SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Does anyone remember the big wooden snake thing that used to be in the Bond Street Centre (as it was). It was some kind of big activity thing for kids to climb through and when I was a lad we used to always ask if we could have a go in the big snake.It seemed to just disappear suddenly, maybe when it became the Leeds Shopping Plaza?

Yeah I remember this it was GREAT. It had sections that were exposed and then others that were closed up. I think it was somewhere near Mothercare in like a corner. I used to love that. cant see any pics of it on Leodis though - I wonder if there are any knocking about anywhere,.

I remember some cafe also near there and at christmas time there would be a Santa place for the kids to visit. Cant remember the cafe name but the front was sort of exposed and i think it was green. You could sit outside I think also. - Only pic I can find on Leodis is attached.

LS1 wrote: I remember some cafe also near there and at christmas time there would be a Santa place for the kids to visit. Cant remember the cafe name but the front was sort of exposed and i think it was green. You could sit outside I think also. - Only pic I can find on Leodis is attached. I think it looked better then than it does now,i remember the centre as being light and airy where now its all closed in.Thank god they are doing it out,lets hope to a better standard!

It did look loads better, bit tatty mind but nothing I guess a lick of paint wouldnt have solved!

The upstairs cafe in here was ace. I think it was called the Garden or Terrace cafe, and you could get coke floats - excellent times... x

Was that not in the St Johns Centre the Terrace cafe. Its still there isn't it

No definitely in Bond Street Centre. It had a load of plastic grapes hanging from the ceilling as I recall, and as I kid I though this was dead classy! Perhaps it was called something else - The Vinery? I think I remember the old snake too... My earliest memories are going into town with my mum in my pushchair, and getting the bus home to Rodley from outside the giant metal horse outside the Lloyds bank on Park Row...

Yeah alice your right that is the one I was thinking of. Going in there and then on the snake- no PSP, no Nintendo, being amused by a block of wood in a shopping centre!Still kind of makes be a bit excited / nostalgic thinking about it,

Was the cafe called Le Jardin ? Does anyone remember the clock that used to be in the ceiling ? It was just above where the Christmas tree is in the picture. The clock was squares with minutes numbered in each one and the squares lit up.Bond Street seemed much busier then.