How Eltham High Street has changed over the last 15 years

Eltham High Street has changed a lot over the last decade and a half, from loved shops like Woolworths vanishing from the high street to the construction of a brand new cinema.

We’re looking back over some of the big changes that Eltham High Street has had over the years and the shops that were once there.

The Vue Cinema

One of the biggest changes to the landscape of Eltham High Street in the last five years was the addition of a new cinema.

Located between 169 – 179 Eltham High Street, this area was where the Poundland formerly stood, before it was eventually bought out by Greenwich Council in 2016 with hopes to “reinvigorate” the area and to increase footfall.

The three-storey building dating back to the 1930s was demolished and rebuilt to include a six-screen cinema owned by Vue, along with the addition of a Pizza Express and a Nando’s on the ground floor.

All three businesses were opened by October 2020 following three years of construction work.

The former Woolworths

Number 173 – 179 Eltham High Street was once occupied by UK high street chain Woolworths.

A firm favourite with many in its day, Woolworths was a part of Eltham High Street until it eventually shut in 2009, when all its 897 remaining stores closed.

According to Google, between September 2009 to September 2015 the unit was taken over by the 99p store before being taken over by Poundland from June 2016.

Today the unit is occupied by Poundland as well as Pep & Co Fashion.

The Blockbuster video shop

Way before the days of Netflix or Prime, anyone wanting to watch a new film would have to rent them out in person.

Blockbuster, with its recognisable blue and yellow shop front, was a part of Eltham High Street for years, located at number 234-240 until 2009, before it was taken over by J&S accessories.

Debenhams becoming TK Maxx

For many years Eltham High Street housed a Debenhams store at number 113 in the middle of the high street, next to M&S.

The store was a part of Eltham High Street right up until January 13, 2018 when the store closed its doors forever.

Eventually, the unit was taken over by TK Maxx, who opened the new store in October 2018, just nine months after the closing of the former Debenhams.

The former Dorothy Perkins

Located at number 79 Eltham High Street, Dorothy Perkins occupied the space for around six years from 2008 until 20014.

By November 2020 the brand went into administration and was eventually bought out by Boohoo, with the business going online, leading to the closure of its remaining stores.

The unit was vacant up until June 2016, when it was taken over by Tigana Shoes until August 2017, and was then taken over by Snappy Snaps from April 2018.

Avery Fabrics

For 35 years Avery Fabrics, locally referred to as Avery’s, was a part of Eltham High Street selling soft furnishings, textiles, curtains and bespoke interior design.

But in a Facebook post in September 2015, the business announced the closure of the store after over three decades on the high street.

Eventually the unit at 210-214 Eltham High Street was taken over by Kaspa’s Desserts from August 2016, serving a range of ice creams, desserts and sweet treats.