Rheidol Rooms

Rheidol Rooms, 16 Rheidol Terrace, Borough of Islington, London N1, 2003 • Another Pepsi cafe. Apparently still there, but somewhat repainted and without the venetian blinds.

V Falber & Sons, Daddy Kool, The Soho Music Company

V Falber & Sons, Daddy Kool, The Soho Music Company, […]

C.E. Pound

C.E. Pound, 162 Trafalgar Road, Borough of Greenwich, London SE10, 2002 • This art deco-ish beauty may still lurk beneath current incumbent Mr Chung’s equally large sign.

Adel Hair Fashions

Adel Hair Fashions, 204 Battersea Park Road, Borough of Wandsworth, London SW11, 2002 • One of the most beautiful facades I ever found. Unrecognisable now as Chesney’s luxury fireplace emporium.

Café – Restaurant

Café – Restaurant, 187 Deptford High Street, Borough of Lewisham, London SE8, 2002 • Boasts ridiculously tiny accent on Café. Astonishingly, this still looked exactly the same (minus flags) in […]

Dilnot’s Bakers & Confectioners

Dilnot’s Bakers & Confectioners, 77 High Street, Whitstable, Kent, 2002 • This looks like it should be a permanent fixture, but became a jewellers. What looks like an ex-Hovis sign, top […]

Fanny Adams Unisex

Fanny Adams Unisex, 10 West Lane, Bermondsey, Borough of Southwark, London SE16, 2001 • They probably didn’t know that Fanny Adams was an 8-year-old whose murderer tore her into pieces. […]

Costa’s Barbers.

Costa’s Barbers., 165 Battersea High Street, Borough of Wandsworth, London SW11, 2002 • Infinitely preferable to a Costa coffee shop, this appeared to be undergoing refurbishment in 2012.

Best Cash Butcher

Best Cash Butcher, 258 (ex-196) Walton Road, East Molesey, Surrey, 2001 • This ancient sign revealed by a shop closure was still there in 2008, but probably isn’t now.

Café (Redchurch Street)

Café, 36 Redchurch Street, Borough of Tower Hamlets, London E2, 2006 • Pepsi cafes are a dying breed. This became Chaat Bangladeshi Kitchen.  

Comfit Ltd.

Comfit Ltd, 316-318 Bethnal Green Road, Borough of Tower Hamlets, London E2, 2005 • Does anyone still use the word “slacks”? The sign has now gone, but the general decay remains.

C’mon In

C’mon In, Clyde Street (under railway bridge between Saltmarket and Bridgegate), Glasgow, 2010 • Hmmm, I won’t, thanks.

E. Barclay FSMC FACLP Optician

E. Barclay FSMC FACLP Optician, 158 Deptford High Street, Borough of Lewisham, London SE8, 2002 and 2010 • Magnificent old optician’s sign, later with name half-obliterated as below.

Dominic Hair Fashions

Dominic Hair Fashions, 1a Clifton Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex, 2003 • Once so proud, by 2012 even sadder than this: “Dominic” lettering torn off, blinds faded pale peach.

Cafe Breakfast Dinners and Teas…

Cafe Breakfast Dinners and Teas…, 177 New Kent Road, Borough of Southwark, London SE1, 2001 • Generic yet specific; and I like the 1930s stepped fascia. Now plasticky blue Cafe […]

Caustin Church Metalware

Caustin Church Metalware, 188a Warham Street, Kennington, Borough of Southwark, London SE5, 2001 • This classic old works was later demolished – sadly this is the only photo I took.

Nuit Cleaners

Nuit Cleaners, 72 Brixton Road, Oval, Borough of Lambeth, London SW9, 2001 • I keep expecting this superb name to disappear but stoically it remains.

F.J. Meadows Ltd

F.J. Meadows Ltd, 14 Greenford Road, Sutton, Surrey, 2002 • Phone Vigilant 5350 no more – by 2012 this was boarded up and for sale.

Kelvinator Launderama

Kelvinator Launderama, 144 High Street, Caterham, Surrey, 2001 • Launderettes stay happily old-fashioned. The wood got painted blue, but the retro sign remains.

Gerry’s Curtains

Gerry’s Curtains, 56 East Street, Walworth, Borough of Southwark, London SE17, 2002 • Looks like Gerry left some outside. Unchanged by 2012 in old-school East Street market.

George’s Fruit & Veg

George’s Fruit & Veg, 273 Southwark Park Road, Borough of Southwark, London SE16, 2002 • Metamorphosed into two shops: Brother’s Barbers and Dammy Stores.

Robinsons

Robinsons, 48 Old Jamaica Road, Borough of Southwark, London SE16, 2001 • Another casualty of the monolithic Bermondsey Spa development (see below).

Junk & Disorderly

Junk & Disorderly, 25 Old Jamaica Road, Borough of Southwark, London SE16, 2001 • The whole road was later junked for a massive new apartment quarter, Bermondsey Spa.

Jellies Walk-In

Jellies Walk-In, 12 New Broadway, Tarring Road, Worthing, West Sussex, 2003 • I have no idea what this means. Became TaxAssist accountants, bicycles still not allowed.

Hammerton Plumbing Fittings

Hammerton Plumbing Fittings, 159 Stoke Newington Road, Hackney, London N16, 2002 • Beautiful old shop now unrecognisable – though still yellow – as Safak Florist.

Colt Bookstore

Colt Bookstore, 3 Berwick Street, Soho, City of Westminster, London W1, 2002 • Last redoubt of the plastic strip curtain. Demolished to make way for glossy new apartments / retail.

Good Man Chinese Food

Good Man Chinese Food, 193 New Kent Road, Borough of Southwark, London SE1, 2001 • Still there, despite bearing the unusually frank food message of jumbo, junk and horse.

Hong Kong Garden

Hong Kong Garden, 22 Woolwich Road, Borough of Greenwich, London SE10, 2002 • Now says New Hong Kong Garden on a garish magenta sign, but the yellow stripes beneath remain.

J. Blundell & Sons

J. Blundell & Sons, 199 Wardour Street, City of Westminster, London W1, 2002 • After over 150 years in Soho, moved to Hatton Garden in 2003, with a similar but […]

Des & Sons Audio Technology 2001

Des & Sons Audio Technology 2001, 105 Dulwich Road, Herne Hill, Borough of Lambeth, London SE24, 2001 • A look slightly at odds with the futuristic-sounding year. By 2012 it […]

Johnson & Jones Speaker Repair Specialists

Johnson & Jones Speaker Repair Specialists, 11 Balls Pond Road, […]

Peckish

Peckish, 1a Manor Place, Sutton, Surrey, 2002 • Manor Place indeed: a St George’s flag and even a UK burglar alarm. Note woodpecker pecking Peckish logo.

Beverley Hall Ltd.

Beverley Hall Ltd., 16 Regent Parade, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, West Midlands, 2005 • I thought this was being knocked down when I photographed it, but in 2012 it was still intact.

Phillips & Rimmer Prop. Rimbrand Ltd

Phillips & Rimmer Prop. Rimbrand Ltd, 44 Berry Street, Liverpool, 2003 • I like to think this post-apocalyptic scene contains a pun on Rembrandt…

G. Hill

G. Hill, 405 Evelyn Street, Deptford, Borough of Lewisham, London SE8, 2002 • Nice lettering, I wonder what it sold? Now demolished.

Brothers Garden

Brothers Garden, 3 Pier Road, North Woolwich, Borough of Newham, London E16, 2005 • A magnificently tumbledown corner now occupied by Harvest Chinese Takeaway. A DLR connection has led to a lot of […]

Grandma’s

Grandma’s, 4 Clapham High Street / Gauden Road, Clapham North, Borough of Lambeth, London SW4, 2002 • Grandma’s barred-up Jamaican hole-in-the wall appears to have gone, along with her Bob […]

Carmelli Bagel Bakery

Carmelli Bagel Bakery, 126-128 Golders Green Road, Borough of Barnet, London NW11, 2003 • Double-fronted Jewish bakery still going strong. Est 1987, though the style looks looks older.

Alan R Long

Alan R Long, 19 High Street, Whitstable, Kent, 2002 • Traditional butcher’s which is still there. Looks like they take the red-and-white awning in every night.  

The Deptford Cod Father’s, The Egg Shop

The Deptford Cod Father’s & The Egg Shop, 47 & 49 Deptford High Street, Borough of Lewisham, London SE8, 2002 • A popular punning fish shop name, next door to an equally […]

The Pot Company

The Pot Company, 16-20 Raymouth Road, Borough of Southwark, London SE16, 2001 • As in garden accessories, not drugs. Now obliterated: the arches were refurbished with anonymous blue units.

House Wives Cash & Carry

House Wives Cash & Carry, 101-103 Deptford High Street, Borough of Lewisham, London SE8, 2002 • Elegiac in the Benny Hill sense: should say “Cash & Carry-on”. Still carrying on, […]

Heel Bar

Heel Bar, 73 Deptford High Street, Borough of Lewisham, London SE8, 2002 • A proudly upbeat old acrylic sign, still there in 2012, along with cheerful shutter mural.

Kings Sandwich Bar

Kings Sandwich Bar, 6 Milroy Walk, South Bank, Borough of Southwark, London SE1, 2001 • In a not-so-regal brutalist mall beneath Kings Reach Tower (ex-home of IPC magazines), due for […]

Non-Ferrous Scrap Metal Merchant

Non-Ferrous Scrap Metal Merchant, Islington Metal Works, 7 Torrens Street, Borough of Islington, London N1, 2002 • Still a metalworks, the old signs surviving to lend atmosphere to the attached […]

Scrap Metal Wanted

Scrap Metal Wanted, Arch 488, King John Court, Shoreditch, Borough of Hackney, London EC2, 2004 • This whole Dickensian viaduct was razed for the swanky new Overground; by 2012 site […]

Shad Restaurant

Shad Restaurant, 8 William Street, Herne Bay, Kent, 2004 • Mmmm, welcoming. Actually a substantial Indian restaurant round the front, and still there: Shad means tasty.

K.T. Andrews (London) Ltd.

K.T. Andrews (London) Ltd., 404 St John Street, Borough of Islington, London EC1, 2002 • 404 not found: this became half a Pret a Manger.

The Manor Cafe

The Manor Cafe, 163 Manor Place, Borough of Southwark, London SE17, 2001 • The whole parade was later boarded up with Southwark council’s bright purple hoardings, still there in 2012.

Aldgate Warehouse

Aldgate Warehouse, 65-66 Whitechapel Road, Borough of Tower Hamlets, London E1, 2002 • Was demolished to make way for the London Muslim Centre’s huge mosque at 46-92 Whitechapel Road.

Belgravia Cigarette Coy.

Belgravia Cigarette Coy., 25 Grosvenor Gardens, Victoria, City of Westminster, London SW1, 2004 • Currently a newsagent of the same name, windows unchanged; so the old fag ads may lurk […]

Shoefayre

Shoefayre, 129-131 Borough High Street, Borough of Southwark, London SE1, 2013 • Was hidden by decaying scaffolding for over a decade until being revealed again in a street “smartening” for […]

Burnards (B.J. Warrell)

Burnards (B.J. Warrell), 38 Brixton Road, Borough of Lambeth, London SW9, 2001 • This beautiful palimpsest probably remains beneath the huge blue fascia of later occupant Ever Fresh Food & […]

Blessing & Success Fashions, Fleet Systems MOT, Island Buka

Blessing & Success Fashions, Fleet Systems MOT, Island Buka, 25 […]

Pleckbond Ltd

Pleckbond Ltd, 119 Falcon Road, Battersea, Borough of Wandsworth, London SW11, 2002 • I was attracted by the odd name and contrasting windows. Unchanged by 2012; a publishing business, apparently.

Glass Mirrors

Glass Mirrors, 205 Grange Road, Bermondsey, Borough of Southwark, London SE1, 2002 • As opposed to plastic mirrors, perhaps. Still derelict by 2012, though sans name boards and bearing a […]

Chemist.

Chemist. NHS Prescriptions Dispenced, 165 Deptford High Street, Borough of Lewisham, London SE8, 2002 • A classic: generic name, random full stop, spelling issues, misplaced security fears. Became Hair by […]

Jami Newsagents J.B. Winton Ltd

Jami Newsagents J.B. Winton Ltd, 322a Grays Inn Road, Borough of Camden, London WC1, 2002 • I like the way Jami is tacked onto the previous name. Now gone and […]

Kehoe’s.

Kehoe’s., 5 Stoney Street, Borough Market, Borough of Southwark, London SE1, 2002 • Borough Market gentrified and this became smart Applebee’s Fish, but there’s still a Kehoe’s cobbler nearby.

Christmas War

Christmas War, Queens Square, Crawley, West Sussex, April 2002 • Christmas War, still battling on in April in Crawley’s bunker-like mall (the height of modernity when I was a child).