Then and Now: The lifts at the Beechwood Centre/John Lewis, Cheltenham

Filmed in 2014, 2015 and 2019. The Beechwood shopping centre was opened in Cheltenham High Street in 1991 in the site of the former old Woolworths. The shopping centre was home to a very nice atrium with a little stream, bridges and plants. The main lifts in the centre were 90's Schindlers, which look to have had their buttons replaced in the 2000/2010's with Dewhurst - not sure what buttons were there orignally. Those lifts were really nice to ride, full intelligent, Miconic and one of them did very quick pre-doors. Along with those, there was also a little glass Evans hydraulic serving the ground floor and balcony only. The floor numbering was as follows: Ground, Balcony, then Car park levels 1-3. Car park level 4 wasn't accessible via the lifts. In 2016, the shopping centre closed after 25 years of service. In late 2018, John Lewis opened their shop in the same site as the former Beechwood centre, after 2 years of rebuilding. The shop is now home to 2 very nice 4th gen Ecodiscs which replaced the original Schindlers. These lifts have KSS 570 with the LCD display-style indicator. The shop no longer has a "balcony" level or atrium, or a glass lift serving the shopping floors only; the shopping floors are on 0 and 1, and car park levels go from 2 to 4. Ngl, I do really like the newer Ecodiscs, however I do miss the older classics.

[@Morgansliftadventures]

R.I.P Schindlers, heard that voice on an Express recently.

[@MichalM]

CE Electronics voice!

[@LGCT]

Even though the Ecodiscs are Very Nice, I prefer the Original Evans and Schindler Lifts. In the Schindler Lifts the inner Buttons Near the Doors would of possibly been Older Dewhurst Buttons or Schindler M Buttons before they were Replaced with Modern Dewhurst.

[@lovelifts1736]

I agree, I'd take the Schindlers/Evans over the Ecodiscs any day (even though I love Ecodiscs lol) 🙂

[@LIFTEXCELSIOROfficial]

That's a very tasteful shopping centre design. Such a shame it was gutted out. Although to be honest, I'm flabbergasted to say I would prefer the KONEs. Idk why for sure, probably just my modern taste.

[@lovelifts1736]

Fair enough, ngl the Ecodiscs are very nice indeed. That shopping centre is a thing of nostalgia, as I've been in that centre quite a few times. I especially loved exploring the atrium and riding the escalators as a kid 🙂

[@harrisonhealey1679]

It’s a shame that old Evan’s is gone, I did like the way they always had a nice loud motor noise and added character. Is that Evan’s replaced with a nice brand or something bad?

[@LGCT]

The Evans Lift unfortunately has been completely ripped out.