1978?
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My memories of that ancient Foyles institution is that when you bought a book you got a ticket and then had to pay a grumpy harridan in a kiosk who was Christina Foyle herself before getting your hands on a book !
The only useful thing about WH Smiths these days is that they stock @TheKevsters mag !
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With the āold styleā Foyles, you never knew what you might find in there, and I suspect the staff didnāt either 
I went into Smiths for a diary last week. What was A4 sized is now maybe A5? Also the price was Ā£11.98. Into The Works, A4 sized diary Ā£3ā¦
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Fond memories of meeting my friend for a weeknight pint in Soho, then wandering into Tower for a browse before catching the last Tube home.
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I was in WH Smith in Bluewater/Kent the weekend and saw their vinyl offering. Basically a cardboard tower with Rumours, DSOTM and a few others like that plus a smattering of new stuff, with HMV 50 yards away I dont think they will sell many from that store ā¦
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The Bluewater HMV store is pretty good, they used to have a good range of Jazz vinyl in stock, donāt know if it is still the same but it was always a pleasure to browse the vinyl in there.
As for WHS stocking a small range of classic titles along with a some new music seems a bit pointless to me with HMV so close by.
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My happy place was the basement of the big old HMV Oxford Street store. Blissful peace and quiet after the hurly-burly in the street, calming music, knowledgeable staff, a sense of history (Elgar was at the opening, I believe). The only downside was the inevitable hit to my wallet after a visit.
Roger
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Remember it well, classical behind the sepia windows.
The megastores were awesome, Tower, HMV, Virgin but I donāt miss them one bit. They were (are) just too big. Browsing was like being dropped down in the middle of nowhere without map or compass - where the heck do you start browsing? Give me a small independent shop with an owner who loves music every time. I like to browse the whole shop and chat to the owner. I too remember the HMV classical glasshouse on Oxford Street. Made me feel like Iād not passed enough āOā Levels when I looked in which I think you had to do for āspecialist musicā. Calling something specialist music is like putting up a sign saying keep out pop fans. Late night opening at Tower was great though.
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Us upper- class Classical toffs didnāt want any of the lower orders to invade our superior spaceā¦
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Whereas we just want to dance.
Good grief no.
I would spill my glass of 1996 Chablis.
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That youāve managed not to spill it in 28 years proves my point I think 
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Drinking is the curse of the working classes, dear boy.
And no, not the other way round 