I used to work at woolworth's in the bullring. I worked in the cafeteria.(in the kitchen). Absolutely loved that job & store. Almost cried when the Bullring was redesigned & woolies being demolished.My mom started work at Woolworths in Erdington High Street, just after the war at the ripe old age of fourteen; her name was Doreen Pardoe
Hello Jeannie. I used to work at woolies in the bull ring. a really lovely place to work at. I was working in the cafeteria, in the kitchen. I think it was in the early 70's. How I miss that place. Love the new bull ring, but would have loved it even more if they could have incorporated some of the old building into it too.( especially the old woolies building).My mum bought me my first Ponds pale pink lipstick and face powder from Wonderfull woolies down the Bull ring, it was one of the happiest days of my teenage years
That’s just how I remember Woollies in the early 60’s ,my first port of call for Shopping for Aunts n uncles small Christmas prezies ( gifts) , I revisited the Bull ring late 2017 and was compleatly lost ,with help from locals I found a few places,The church,the rag market and the fish market, Happy memories ,thanks for the pic,A forum pic from another thread showing the Bull Ring Woolworths in the 1960s
only visible if logged in
from https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/hobbies.46731/post-605525
I totally agree Maurice. I go over there on a regular basis, & just visit 3 shops. how it used to be before the change, I used to go in many,many more. I could spend all day in the old bull ring, but now, it is just an hour or so.I have to admit that the Bull Ring is devoid of real atmosphere now and it is largely the usual multi-nationals selling exactly the same goods as all their other stores do throughout the country and the world, all sourcing their goods from multi-national manufacturers. It's becoming increasingly difficult to find "something different" that no one else sells. A sign of the times methinks.
Maurice
Apart from convenience, the lack of choice in some shopping areas, maybe why many look and buy online.I have to admit that the Bull Ring is devoid of real atmosphere now and it is largely the usual multi-nationals selling exactly the same goods as all their other stores do throughout the country and the world, all sourcing their goods from multi-national manufacturers. It's becoming increasingly difficult to find "something different" that no one else sells. A sign of the times methinks.
Maurice
I much prefer the old layout of the old bullring. The change was all about cramming as many stores into one place so that the council got more rent. They did not consider what the people of birmingham wanted. I used to love walking through from the old bus station & into the meat market or across to the rag market. I miss those wonderful days.Apart from convenience, the lack of choice in some shopping areas, maybe why many look and buy online.
This is where some small town shops often win out as they buy from different sources.
I totally agree Lynn.seems that a lot of us preferred the old bull ring...what springs out to me about the new look area is the lack of atmosphere...the sights and the sounds.. the smells and of course its characters ...its totally soulless now and i only go into the city centre if i really have to..its sad but thats the way i have felt for over ten years now...as most of you know i have nothing against change..it has to happen but surely not at the cost of destroying most of birminghams history than can never be bought back..moan over again
lyn