BARBICAN, PLYMOUTH

'The Barbican' is Plymouth's old harbour area and one of the few parts of the original city to escape most of the bombs of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. The Barbican retains some of the architecture and charm of an old fishing town and port.
Originally home to Plymouth's fish market (now relocated to the other side of the harbour) and still home to many fishermen, The Barbican contains a variety of shops and businesses - including sweet shops, art galleries, the Barbican Theatre, some eclectic bars, the Plymouth Gin Distillery, the Dolphin Inn public house, the Admiral MacBride (built on the original Mayflower steps), Cap'n Jaspers burger bar and a gypsy fortune teller named Acora.
Other places of interest include the National Marine Aquarium, the largest aquarium in Britain which boasts one of the deepest tanks in Europe; the Elizabethan House, an old house built in the early 16th century that is now used as a museum; the Mayflower Steps from where the Pilgrims finally set off in the Mayflower for the New World in 1620, which is commemorated in the nearby visitors' centre; and the gallery and studio of the late artist Robert Lenkiewicz, who lived and worked on the Barbican for many years, and derived much of his inspiration from the local people.
The Barbican continues to be the focus of efforts to create a bohemian artistic and street theatre village but despite claims that it has a great deal of underground culture, from live music to story telling evenings and festivals, the project has limited momentum resources or content.Prime sites that could have used for Plymouth's version of Bristol's Arnolfini or performance arts have long since dropped into the hands of speculative developers of bland expensive marina-side apartments which clash with the vernacular style and yearn at best to present a very poor man's Marbella.
Unfortunately from early evening and all day at weekends the area has become a zone attracting vast numbers of predominently young heavy drinkers who the council and police have tried to contain using 'designated area and dispersal zone ' orders. Large numbers of uniformed police and 'riot vans' are a routine sight. The previously idyllic cobbled promenade of the Parade has now been completely filled by the long and dominant feature referred to by locals as the 'chav pens' , a dispiriting decked glass-sided enclosure with large square umbrella covering providing huge all weather space for raucous drinkers.

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★ A local's photos of the Barbican