The closure of Granada Studio Tours (GST) at the end of 1999
has enabled Granada to undertake a major expansion of the current
set at the western (Rovers) end of the site. Work isn't complete
yet, but this page gives you an idea of developments.
As you walk up the street towards Rosamund
Street with Audrey's hair salon on your left and the Rovers on
your right, you'll see the new Health Centre in front of you on
Rosamund Street:
This was the old Grafitti club,
which has been derelict for over 10 years. Tucked in the corner,
painted red is the fabled Jackson's Chippy - home to a thousand
dinners for Ivy Tilsley, simply home for Stan Ogden.
In reality, the Health Centre building houses the GST gift
shop and an excellent multimedia display which used to introduce
visitors on GST to Coronation Street.
Turning more to the right you
can see the 'new' Rosamund Street viaduct:
This isn't a real viaduct, just a facade with a clever
optical illusion making it appear like a complete viaduct. It's
been placed there to enable camera shots up Rosamund Street whilst
hiding the main Granada office block behind the Street set (you
can just see the top of it). There's a new ginnel on the right
to allow you to get to the back of the Rovers and the back alley.
Don't ask why it doesn't tower over the backs of the
houses in Coronation Street, and don't ask why Maudsley Street
and Crimea Street have disappered !
Turning round to look down Rosamund
Street, you can see the new buildings on Victoria Street:
We've seen Roy's Rolls and D&S Hardware open, the
new Elliott's butcher's shop will open very soon. Above the shops
are flats and we will see some familiar faces in them before too
long.
Looking up Victoria Street, on
the right you can see a new set - a builder's yard. The sign above
reads "WILL'S BUILDERS MERCHANTS". This backs onto the
bookies on Rosamund Street (you can just see the edge of it on
the right hand side).
On the left of Victoria Street
with it's corner with a new street - Central Street - there's
another new shop and flat unit. We don't yet know what it will
be used for yet - any information would be gratefully received.
If you turn round the other way
and look down Victoria Street, you will see it ends in a large
pair of red doors - the entrance to Nuttall's Brewery. To the
left, just out of shot and at the back of Audrey's salon is Streetcar's
office with Steve and Vik's flat above.
Finally back on the Street itself, a current shot of
Rita's little empire:
Thanks to Barry
Smith, Steve Marshall and Mike Plowman for the photos
