Roller city

[Yellow Army]

I know it was years ago, but did Roller City go Bust?

If we had a new one in Southend (in a better location) would there still be business for one?

[chalkwell blue]

Quote[/b] (Steve_Clubshop @ Mar. 16 2006,23:28)]I know it was years ago, but did Roller City go Bust?

If we had a new one in Southend (in a better location) would there still be business for one?
Becasue it was in the middle of no where.

[Bob Cratchitt]

Yes but when I was at school I went every Sunday for 3 years.

[Xàbia Shrimper]

I went pretty often when it first opened in the 80s as it was the best place to find the single lasses without having to get dressed up to the nines to head off to Zero 6 or TOTS. Before that we used to go to the Palace skating on Pier Hill, the one with the jumps, with my trusty skates made from basketball boots. I used to be quite a decent skater; bet I coulnd't stand up for ten seconds now! Different weight distribution!!

[Mad Cyril]

My mate used to have a pair of skates made from a pair of knee high Yeti boots.

Beat that.

I was a bit of an RC regular aroud 87-88. I used to spend most of my time playing slap fight and terra cresta though.

I remember seeing a poor chap trying to use the urinal on roller skates. He fell over backwards flat on his back mid - flow but couldn't stop urinating. It was in his hair, and all over his top and trousers.

Hilarious.

Quote[/b] (Mad Cyril @ Mar. 17 2006,11:38)]My mate used to have a pair of skates made from a pair of knee high Yeti boots.

Beat that.

I was a bit of an RC regular aroud 87-88. I used to spend most of my time playing slap fight and terra cresta though.

I remember seeing a poor chap trying to use the urinal on roller skates. He fell over backwards flat on his back mid - flow but couldn't stop urinating. It was in his hair, and all over his top and trousers.

Hilarious.
Errrrrrrrrrmmm.......I think that might have been me! Was it on a Saturday after the weekly "Roller Football" game? I was never the best on my feet and I have to admit it must have been pretty funny to watch.

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Mad Cyril @ Mar. 17 2006,11:38)]I was a bit of an RC regular aroud 87-88.
I suddenly feel old...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/suspect.gif

Being an Eastwood-er, Aviation Way wasn't too far for us. My big sis loved her roller skates, and so I used to go along too - although it's fair to say that I was never going to win many prizes...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/oops.gif

Anyhow, seem to recall going there between 80-82, IIRC...

Matt

[Leeboy]

I went there once in about 84/85. Seeing as I couldn't skate I spent most of the time playing the video games whilst consuming coke and crisps.

[Wessex Blue]

Quote[/b] (Mad Cyril @ Mar. 17 2006,11:38)]My mate used to have a pair of skates made from a pair of knee high Yeti boots.

Beat that.

I was a bit of an RC regular aroud 87-88. I used to spend most of my time playing slap fight and terra cresta though.

I remember seeing a poor chap trying to use the urinal on roller skates. He fell over backwards flat on his back mid - flow but couldn't stop urinating. It was in his hair, and all over his top and trousers.

Hilarious.
That's the funniest thing I've heard all day, although I can empathise having fallen in dog **** in Sheffield.


http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[* ORM *]

ORM was also a Roller City regular.

I thought it was shut down on safety grounds but I could be wrong.

Since we're getting nostalgic what was the name of the water complex at Dartford that shut down (allegedly) due to subsidence. ORM was a regular at that and went a couple of times to its sister one. I think this was in Highams Park near Walthamstow.

Also remember the roller skating at the top of Pier Hill. I think most of us must remember the old go-karts by the Pier. Not forgetting the Odeon, ABC and Classic.

The Kursaal still had a fairground when I was a teen, though down to a just a few rides. I'll let Javea (or others) tell us about the days when this place was massive.

That was fantaseas ORM, and it was great fun before they shut the thing... http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[* ORM *]

Indeed, I once spent the whole day there and ended up with concusion due to the amount of continual head bashing from failing to exit the whirlpools in the rubber ring tube thingy. That thing on its own was fantastic; it could take ages to get from top to bottom. Then there were (I think) six tubes, the lazy river and the kamikaze slide.

[shrimperman]

You are correct ORM, in that the water park was closed after subsidence. Hardly surprising after it was built on a feld of large with shrinky clay soil http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

A pillar on one of the shutes became unattached from the shute which consequently fell. The park was then closed on health and safety grounds.

Use to love the place myself. Usually went there around 2/3 times a year upto its closure.

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (* ORM * @ Mar. 17 2006,18:19)]The Kursaal still had a fairground when I was a teen, though down to a just a few rides. I'll let Javea (or others) tell us about the days when this place was massive.
Cheeky fecker! Actually I do remember we used to go skating on Pier Hill on Saturday mornings and then wander down to the Kursaal afterwards for a couple of rides of the rollercoaster (Wild Mouse or something?!) and on the gyroscope thing where it span around so fast you used to stick to the walls and then they took the floor away! Great fun!

BTW - I always thought that Fantaseas would have been great on the Kursaal site ...

[Bob Cratchitt]

I thought Roller City shutdown due to not being able to extend it's lease, My main period at Roller City was 84-87 my last 3 years at senior school. My sister used to take me down to the Pier Hill one when I was 12 on a Friday night with Heavy Metal mates, my main memory of the place except of the massive concrete pillars was the smell of patchouli on everyone's denim.

Re Fantaseas I never actually went there, which i totally regret.

[Yellow Army]

so if one re-opened near central Southend, do you think there is the potential to have business again, and also have party hire, so after hours its hired out for discos ect? of course with modern furniture and design - not a pit for skateboreders ect

[* ORM *]

How about Fantasea Roller City. Trying to roller skate down tubes ? http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

I have to say it amazes me in a town like ours that we don't have a waterpark (even Col******r beats us at this), an ice-rink and a roller rink. God knows there's enough derelict ("Golden Mile") seafront to redevelop.

Quote[/b] (* ORM * @ Mar. 17 2006,17:29)]Indeed, I once spent the whole day there and ended up with concusion due to the amount of continual head bashing from failing to exit the whirlpools in the rubber ring tube thingy. That thing on its own was fantastic; it could take ages to get from top to bottom. Then there were (I think) six tubes, the lazy river and the kamikaze slide.
I loved that rubber ring thingy - as you say it was probably the best thing there. Always liked the pitch black tube as well, and the really fast one right at the top of the builing...

Happy memories!

[Xàbia Shrimper]

We have Aqualandia just a 30 minute drive south from us close to Benidorm. We go fairly often during the summer; last time we went with Harry Barris, Snowy and Jo and had a great time. Seeing Bazza fly down some of the tubes was hilarious; I think he was still talking all the way down!

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (* ORM * @ Mar. 17 2006,23:49)]I have to say it amazes me in a town like ours that we don't have a waterpark (even Col******r beats us at this), an ice-rink and a roller rink. God knows there's enough derelict ("Golden Mile") seafront to redevelop.
I'm pretty sure the original redevelopment plans for the Kursaal included an ice rink, perhaps before they realised they could make far more money by selling off much the land for residential purposes! I actually think that the new Kursaal is a bit of a cop-out. We were promised so much more than was actually never delivered in the final product.

[chadded]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Mar. 17 2006,11:32)]
Quote[/b] (Mad Cyril @ Mar. 17 2006,11:38)]I was a bit of an RC regular aroud 87-88.
I suddenly feel old...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/suspect.gif

Being an Eastwood-er, Aviation Way wasn't too far for us. *My big sis loved her roller skates, and so I used to go along too - although it's fair to say that I was never going to win many prizes...

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/oops.gif

Anyhow, seem to recall going there between 80-82, IIRC...

Matt
Going to feel older now.

I was a semi regular late 97 til it shut.

[Ron Manager]

I remember going on a school trip to Roller City only for one of my class mates to break her arm there, so maybe it was closed on safety grounds!

[Xàbia Shrimper]

As BC said, I think it was something to do with the lease.

Anyway, who remembers the British Historic Aircraft Museum before Roller City appeared? Spent many Sundays wandering around there and playing in the Blackburn Beverley transporter.

[eastwood shrimper]

Quote[/b] (Steve_Clubshop @ Mar. 17 2006,22:09)]so if one re-opened near central Southend, do you think there is the potential to have business again, and also have party hire, so after hours its hired out for discos ect? of course with modern furniture and design - not a pit for skateboreders ect
I think it would work, it would give the kids something to do at night rather than being bored or just walking the streets

[Bob Cratchitt]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Mar. 18 2006,10:20)]As BC said, I think it was something to do with the lease.

Anyway, who remembers the British Historic Aircraft Museum
Oh yes, my dad (ex-RAF) loved taking me there as a kid, got my first polystyrene plane there (you know the stuff Burger boxes are made out of) a Spitfire Mk VIII

[* ORM *]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Mar. 18 2006,10:20)]Anyway, who remembers the British Historic Aircraft Museum before Roller City appeared? Spent many Sundays wandering around there and playing in the Blackburn Beverley transporter.
Oh sh!t ! Ummmmmmmm my dad told me about that place ? Damn no, I have to be honest. http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Beefy]

If it wasn't for this thread I doubt I'd have ever thought of Fantaseas again. When did that place close down? I remember going there when I was about 6 or 7 but can't remember much about it since.

Quote[/b] (Beefy @ Mar. 20 2006,08:57)]If it wasn't for this thread I doubt I'd have ever thought of Fantaseas again. When did that place close down? I remember going there when I was about 6 or 7 but can't remember much about it since.
It shut down in 1992.... allegedly becaus it was sliding down the hill (it had been built on an old landfill site)