South Road in Waterloo is known as a destination spot packed tightly with cuisines from around the world.
Those who have ventured into the restaurant business have profited from its newfound reputation. The high street that was once filled with grocers, jewellers, and shoe shops has adapted to the times.
Empty units and the sudden departure of previously dependable household names have made way for restaurants. While the evening trade flourishes there are those who would like to see it continue to operate as a traditional high street and for an equilibrium to be brought back to the road.
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Hoggins is a newly opened Irish pub and restaurant, their second location in the city. Lloyd owner and proprietor of Hoggins said the idea for setting up an Irish pub up came from his daughters' Irish heritage.
He told the ECHO: “We wanted to be in an area close to Old Swan and South Road fits that profile. It is a town within a town.
“It is like a seaside town but it is not, we love the mix of people and a great location near the beach. We have had people coming in saying they have not been to the pub in years and we have only been open a week.”
Lloyd said he thrives on the competition that South Road brings and believes the street benefits from its new reputation. He said: “You can’t have too many Irish pubs or too many bars and restaurants. South Road is a destination spot so if they go to one restaurant the likelihood is that traffic will come over to us.
“We are all there to make sure the others benefit, you have one restaurant with a good reputation then others will follow.”
Nicolas Ristorante has been serving traditional Italian fare on South Road for nearly 50 years. Once a family-run business, the restaurant was taken over by Abidin Yilmaz in 2013.
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The 52-year-old said: “It is surrounded by Litherland, Bootle, and Crosby so everyone from those areas comes down here. Being surrounded by other areas is really good for business It has sort of turned into a Lark Lane and it is now known for its food, which is great”
Nicolas Ristorante's status as the stalwart venue on South Road has remained unchanged. However, Abidin said competition started to intensify around eight years ago.
He said: “There is good competition and the more restaurants the better. When this place first started my old boss had no competition with anybody it was pretty much the only place on the road.
“Seven, eight years ago it started to get this reputation for being a place full of great restaurants. I think it is different further up the road, it can be difficult to park which is a big problem so there are not as many people up there.”
Just up the road from Waterloo station, lies Write Blend bookshop owned by Bob Stone. Upstairs he rents out a shop to fraud manager turned record store owner Allan Deaves.
The pair call themselves the “cultural hub” of South Road and while they welcome that influx of restaurants, they would like to see a more traditional high street once again take hold.
Bob said: “Little by little over the years as shops shut bars and restaurants have taken over. Like everywhere if you have a thriving retail sector people want to come.
“If you don’t then there is really no footfall to be seen and people only come for the restaurants and bars. The road has a different identity during the evening, the days are quiet.”
Bob has worked on South Road for over 30 years and is from Waterloo himself. His bookstore is over the road from the jewellers he started working at in 1989.
The 57-year-old said: “I think things started to change when Woolworths left, little by little shops disappeared. It used to be a thriving retail community like St Johns Road is now.
“South Road has become a destination you have got to want to come here. There are great restaurants down this road but I think we need a little bit more than that.”
Allan Deaves left his job down south to move back to his hometown of Crosby five years ago. A music lover he opened a pop-up record store Collect and Survive in 2019.
He said: “I think South Road has struggled, there was nothing like a record shop when I came home they were long gone. Restaurants are family-run businesses and there is no doubt that they love the restaurant as much as I love this place but I think we could exist together.
“You don’t necessarily need a record shop on a street you can buy them online but I think being here and making a success out of it, is an indication of people's taste. That people do want something that is a bit more of an experience and these kinds of shops can work on South Road.”
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