Comments
Name: Mark Griffiths.
Comment: This department store drew customers in from far and wide and made Leytonstone a decent shopping centre. I don't know when it closed (it looked long gone by the time I moved there in 1989) and a McDonald's drive-in now occupies the site.
Name: Mark Lusty
Comment: This was an amazing store as a child, it had the best Santa that was a must-see for anyone in the area. Have not been back there for years but this is a great memory. A decade ago I passed through Leytonstone and it's changed beyond belief (not in a good way).
(2021)
Name: Julir Schier
Comment: My mum worked at Bearman's in the haberdashery department when she first left school - I agree with Mark Lusty. Visiting Santa at Bearman's was amazing as a kid. We happened to go one year just as Santa was arriving at the store. They did such a good job.
I remember being shown to our seats for the journey to see Santa. It was like we were on a tube train (although we were inside the store) you could see outside the windows and it was as if we were going really fast through space!
I wish I had a video to show people, but this was over 50 years ago! Absolutely wonderful! When Bearman's closed, Leytonstone lost its appeal sadly.
(2022)
When I was there my name was Janet Bowman. I remember Miss Blackwall and Mr Chessman as the management. There were nine of us in the display team: Shirley, Sheila, Sally-Ann, Lynn, Sandra, Ann, Julie, Sally.
There also was a ticket office on the roof where they printed their window price tickets and silkscreened the posters.
Christmas was great fun putting together Santa's grotto and ride (I also remember that when I was a child).
Would be interested to hear if anyone else has the same memories of this time.
https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/10112446.bearmans-department-store-remembered/
... that says: "People from all over east London flocked to Bearman’s, buying a wide range of products, including vinyl records, toys and clothes."