Newbury memories in pictures: The Kennet Centre
When a new shopping complex opened in the early 1980s it transformed the look of the town centre and plans are in place to change it once again.
While the debate rumbles on about the proposed Eagle Quarter, which will replace the Kennet Shopping Centre, Newbury Today has dug up some old pictures of when the shopping centre was being built and some of the entertainment enjoyed by shoppers over the years.
During its heyday shops in the centre included Sainsbury's, Debenhams, the Body Shop, Adams and Beatties.
In 1993 a pair of plastic owls were seen 'roosting' on the the Kennet Centre roof in a big to frighten away the pigeons.
The Newbury Weekly News reported at the time that "anxious shoppers seemed more concerned than the pigeons" and that a worker at the Post Office, opposite the Kennet Centre at the time, called in the police.
The centre's management had warned the emergency services and RSPCA that the owls were in place and were only plastic, but they did look quite realistic apparently as they rotated on their turntables.
Entertainment has always been a part of the Kennet Centre experience, especially during the school holidays and maybe you recognise some of the youngsters in these pictures.
What are your memories of the Kennet Centre?
When Sainsbury's moved out TK Maxx took over the empty unit until they moved up to the retail park.
Debenhams moved to Parkway and the look of the centre gradually changed.
The arrival of Vue Cinema led to some restaurants opening up, but developers Lochailort are now hoping to create a completely new look.
Share your memories of the Kennet Centre.
