10 things you will remember about Stoke on Trent if you were born in 2000
From shopping for shoes and being able to play on the Mothercare Tree to seeing the huge Churchill China teapots around the city, see how many of these you can recall...
If you were born in the year 2000 - and especially if you grew up in Stoke-on-Trent during this time - then there will be a few things you will remember fondly.
The mothercare tree
From shopping for shoes and being able to play on the Mothercare Tree to seeing the huge Churchill China teapots around the city, see how many of these you can recall...Every child hates going shopping for new school shoes... except for those born in North Staffordshire during the millennium!
Walking into Mothercare and being able to play with the giant tree was wonderful. It would talk, imitate animals and had a stairway leading to the children toys section upstairs.
When the tree was axed (sorry) in 2009, it was an end of an era.
The olympic torch
London hosted the Olympic games in 2012 and the city of Stoke-on-Trent was filled with excitement when torch bearers ran through Stoke-on-Trent.
Celebrations took place throughout the city and the Olympic flame was carried through the park on the evening of May 30.
Churchill's giant teapots
In 2010 Churchill China Works put inflatable teapots around the city to promote its factory shop.
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Something that seems like a distant memory is remembered by lots of children who saw it when gazing out of the back window of the car.
Knowing every single lyric to every Robbie song
The most famous pop star to come out of Stoke-on-Trent is Robbie Williams. His parents owned the Red Lion pub in Burslem, and everyone born after 2000 has heard a story about Robbie from their parents.
Most 2000 children remember Robbie's solo career and grew up listening to his songs on every radio station.
Most can probably still sing the lyrics to you today.
Quasar
The thrill of chasing your friends around with a laser gun was an exciting activity for the youngsters of Stoke-on-Trent.
When the popular laser tag venue closed at Festival Park, in Etruria, children of the city were saddened. I'm sure everyone remembers playing laser tag on a rainy weekend.
Luckily, in recent years a new laser quest has opened in Newcastle and children and teenagers can relive the fun once known at Fezzy Park.
...But
It was made a little better when Tenpin Bowling started its new Cosmo bowling.
Children would go dressed in all white so they could glow in the dark like the walls, balls and pins as it really added to the bowling experience. So, it wasn't all bad!
Toys R us
A place that opened our minds to the most extraordinary possibilities. A place that filled you with excitement every time you visited bought sadness to us now as adults when it revealed it was closing down.
In 2018 we said goodbye to the beloved store that entertained us a lot as children.
Liquids under 18 nights
Most teens will remember how cool they felt when attending this night time under 18s disco. in Hanley.
Giving young teenagers the chance to dress up and have some fun these Liquid nights were very popular.
It's almost guaranteed that those who grew up in Stoke-on-Trent in the 2000s will remember this club
When Stoke City FC got to the FA cup final
Football fans will remember Stoke City getting to the FA cup final at Wembley in May 2011.
For the first time ever Stoke were in an FA cup final, but unfortunately were beaten by Manchester City 1-0.
The old bus station up 'Anley (and the shopping arcade)
A building that must be a contender for the grimmest building in the area was the old bus station in Hanley.
How times have changed since we stood waiting for a bus in this depressing place.
The bus station was cold, falling down and, frankly, just not very nice.
But everyone remembers waiting for a bus after a day shopping at the Potteries Shopping Centre (as intu Potteries was known as then) .
Now the old bus station and the arcade is just a pile of dust - thankfully.
Tunstall pool
The pool that was a major part of Tunstall shut down for good in 2011. Sad times.
The home to many school swimming trips and the best inflatable water park in the city, I remember spending my weekends bouncing around in the park.
It'd be great to have things like this back in the area.
99p Shop in Newcastle
Everyone loves a good bargain and that's why it was such a disappointment when Staffordshire's 99p shop shut down in Newcastle.
Selling everything in the store for 99p (obviously), it was great for grabbing a well-needed bargain in the town.
Published on Stoke on Trent live in April 2019