ON the familiar corner of Windsor Road and Hickman Road in Penarth town centre, there once stood a bright Blockbuster Video outlet – a vibrant hub of weekend browsing for film buffs and families alike.
Before DVDs or multi-choice digital television channels came along, many turned to video hire for their weekend or evening home entertainment. There was a certain level of excitement browsing through the very latest film releases at Blockbuster, or perhaps Super Star Video in Station Approach.
But as video went out of fashion around the start of the new millennium, Blockbuster, and others like them, brought the shutters down all around the UK when the chain entered administration and ceased operations.
After the lights went out and the shelves were cleared, the storefront fell silent. For years, the building lay empty – its doorway bearing the faded outline of the iconic blue-and-yellow Blockbuster sign, a nostalgic echo of home rentals, late fees, and blockbuster hits.
That chapter ended in 2022, when a local entrepreneur who purchased the long-vacant property – drew inspiration from its crossroads location on Hickman Road for its new name. A full-scale renovation transformed the empty shell into something entirely new: a refined, soulful bar and restaurant, now known as Hickmans.
Today, Hickmans exudes understated sophistication. A stunning, top-to-bottom refurbishment created a stylish three-floor bistro-bar, complete with a rooftop terrace and a state-of-the-art kitchen.
But those local residents with long memories, while delighted to see the ramshackle site finally transformed, may just feel a twinge of nostalgia at the passing of the Saturday night video rental Blockbuster era.