Arriving at the station bridge, I remember being greeted by a Burger King, and the escalators out of the dungeon below, into the dungeon that was the Pallisades shopping centre. Only brightened by the presence of an Electronics Boutique at the top of the ramp down to McDonalds.

How it has changed, the Pallisades replaced by the large open expanse that is Grand Central. To be fair, the views back across the station to Grand Central are stupendous, as are those to the Bullring and more so the Rotunda at the other end.

They ought to be. A coffee will set you almost £4 at and vendor, and expect to spend most £3 on a cookie to go with it. Needless to say I opted instead for a £5 WH Smith’s meal deal, my sandwich accompanied by a grab bag of crisps, and a litre of water for the train. All despite finally locating a pret actually stocking my favourite crayfish sandwich. Best part of £8 for a sandwich, in what felt like a giant freezer, was a step too far, all a world away from my childhood.