Meadowhall shopping centre celebrates 35 years open for business

For some it’s retail paradise, while for others dragged along to carry the bags it can feel like a form of purgatory – but after 35 years Meadowhall continues to draw in shoppers.

The mega mall – the region’s largest shopping complex – welcomes millions of visitors a year and its distinctive design is a recognisable part of South Yorkshire’s skyline.

Built on the site of a former steelworks, the centre, which opened on 4 September, 1990 employs thousands of people and, a decade ago, was said to contribute almost a fifth of the business rates collected by Sheffield City Council.

Aside from the financial benefit, it represents a landmark with decades of personal memories for shoppers and staff alike – including singer Self Esteem who sported a version of the site’s distinctive domes as part of a Glastonbury outfit.

Centre manager Darren Pearce has worked there for more than three decades.

He started out in 1994 as a “young chartered accountant” and recalled being “absolutely blown away by the place”.

He said: “I’ve been here 31 years, which is quite incredible. I never thought I would stay that long.”

The shopping environment back then was very different – it was an era of no Sunday trading with the centre only opening late one day a week.

Over the years, Mr Pearce said the transformation in retail had been “incredible to see” with the centre undergoing major refurbishment as well as adapting to changing shopping habits.

Matt Gray, who is Meadowhall’s head of property services, started out as an eager electrical apprentice at the age of 17.

“I found out about it from my mum,” he said.

“Everyone was excited about Meadowhall because you could see it being built.

“I thought I’d do a five-year apprenticeship and that’d be it, but time flies and here I am still.”

Mr Gray said he had stayed in his job for so long because the centre “was always changing” and had not been “left to go the doldrums”.

Back in 1990, the centre was the second largest of its kind in the UK, with its anticipated opening attracting thousands of queuing shoppers.

Recalling the day to BBC Radio Sheffield, Rick, who worked as an apprentice decorator, said: “It seemed absolutely whopping to me back then.

“I thought we’d be there [decorating] forever.”

In the early days, the centre boasted a huge screen which played music videos and live TV, from Coronation Street to sports matches.

The colourful glare of the Oasis food court, which then included restaurants like Rock Island Diner and Ma Potter’s, was a magnet for visitors.

Patsy remembered her first visit with her mum and friend.

The trio headed to the food court before going to HMV where they were “locked in for games and competitions” with Bob Geldof who had opened the store.

She recalled: “We did a bit more shopping after that, but then we got stuck in the glass lift outside Debenhams for about 20 minutes.

“It was very exciting, because there was nothing like that around here at all.”

Another frequent visitor Sue, told Radio Sheffield how she would coincide her shopping trips from Llandudno to Meadowhall with visits to family who lived in the city.

She recalled “lots of happy memories” from buying her wedding dress 22 years ago to meeting a long-lost relative there for the first time.

Meanwhile, to mark the centre’s birthday, a mural has been created to capture visitors’ memories and pay tribute to some of the people who “make the city so special”.

Created by local artist Luke Horton, it features community hero John ‘The Man with the Pram’ Burkhill alongside moments such as when Simon Cowell switched on the centre’s Christmas lights in 2004.

That event, whch drew huge crowds, was a particular highlight for Mr Pearce.

“I thought he wouldn’t be that keen about switching them on, but in fact he was absolutely delighted to do it and he said he was so excited about it, which was amazing.”