What was the car enthusiast scene like in the mid 90s UK?

Not a lot different from today, but it depends on which part of that very broad subject you are referring to. Overall i'd say there was less diversity in cars and people but greater hands-on tinkering. Before the advent of computers and the lazy, gaming generation, a lot more people had real hands-on mechanical skillsand experience  than the average entuhsiast does today. The best way to learn is to read some old car magazines from the 90's.