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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Lifestyle
Jess Molyneux

Your memories of the Granada Studios Tour that attracted millions

Mancunians have been sharing their memories of visiting our city's lost tourist attraction that welcomed millions.

The Manchester Evening News last week looked back at the former Granada Studios Tour - and we were overwhelmed by your comments.

After opening in a blaze of publicity in 1988, the tour attracted over five million TV fans in its heyday, who flocked to see the famous outdoor set of Coronation Street and more.

Read More: Remember Atlantic 252? The story of the station that was the sound of the 90s

Based on Quay Street, the Granada Studios Tour was opened in July 1988.

However, by the turn of the millennium the number of visitors plummeted by 30 per cent as Granada Media moved away from leisure and entertainment.

In December 1999, the entertainment theme park closed to the general public, although it continued to welcome fans as part of hospitality packages until 2006, when it closed for good.

We found scores of images from our archives, Mirrorpix, to take you down memory lane and we were flooded with your memories on social media.

On the M.E.N Facebook page, Helen Splaine wrote: "Oh I remember doing this tour with my Brownie group when I was about 10 and being so ‘star struck’ by Bet Gilroys wedding gown!!"

Ste Ritz commented: "Was a good day out back in the day, loved the New York themed street, borrower's set and the cinema with moving seats."

But not everyone was allowed into all parts of the tour.

Stephanie Hendricks joked: "I went with school and we weren't allowed in the [Rovers Return] pub lol."

Faye Holden added: "Not forgetting check point Charlie and the giants room my mum worked there for years when I was growing up I was practically one of the tour guides I was there that often."

Tryphena Elizabeth Penswick commented: "Went with my friend in 1990 & I remember walking through The Borrowers set."

Maria Webster wrote: "We had a photo of us all in the Rovers Return. Great day & great memories."

Granada Studio tour guides on the set of Coronation Street, with official mascot OB. June 29, 1988 (Mirrorpix)

Clare Ashton posted: "I was lucky enough to work on Baker Street for many years loved every minute of it shame when it closed down."

Suzanne Sale posted: "Went with high school along with MOSI that was a great day out.. Also went to see Sooty with the kids years later."

Giselle Rusted commented: "Ys it was brill _ somewhere I have a photo of me outside no10 Downing Street and they had a mock Houses of Parliament."

Sarah Wood wrote: "I used to love going there. Wish it was still open."

Sue Bedford wrote: "We had a video done in the rovers."

Jack and Vera Duckworth's lounge at Coronation Street, as part of the Granada Studios Tour. February 9, 1995 (Mirrorpix)

Janice Brown said: "I went twice - my favourite part was the Motionmaster!"

Caroline Butler posted: "I loved it, went with school the first time then with friends after. Would love it to come back."

Andy Ridley said: "Did my school work experience there. Was a lot of fun."

Linda Christine Stewart wrote: "I was in an advert for granada studios went filming with my son who was modelling at the time."

Elizabeth Barton posted: "Remember going as a kid and got chosen to sit in the make up chair.

"I thought I'd have something amazing done, ended up being made up to be a witch with rice crispy warts stuck on my face."

The New York set being built at the Granada Studios Tour, Manchester. June 15, 1988 (Mirrorpix)

Tracy Finch said: "It was a fun place to work."

Patricia Clegg commented: "Won tickets from Piccadilly radio to go down the cobbles."

The opportunity to walk down the cobbled street and immerse yourself in all things Coronation Street was a massive selling-point of the tour.

Corrie fans could also visit sets were interior scenes were shot, such as Jack and Vera Duckworth's lounge.

Upon entering the attraction, many will remember being treated to a bustling New York street set, complete with yellow cabs and neon signs.

The shop from Sooty & Co. and a mock-up of the bar from Emmerdale' s Woolpack were also featured and you could enjoy a trip down Baker Street - Sherlock Holmes’ set - and a set of the House of Commons.

The Coronation Street set at the Granada Studios Tour, Manchester. June 15, 1988 (Mirrorpix)

But by 1999, visitor numbers had dwindled and it shut its doors to the general public, although it continued to welcome visitors as part of hospitality packages until 2006, when it closed for good.

Between 1988 and 1999, it had attracted over five million visitors, but at the time owners Granada Media believed it had lost its pulling power.

Join our Greater Manchester history, memories and people Facebook group here.

The number of visitors was 30 per cent less than expected, the drop coming as Granada Media moved away from leisure and entertainment.

In December 1999, the tour closed to the general public, with the loss of more than 200 jobs.

In 2013, the Coronation Street set moved to a new home at Trafford Wharf Road after 53 years.

The new site at MediaCityUK took two years to complete and is a painstaking recreation of the original Weatherfield street that had always been based at Granada Studios in Manchester.

Granada Studios Tour winners enjoy a ride on the tram down Baker Street. Pictured L-R clockwise: Miss Kim Lord of Burnage, Sybil Wallman of Salford, Miss Margaret Fleet of Cholton, Kevin Fleming of Stretford, David Hurst of Wigan, Christopher Hollinghurst of Middleton, Nigel Morris of Warrington, Stewart Howarth of Denton, Majorie Stone of Manchester and Jean O'Sullivan of Whitefield. Picture taken July 19, 1988 (Mirrorpix)

But the Coronation Street set that was part of the original theme park was temporarily re-opened to the public in 2014 for a six-month period and saw more than 850,000 people travel from all over the world to walk the famous cobbles.

Due to being so phenomenally popular, it was allowed to remain open until the end of 2015.

In 20 months, the site saw proposals, weddings and even Ed Sheeran perform a live gig at Carla's flat.

In 2016, The Granadaland Gallery gave one last glimpse behind the scenes at the TV studios before they are redeveloped into new cultural Quarter St John's.

Did you ever go on the Granada Studio Tour? Let us know in the comments section below.

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