Looking back at our past always brings on a bit of nostalgia. In Malta, our past blessed us with so many interesting venues where laughs were shared and, most importantly, memories were made - some of which don't exist anymore. Here's our tribute to them - a list of the spots we enjoyed way back when.

1. Ice-skating rink

Down in Paceville, just by the Eden Cinemas, once stood the coldest of venues, where ice was the main attraction. No, it never snowed in Malta, but we did once have an ice-skating rink! You’d see little kids and fully grown adults skate for hours, some would hold onto the rails and make their way around the rink while others would twirl in the centre - show offs.

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2. DVD rental shops

Before Netflix, Amazon Prime and Android Boxes made their way to our shores, any source of Hollywood entertainment had to be sourced from the local DVD Shop. You’d have to wait ages till the ‘new releases’ made their way to the shelves and you’d even have to pay an extra fee for the luxury of watching a three-month-old blockbuster - but it was still pretty fun! Sick days had to be planned out well in advance though.

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3. The Baystreet Games Room

The Baystreet ‘games room’, as it was called, was epic! Any '90s kid would spend hours upon end shooting baskets to get a reel of tokens exchangeable for assorted treats. From bubble gum to super gadgets, Whack-a-Mole and air hockey had nothing on the pros!

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4. Kodak shops

Print. A dying art. Every Sunday outing with your family or friends resulted in a photo reel being fully exhausted with all the lovely memories of the day - you never quite knew how they’d turn out - that is until you took them to the nearest photo developer… the anticipation was unreal.

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5. Wimpy

Something kids of the 80s will remember - the classic Wimpy burger. The Gzira promenade was a tad more interesting when the original quarter pounder graced our take away options. As this fast food eatery’s tagline clearly stated, ‘Everyone loves a Wimpy burger!’ - if you’ve never tried one; you're missing out!

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6. Magic Kiosk

This green aluminium structure is a lost gem in the heart of Sliema. Although Magic Kiosk may not entirely fit in with the architectural scheme of the busy city, the vibe was so magical. This was a frequently visited spot on my granddad’s list, not because the food was the greatest around, but everyone loved it! If memory recalls, there were trees inside the restaurant - but that might be the wonder of childhood playing tricks on me.

7. RompAround

A kiddie haven that only closed recently, RompAround was a giant play area where little kids were free to roam and roll around in the ball pits that once were. This Swatar-based kidzone was most popular with young mums who wanted to treat their well behaved kids with a good hour of fun!

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8. Sabor

Ahh, this may not be a huge loss for many as Paceville’s clubs were pretty selective - not by the bouncers or anything like that, but by the crowds. You were either a Sabor-goer or you weren’t, point blank. It was a staple spot for a few of the cool kids who’d start their weekly boozer at Peppermint Park and somehow stumble up the narrow stairs of what is now known as Burlesque.

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9. TGI Fridays

Birthdays will never be the same with TGI Fridays out of the scene. These wild guys would get up on the tables, blast the in-house music to the typical ‘happy birthday’ tune and give their performance to your over eager parents who thought a celebratory tune was vital for the blushing 15-year-old at the head of the table. Their ribs were killer too.

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10. The original Crystal Palace

Complaining about pastizzi is something I, as an avid supporter of the local grease-filled treat, will never tolerate. But the authentic Crystal Palace had that special something that we’ve sadly lost. Our late night bingers and Sunday morning cheats will never quite pack that same moreish feeling.

For some, these are things we miss, while for others, they may be things we can’t quite remember since we might not be old enough to do so! Still, there were so many things in our past that brought a smile to our faces - at least we have the memories.