British commercial and industrial facades, by Vici MacDonald.
Mr P’s Classic Amusements
Mr P’s Classic Amusements, 10 High Street, Gravesend, Kent, 2015 • Depends on your definition of “classic” and “family entertainment”, really. The typeface is pure early 1990s (Remedy, designed by Emigre fonts in 1991).
I’ve never been there, but it actually was a bit classic – they only had old machines that most other places had thrown away. ‘Family Entertainment Centre’ also sounds creepy but is essentially a licencing term that lets an arcade pay a lower rate of tax as long as they only have a majority of low value payouts (which old machines fit nicely into) or more commonly now where you win worthless tickets rather than any money at all – and I think you have to display the term prominently. In a bunch of not very nice places that arcades generally are, I’d have to tip my hat to Mr P and his remaining branches of ancient flashing chipboard wonders for ‘keeping it reel’. 😉
The Store (ex The Floor Store), 39 Tontine Street, Folkestone, Kent, 2017 • Once called The Floor Store, by simply removing a word it became an art project space (I […]
Memel Shop, 40 Dover Road, Folkestone, Kent, 2017 • I have no idea what a Memel shop is, but here is one. The definitions on Wikipedia don’t offer any clues […]
Taylors Cleaners, 68 Herbert Road, Borough of Greenwich, London SE18, 2004 • Interesting use of a 5-dot ellipsis. Now called Tailors & Cleaners, in a still-interesting road.
The Gladstone, 1 Wilcox Road, Borough of Lambeth, London SW8, 2004 • Minimalist logo, plastic Fosters roundel, and an illegible graffitied sign for ribs. Later got a slight refurb, but […]
Tasty House, Bland House, 18 Vauxhall Street, Borough of Lambeth, London SE11, 2017 • Tasty House in Bland House – wonder if it was a deliberate joke? Another minimal sign, […]
Food Store, 22 Vauxhall Street, Borough of Lambeth, London SE11, 2017 • Minimalist name with even more minimalist logo – I found out what the full name was by visiting […]
Super Way Express, 344 Kennington Lane, Borough of Lambeth, London SE11, 2017 • Vintage wooden frontage with intricate fretwork and leaded lights. It has since had a clean-up.
Swiftys of Vauxhall, 44-46 Wilcox Road, Borough of Lambeth, London SW8, 2004 • Traditional fishing tackle shop a stone’s throw from the Thames. Disappeared in 2008 and is now London […]
https://www.mrpsclassicamusements.co.uk/Gravesend-2009—2015.html
I’ve never been there, but it actually was a bit classic – they only had old machines that most other places had thrown away. ‘Family Entertainment Centre’ also sounds creepy but is essentially a licencing term that lets an arcade pay a lower rate of tax as long as they only have a majority of low value payouts (which old machines fit nicely into) or more commonly now where you win worthless tickets rather than any money at all – and I think you have to display the term prominently. In a bunch of not very nice places that arcades generally are, I’d have to tip my hat to Mr P and his remaining branches of ancient flashing chipboard wonders for ‘keeping it reel’. 😉
Very interesting, thank you for increasing the wholesomeness quotient of this establishment. It still looks a bit creepy when closed though!