The Central Arcade is situated in the Exchange Buildings: " ..a grand triangular composition between Market Street, Grey Street and Grainger Street, probably designed by Wardle, and built by Grainger c1837 as the Central Exchange and News Rooms. The three corners are rounded with ribbed domes on emphatic columned drums. Nash's London schemes seem to have been the inspiration for the composition (West Strand improvements of the 1830s) and for the finials of bronze feathers on each dome( Sussex Place of 1822). The Central Arcade, with its glorious profusion of yellow and brown faience, was cut through in 1906 by J.Oswald & Sons; paving by Rust's Vitreous Mosaics of Battersea." ( Sir Nikolaus Pevsner et al " The Buildings of England"). The Arcade is home to J.G. Windows, the finest music shop in the North of England and from whom I purchased my guitar and sheet music as well as many LPs, cassettes and CDs over a period of many years; long may...
Read moreThis small but exquisite Victorian arcade is one of the finest historic buildings in the North East of England. The stained glass ceiling and the tiny mosaic tiled floor is absolutely stunning. The trippy colours are simply gorgeous. This is a unique building that is always kept immaculately clean and well preserved. Personally I think it's the most beautiful building on Tyneside. It houses several interesting shops the main one being JG Windows an expensive but very classy music store that sells all kinds of musical instruments, sterios as well as Vinyl records, DVDs and CDs. It's worth a walk around even if you don't intend to...
Read moreI came here with my friends Monty, Harry and Baxter last Tuesday but we couldn't find any arcade machines. My dad supplied me with a bag of 2p coins to spend on the fruities but the closest thing to a fruit machine was a floral handbag on the floor. We ended up spending a few hours playing tag in the building. The subway store supplied dry meatballs and the water wasn't as ice cold as we thought. The Cex store has some naughty 18+ films which we asked a stranger to buy us. My friend Molly said she would like to go with me next month so I'm...
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