We’ve all seen ‘only 90s kids will remember’ posts which remind us of the days of tamagotchi, rewinding cassette tapes with pencils, and the joy of playing 3D Pinball on your Windows 95 desktop.
But what about the ‘only 90s kids from Edinburgh will remember’ editions, surely there are nostalgic novelties connected to our wee pocket of Scotland?
Well, indeed there are, and whether you grew up as a millennial or a bit before/after in Gen X or Gen Z, many of these examples will spark fond memories of your time in Edinburgh during this golden age.
Here are eighteen things that you will remember if you grew up in Edinburgh during the ‘90s.
. Legendary parties were in full swing at Little Marcos
If you wanted a cool venue for a kids birthday party then Little Marcos was the first choice. It was Scotland’s first indoors soft play venue which opened in 1980 at Grove Street, it closed in 2008 but welcomed over 1 million kids to play while active. Photo: Submitted
. Visiting the Dinosaurs Alive! Exhibition (it was pure dino-mite!)
This robotic dinosaur exhibition was the first of its kind to come to Britain when it arrived in Edinburgh’s City Art Centre in 1990. Celebrated for being highly realistic, these dinosaur animatronics still live on in our hearts over 3 decades later. Photo: Submitted
. You remember when the Scott Monument looked like a rocket ship
One of Edinburgh’s most prominent landmarks looked very different for a while during the ‘90s. The Scott Monument, Edinburgh’s own ‘Gothic rocket’, was lit up like a rocket ship indeed as it was under scaffolding during the early 1990s. Photo: Joesboy via Canva Pro
. You braved the death-defying flumes of the Commie Pool
Remember the legendary flumes of the Commie Pool? You had to be brave to take them on, especially after talk emerged of the pool’s flumes being ‘laced with razor blades’ but this has been called an urban myth. Either way, your reward for braving the challenge was a hot chippy from Bratisanni’s afterwards. Photo: Submitted
. You had an epic tea for your birthday at Fat Sam’s
The 1920s Chicago gangster-themed restaurant opened up in Fountainbridge in 1986. The burger and steak joint was so popular with families and it always made for an exciting night after you received your “I survived Fat Sam’s” pin. Photo: Submitted
. Saturday nights kicked off with a trip to Blockbuster Video
The Blockbuster brand rose to prominence in the 1990s and their shop on South Clerk Street was one of the biggest in Edinburgh. These were the days before the convenience of Netflix, where you had to not only painstakingly choose your film but then be harassed by your parents afterwards to return it on time lest you pay that £2 late fee. Photo: Submitted
1. Legendary parties were in full swing at Little Marcos
If you wanted a cool venue for a kids birthday party then Little Marcos was the first choice. It was Scotland’s first indoors soft play venue which opened in 1980 at Grove Street, it closed in 2008 but welcomed over 1 million kids to play while active. Photo: Submitted
2. Visiting the Dinosaurs Alive! Exhibition (it was pure dino-mite!)
This robotic dinosaur exhibition was the first of its kind to come to Britain when it arrived in Edinburgh’s City Art Centre in 1990. Celebrated for being highly realistic, these dinosaur animatronics still live on in our hearts over 3 decades later. Photo: Submitted
3. You remember when the Scott Monument looked like a rocket ship
One of Edinburgh’s most prominent landmarks looked very different for a while during the ‘90s. The Scott Monument, Edinburgh’s own ‘Gothic rocket’, was lit up like a rocket ship indeed as it was under scaffolding during the early 1990s. Photo: Joesboy via Canva Pro
4. You braved the death-defying flumes of the Commie Pool
Remember the legendary flumes of the Commie Pool? You had to be brave to take them on, especially after talk emerged of the pool’s flumes being ‘laced with razor blades’ but this has been called an urban myth. Either way, your reward for braving the challenge was a hot chippy from Bratisanni’s afterwards. Photo: Submitted