaurant is remembered by many as the first they went to in the 90s and the site later moved to Bold Street, where it spent its final six years.
33. Somerfield
Somerfield arrived on the scene in 1991 with the first store opening in Nottingham - and it wasn’t long before the supermarket chain popped up all over the UK, including right here in Liverpool and Wirral.
The company was first known as Gateway Foodmarkets in the 1960s, later known simply as Gateway. The Somerfield name was born in 1990, replacing the Gateway brand. Unfortunately, all Somerfields had closed by the end of 2011 after the company was bought by the Co-operative group.
32. Mathew Street festival
The Mathew Street festival is making a comeback this year, but it first started as a stage outside the Cavern in 1993.
It was the brainchild of the company behind the annual Beatles Convention, who wanted to host an August Bank Holiday party in Mathew Street. Featuring seven hours of free music from 65 bands from around the world, it was an instant hit, attracting bigger crowds year after year.
As its popularity grew, stages began popping up on Castle Street, Victoria Street, Water Street, Dale Street, William Brown Street - and Chavasse Park before Liverpool ONE had even been thought about. In 2007, the festival was cancelled on health and safety grounds but returned after a campaign by the ECHO and its supporters, but by 2013 it was canned and was replaced by the Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF).
31. Caesar's Palace
Caesar's Palace was a popular Italian restaurant located on Renshaw Street. Offering a variety of dishes including pasta, pizza and burgers, most main courses cost less than £10 and many deemed the restaurant as a "special occasion place," only visiting for birthdays, anniversaries and work parties.
The exterior made it literally look like a palace, with its neon blue lights and it also had large fish tanks. Despite its success in the 1990s, Caesar's Palace sadly lost popularity and by 2008 it was no more.
30. The old Odeon cinema
Located on London Road, the former Odeon cinema was built on the site of a former boxing ring and was originally a Paramount picturehouse before being taken over by Odeon in the 1940s. In the 1990s, many Liverpudlians saw the likes of Jurassic Park, Titanic, Home Alone, Pulp Fiction and more at the site.
Many will remember tucking into popcorn there or visiting for a first date or friend's birthday celebration. It grew to eventually have 10 movie screens but was closed when the new Odeon opened in Liverpool ONE in 2008.
29. Blockbuster
Before streaming services like Disney+ and Netflix, there was Blockbuster. In the 90s, VHS was king and many Merseyside families would head to their local branch to pick the perfect film for a night in.
The region had several Blockbuster branches. But by the end of 2013 all UK stores were closed.
28. The Legs of Man
The Legs of Man was a popular pub in Liverpool for years. It was located on the corner of Lime Street and London Road, next to the Empire Theatre.
In its heyday, it was a regular haunt of Empire actors, theatregoers and lawyers working at Liverpool’s main courts at St George’s Hall. Despite fierce opposition the pub was demolished in 1999 to make way for an extension to the Empire.
27. Owen Owen
Owen Owen was founded by Welsh-born Owen Owen in 1868. Becoming an institution in Liverpool, the business later grew into a national chain.
In 1924, Liverpool's Owen Owen chain moved from Audley House to Clayton Square into an impressive building on Parker Street that was originally designed as a luxury hotel. Known for selling everything from furniture to clothes and crockery, the department store shut its doors in 1993 and later became a Tesco Metro and is now a Flannels store.
26. Spion Kop
It's been almost 30 years since Anfield said goodbye to the famous Spion Kop. The name was used in honour of the many Liverpudlians who died in the Battle of Spion Kop in the Boer war between January 23 and January 24, 1900.
For generations, football fans watched game after game at the famous stand. But by April 30, 1994 - Anfield bade farewell to the Spion Kop. The legislation instigated by the 1989 Hillsborough disaster meant all the stadiums in the top two divisions had to become all-seater and so the famous Spion Kop terrace - which in its heyday had held up 27,000 fans and still then held around 16,000 - was due to demolished in the summer of 1994, with a new ‘Kop Grandstand’ set to take its place.
25. Jenny's Seafood Restaurant
In the 1990s, one city centre restaurant stood out from the rest and also had a visit from former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter. Situated on the Old Ropery off Fenwick Street, Jenny’s Seafood Restaurant offered a variety of "classy-looking" dishes.
Customers had to book their tables in advance due to its popularity. And it was certainly one of the places to go for a special occasion.
24. Pier Head bus station
Many generations across the city will remember spending days in the 90s at the now lost Pier Head bus station. The ECHO recently took a look back at the old terminal on the waterfront, sharing rare images of what it looked like there in its latter days.
Costing £675,000, Liverpool's bus terminal at the Pier Head first opened back in 1965, but by the 1990s, the ECHO reported how Merseybus would "stop using the Pier Head terminus as part of a sweeping revamp of the network," with the site later being demolished. Welcoming many commuters over the years, many will remember in the 90s the smell of food wafting from the café, or sitting and watching the ferries there too.
23. Pleasure Island
The opening of Pleasure Island, a sprawling amusement complex situated on the site of The Festival Gardens, provided entertainment for different generations. It couldn't be sunny without parents being begged for a trip there.
The park was loved by a generation of Scousers for attractions which included The Works, billed as "the world’s biggest indoor adventure play structure", and the Quasar Labyrinth for laser shooting games. But much to the disappointment of many people, Pleasure Island closed its doors for the final time in 1997.
22. Woolworths
The first Woolworths to open in the UK was actually established on Church Street, the heart of Liverpool's shopping district. Woolies was the epicentre of our high street visits, the best place to buy your Christmas presents - and pick and mix sweets.
The 'pick n mix' was legendary in the 90s and beyond and the store had so much variety it was hard to choose - so we just got everything. Sadly the Woolworths dream died in 2009 when the company entered administration in the UK but many still remember the store.
21. Crash FM
Originally launched in 1995, Crash FM was the brainchild of the late Janice Long and Bernie Connor and first operated from Liverpool city centre’s trendy Palace shopping complex. But by the noughties, the station became known as something else entirely, as the station was taken over by Forever Broadcasting and the name changed to Juice FM in March 2000 as part of an extensive revamp.
In the 2010s, many from Merseyside and beyond tuned in every day to listen to Juice FM as it was known. But in December 2015, the ECHO reported how Liverpool’s Juice FM will be known as Capital Liverpool from January 2016 after the radio station was sold to the brand’s owners for a reported £10m.
20. Fashion
The 1990s don't feel like all that long ago and some of the trends have even made a comeback in recent years. Life has moved on at a rapid pace since the decade, from technology and the games we played to the buildings, shops and of course, fashion.
There was lots of denim, chokers, crimped hair, velour and more as people across the country embraced a more casual style. You're bound to remember just a few of these trends - but you may also feel older when seeing a handful of them come back into fashion.
19. Garlands
Opening in 1993, Garlands quickly achieved legendary status in the city. Located on Eberle Street, the club was known for taking risks with extreme entertainment and being the backbone of the city’s LGBT+ nightlife.
The first after-hours gay club in Liverpool, it welcomed an army of visitors from Merseyside and beyond for over two decades. Known for its infamous catchphrase - "Garlands made me do it." - it closed its doors for good in 2019.
18. Deep Pan Pizza
Once one of the largest pizza restaurant groups, in the 90s, Deep Pan Pizza had chains all over the UK. Known for its bold and bright red and yellow logos and décor, inside groups would be shown to an American-style booths and could also watch "the latest music videos" on TV screens.
In Liverpool itself, many will remember chains at Edge Lane and on Stonedale Retail and Leisure Park off East Lancashire Road. In April 2005, the ECHO reported how Frankie & Benny's was opening its first Liverpool outlet on Edge Lane Retail Park on May 9, creating about 45 new jobs in the former Deep Pan Pizza site.
17. Cream (Nation)
It's been over 30 years since a small underground club night in Liverpool first burst onto the scene. Later becoming a global superpower, Liverpool's super club Cream was at the cutting edge of dance and electronic music in the 1990s and through to the early 2000s.
Based in Wolstenholme Square, superstar DJs travelled from around the world to get to play sold-out sets. Sadly, the iconic club closed its doors in 2007, and the venue was demolished in 2016 as part of the regeneration of Wolstenholme Square. But Cream events still take place today.
16. Etam and Tammy Girl
If you grew up in Liverpool in the 90s - you’re bound to remember Tammy Girl. Popular with teens, Tammy Girl sold all the best clothing and accessories.
Mums wanted to go to high street staple Etam while pre-teens and teenagers were always more interested in heading upstairs to the much-missed Tammy Girl. The Tammy name later became part of BHS. The unit went on to became a branch of Monsoon.
15. Toxteth Carnival
One of the most popular events in Liverpool's history is the famous Toxteth Carnival. For years, glittering costumes, impressive floats and an amazing parade brought huge crowds to L8.
Over the years, the ECHO has shared some incredible archive photos of Toxteth Carnival in years gone by. Many will remember going in the 90s too.
14. The old Paradise Street station
It's been years since we've been able to get a bus from the old Paradis Street station. In 1999, the biggest redevelopment in Liverpool city centre's recent history was signed off as the council approved a complete overhaul of the Paradise Street area - for what would come to be known as Liverpool ONE.
Construction began in 2004 and part of the project saw the demolition of the concrete bus station and car park, past the old Moat House hotel near to where Argos used to be. It was all change on one weekend in November 2005, as the last bus left the old station - which was knocked down a couple of months later - and the new site outside Merseyside Police HQ opened for business.
13. The Paradox
The art deco style clock tower, on Ormskirk Road in Aintree, was one of the places to be in the 1990s. The site started out in the 1920s as the Vernon Pools building, but when they moved to new premises in 1991 it became the Paradox nightclub.
Many DJs had weekly sets at Paradox, which were loved by clubbers every week before its closure in 2001. Whilst on air, The Hitman and Her also visited the popular Aintree nightclub.
In January 2013, the building was torn down, having stood empty for years and becoming derelict. After the iconic structure was demolished, the site became home to a Sports Direct store with a gym attached.
12. Tso's
For years, many of us headed up the stairs of this Queen Square staple for a meal at Tso's. The famous buffet once boasted more than 60 dishes and customers could also eat as much as they liked for a set price.
However, in 2019, the ECHO reported how the restaurant had been shut by bailiffs. First opening in the 90s, many customers passed through the doors.
11. Heatwaves
Four years after ambitious plans were revealed by Knowsley Council, Heatwaves Leisure Centre in Stockbridge Village officially opened on September 8, 1990. The £4.5m complex in The Withens, off Waterpark Drive, was once known for having the "only tropical leisure pool in Merseyside."
Many will remember its wave pool or queuing for the 200-ft curving water shute, where you could swoop down to a separate pool. But after much consultation on the fate of the leisure centre, the site closed on December 1, 2009.
10. Kwik Save
Kwik Save, with its familiar logo of white block italics against a red background, grew to become a common sight in Britain after the first store opened in Rhyl in 1959. The business adopted the model of successful continental supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl, buying a limited range of goods on favourable payment terms.
The chain continued to expand, and by the mid-1990s, they had more than 800 stores spanning the country with Liverpool's most prominent Kwik Save store on Hanover Street in Liverpool city centre. The stores were primarily aimed at the lower end of the market and vanished from our high streets in the 00s.
9. Quiggins
If you were an alternative kid growing up in Liverpool in the 90s and 00s then Quiggins will need no introduction. Its location on the corner of School Lane in the city centre was the meeting point for punks, goths, skaters, metalheads, ravers and anyone in between.
Filled with small independent businesses, Quiggins was much more than just a shopping destination. But sadly the shopping market closed its doors in 2006.
8. Krazyhouse
In the early 1990s, The Krazyhouse on Wood Street burst onto the city-centre scene and became famous for its indie, rock and alternative scene. Also synonymous with Liverpool students, it was affectionately known as the K! to loyal clubbers.
In 2018, the closure of the nightclub was lamented by many as the end of an era. That same year, the venue reopened as Electrik - but the spirit of Krazyhouse lives on.
7. Disney store at Clayton Square
Back in 1989, Clayton Square first opened and with it brought a host of new stores to the city. In the coming years, we saw huge brands such as Tammy Girl, Virgin Megastore and Oasis open - as well as Disney. In the 1990s, Liverpool was one of the earliest UK Disney stores to open and products linked to the likes of Toy Story or 101 Dalmatians were proving to be a hit.
The store later relocated to Liverpool ONE when the shopping centre opened in 2008. And in October 2021, it was announced that Liverpool ONE's Disney Store was closing its doors after more than a decade at the shopping centre.
6. MGM Cinema
Located in Edge Lane Retail Park, many will remember the former Cineworld venue first opened as an eight-screen MGM in 1991, as a project of Cineplex Odeon. By 1995, it had been renamed Virgin and later UGC in 1999. The UGC later became Cineworld in 2005 - the last chapter of buildings life.
It continued to attract film-lovers of all ages for a decade to see the latest releases, go on first dates or enjoy a Tango Iceblast. But in April 2016, cinema-goers heard that Liverpool’s Edge Lane cinema was to close in three months.
5. Quadrant Park
Also known as the Quad, or Quaddie, Quadrant Park on Derby Road, Bootle, opened in 1988 - but in 1990 it became more influential. Attracting guest DJs from all over the world, it went on to establish itself as one of the UK's first "super clubs."
By the mid-1990s the club was drawing crowds of up to 2,500. At the time it was said to be the UK's only legal all-night rave, because it didn’t sell alcohol.
It was only open for a short stint in the 1990s - but many clubbers of the time still claim to have loved the venue. It closed on New Year’s Eve 1991.
4. Mister M's Waterside Seafood
Situated on the Albert Dock, Mister M’s Waterside Seafood was popular in the late 1990s and early noughties. Set over two floors, it had simple brick walls and a classy spiral staircase in the middle of the room.
The menu consisted of “plenty of tempting and original dishes”. This included the likes of of Smoked Haddock Fillet classically served with a poached egg and a chive sauce and traditional Moules Marinere.
3. Damon's
Located at the Old Airport, Speke, Damon's first opened back in 1992 and was known for its American-themed menu. Serving ribs, burgers, seafood dishes and more, it was a popular place for Liverpool families to book a table to celebrate an occasion, with guests often spotting other customers with the likes of birthday banners or balloons when they walked in.
Going back a few years, it wasn't unusual to show up with a passport on the big day as proof to have the price of the birthday meal struck off the bill. But by 2017, the venue closed for good and later became The Chinese Buffet.
2. Southport sea bathing lake
Southport was once the highlight of people's summers, with tourists travelling from across the country to the seaside town. One ever-popular attraction was the town's open-air swimming baths, Southport's Sea Bathing Lake, that saw thousands flock to get a spot in the pool on hot summers days.
The iconic outdoor swimming baths by Southport Beach was sadly demolished by Sefton Council in 1993. The site made way for the Ocean Plaza development, but many remember heading their in its final days in the 90s.
1. 051
Back in the 1990s, 051 on the corner of Mount Pleasant and Brownlow Hill was known as one of the city’s most famous venues. It's since made a comeback, but in the 90s clubbers would tackle the club's rite-of-passage stairway descent to the basement expanse to dance to some incredible music.
With a capacity for 2,000 people, it was a staple in the city for years and many DJs passed through its doors. Above the huge site, you could see the bold lettering of '0 five one' elsewhere in the city.
But in 2005, the venue closed and since then, the site has been home to a cinema, paintball arena, bar. The venue became other clubs, including Aura from September 2013, but was stripped out by 2016, before returning last year.
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