It is difficult for many people to imagine Nottingham without Victoria Centre. When it opened in 1972, Edward Heath was Prime Minister, the Berlin Wall was still standing and David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust had burst onto the pop scene.
Modern shopping malls had been springing up around the UK since the mid-1960s, with people discovering the thrill of being able to buy everything under one roof.
Victoria Centre was home to Boots’ flagship store after it moved from Clumber Street, where it had been since 1849, and Jessop & Son department store (‘Jessops’), now John Lewis & Partners, set up shop for us to purchase luxury goods.
Much has happened in the city over the past 50 years. In 1977, Castle Rock began brewing beer and the Queen and Prince Philip opened the Queen’s Medical Centre during the Silver Jubilee tour.
Nottingham Trent University opened in 1992, 1999 saw the launch of Nottingham Pride and the early 2000s brought the Nottingham tram network and the revamp of the Old Market Square, helping to connect our communities.
The Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020/21 meant that most shops, restaurants and entertainment venues in Nottingham, and across the country, temporarily closed.
The centre though, remained a focal point for many Nottingham residents, with essential retail outlets keeping their doors open so people could continue to access essential goods, medicine and services safely.
As restrictions were lifted, the centre once again became a hub for friends and family to meet; a place to re-discover their favourite retailers and explore brand new shops, enjoy catch-ups over coffee and ignite new relationships over the dinner table.
