Ideal Home Exhibition Birmingham

I like the Christmas Ideal Home at Olympia. No the gadgets and furniture but the cheap market upstairs.

My memories of Ideal Home are from Glasgow. I remember the food section, where we tried the new "invention" of fruit flavoured yoghourts, and kiwi fruits. With all of the samples, we did not need lunch! And mum bought a battery operated tin opener, which dad said was a waste of money.

Oreo

Birmingham is not what it was sadly, like many other city centres.
The NEC is awful too, the last time I went, the crowds, the noise and the litter!

Shame, I was thinking of going to Tutankhamun experience now on, but perhaps not...

NanKate

Maybe I regularly used to visit Lewis’s roof where there was a so-called Zoo. Just a few rabbits etc. At that time we lived about 4 miles from the centre of B’ham and at the age of 11 I was allowed to catch the bus into town on my own and I would go to the cafe in Lewis’s and buy an orange squash and a chocolate cake which had a face in it 😉

I think that is why at the age of 79 I am perfectly happy going out for coffee on my own, where my friends say they would never do that.

I also remember Lewis' in Birmingham and also lived about 4 miles from the city centre.

Mum and I went to the Ideal Home Exhibition several times, at the NEC.

Went once to the Earl's Court exhibition on a school trip, why take a group of 15/16 yr olds there? We were all bored stiff, most exciting part was the train journey!

We used to go to the one in Belfast. Mum bought odd things, a nit comb and home barbers set. I also remember little disks you deep fried and they turned into delicious crisps. There was always an Erin soup stand and they gave out mini cups of potato soup. I had a brand new anorak on and spilled my soup down the front!

For this Glasgow lassie, the exhibitions were in the Kelvin Hall, where I went with my mother when I probably was nine or ten.

Later, after the Scottish National Orchestra had been founded, I went to a concert with my first boy friend in the Kelvin Hall. I know we heard Brahms' Academic Overture, but I do not remember what else was on the programme.
I was fifteen then, and only allowed to go alone with him because my mother both drove us there and came and collected us.

Can you imagine what a fifteen year old girl and her sixteen year old boy friend would say to that these days?

I never went to an indoor circus, but to tent ones. If I remember rightly the fairground/ circus ground was at Springburn, Anyone else remember if that is correct?

Does anyone remember when they sold coloured bread? Eg pink, blue etc. As I remember it was on a stand just inside.

Birmingham is not what it was sadly, like many other city centres.
The NEC is awful too, the last time I went, the crowds, the noise and the litter!

I think us Brummies all have lovely memories of Lewis’s. Strange in a way that a department store can do that. We had a small department store in Hockley called Nortons and I always remember gazing longingly at the toys in the window before Christmas. Sometimes Santa shopped there and got some for me.

What a lovely picture Maybe. It reminds me that mum took my sister and I to Lewis’s one Christmas to meet Father Christmas. It was magical because they opened a door and there was a large sleigh inside, we all piled in they closed the doors and there was Christmas music and I thought the sleigh was moving. Then it stopped and the doors on the other side of the sleigh opened up and there was Father Christmas with small gifts. I really believed I had travelled to see him. Magical memories.

Used to go almost every - bought a beautiful chandelier for our new home , from there

I went to the Ideal Home Exhibition in Earls Court with DH in 1981, the year after we got married. It was very crowded and hot, but I did enjoy it. I don't think we actually bought anything as we didn't have much spare cash and lived in a small flat with not much space for gadgets!

My parents went to the Exhibition in 1948, the year they got married. Mum bought a pasty blender, wooden handle with a semi-circle of wires attached to incorporate the fat with the flour. It was one of the few bits and pieces that I asked for when Mum died.

I still have it and used it for a few years but the handle got a bit wobbly so it is now "retired" but still lives in the kitchen drawer with its modern replacement. The original yellow paint is still on the handle - in a few places!

NanKate

Maybe I regularly used to visit Lewis’s roof where there was a so-called Zoo. Just a few rabbits etc. At that time we lived about 4 miles from the centre of B’ham and at the age of 11 I was allowed to catch the bus into town on my own and I would go to the cafe in Lewis’s and buy an orange squash and a chocolate cake which had a face in it 😉

I think that is why at the age of 79 I am perfectly happy going out for coffee on my own, where my friends say they would never do that.

My favourite place was the Museum and Art Gallery. We took the children to Lewis’s one Christmas and were so disappointed that Santa no longer had a grotto there. This is me at Lewis’s…I was so desperate to leave Brum as soon as I could but have the fondest of memories of it now. I loved the books about Hockley; in fact I think I’ll start re reading them. There’s a dvd too which I keep planning to get. I’m happy doing things on my own, too, but I put that down to being an only child.

I remember going when in secondary school and winning a prize for selecting the right potatoes for different things. Some of my family were farmers and we certainly knew the different types. I was amazed that there were girls who just thought there were "potatoes" as in one type. I quite enjoyed looking round all the different things but too hot and stuffy for me later, and gardens and plants were more my thing.

We sometimes used to go to the Ideal Home Exhibition, I think it was at Earl's Court. One year we bought one of the first Trimphones. It lived in the bedroom as an extension for when my (ex)husband was on call at night.

I agree NanKate. I was perfectly happy doing similar at 10 and 11. And am the same now at 77. Maybe not the choc cake with a face.

Maybe I regularly used to visit Lewis’s roof where there was a so-called Zoo. Just a few rabbits etc. At that time we lived about 4 miles from the centre of B’ham and at the age of 11 I was allowed to catch the bus into town on my own and I would go to the cafe in Lewis’s and buy an orange squash and a chocolate cake which had a face in it 😉

I think that is why at the age of 79 I am perfectly happy going out for coffee on my own, where my friends say they would never do that.

SandraF

I remember going to the circus in Bingley Hall as well as the Ideal Home exhibition. I can still see the lions in their cage with the lion tamer!

I was going to mention that! I think I worked next to where it used to be when I worked at the housing department when I left school. I loved the coloured fountain. As a child it was pure magic. Oh and Lewis’s roof .

Used to love attending the London Ideal Home Exhibition. Went every year for a very long time. Saw it slowly decrease in size, but still enjoyed a day out there. Did purchase gadgets, some I actually used.......others......no comment.
I would take a packed lunch, get there as it opened, and always had a wonderful day out.

I’d forgotten it was called Bingley Hall. I can visualise it now.

I remember going to the circus in Bingley Hall as well as the Ideal Home exhibition. I can still see the lions in their cage with the lion tamer!

Been to two. Earl’s Court, one at the Trafford Centre.
Couldn’t get round & out fast enough too packed.
No back packs checked on the way in. I just didn’t feel safe.

I loved those dancing waters.
There were also so many demonstrations a bit like the shopping channels now. It was sad when Bingley Hall burnt down.