Four Generations Hit 'Best Vintage'

He led us down the Bigg Market, past the fortune teller's gipsy caravan and market stalls and restaurants where the wafting aroma of fresh coffee mingled with curry.

We turned off along a cobbled back lane, the oldest in Newcastle, where the street sign said 'High Bridge, Grainger Town.' On our right, sandwiched between two pubs and opposite a tattoo parlour, sat 'Best Vintage.'

The sign outside said, 'Best Vintage, mens and womens 60's, 70's & 80's vintage clothing'. Displayed in the window was a gold sparkly mini dress teamed with a pair of black bovver boots.

So four generations of shopaholics stepped inside and Son No. Two disappeared straight upstairs to Menswear.

It's the kind of cosy place you walk in and you just stand there and catch your breath sharply and your jaw drops whilst the shop wraps itself around you. It's so light and bright and you're lost in a myriad of colour.

There were rails with long floaty summer dresses, gorgeous ball dresses, glittery knitwear, embroidered blouses. I picked out a stunning green top decorated with iced pink dancing butterflies.

Everything was so beautifully displayed. Hanging all alone was an eye-catching, scoop neck, cornflower blue silk party dress, glistening under the lights and pressed to perfection.

We were astounded as everything was so reasonably priced, the only downside being that, as this is a vintage shop, items come in one size only. They are also environmentally friendly, offering a unique customisation service to create new, one off pieces.

Halfway up the stairs, we stared at a display in a recess of a waterfall of rainbow coloured scarves arranged in the background, showcasing a fitted, blue and white floral dress with a nipped in belted waist in the foreground. At this point Gran's friend was heard to say, 'It's just like we used to wear back then.'

Upstairs, past Menswear which stocked those wide, silk novelty ties I'm always looking for at Christmas, was the Accessory Room with it's gorgeous smell of leather and suede. This room was crammed full of cowboy boots, leather belts, designer handbags, shoes of every description as well as bargain boxes of scarves and belts to dive into.

Glancing out of the Accessory Room window I saw another interesting shop - 'Retro' just across the cobbles. Someone pointed out that in this very same back lane are also 'Union' and 'Skirt'.

Much, much later we stood blinking on the cobbles next to the smokers from the pub next door. As the afternoon sun glinted on our shopping bags, all four generations agreed we'd be back next weekend...