Liverpool city centre has been a key hub for shops, restaurants and bars for a long time.
But one street in Merseyside is showing that it can survive and thrive, despite all the challenges and the so-called "death of the high street." Moss Lane, in Orrell Park, is known for its long standing businesses that have served the community for decades, many stating it is because of their loyal regular customers.
More recently, empty premises have been filled with restaurants, bars and new ventures, breathing a breath of fresh air back into the area. Moss Lane is now being described as "on the up", however, some would argue it has always been bustling.
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Moss Lane can be dated back to the 1850s, with the road and the surrounding area of Orrell Park being a place farmers could sell and grow produce. As it developed into the 1900s more landmarks were built, including Orrell Park station (which still stands today) and later the billiard hall which is now home to the Orrell Park Ballroom, and a number of shops.
Over the decades Moss Lane has seen many names leave the street, including Blockbuster video and Carlton Bingo. However today it’s still home to established shops and newcomers. The ECHO visited Moss Lane to speak to just some of the businesses that have managed to keep the high street afloat.
Turkiz restaurant
After being a chef for 10 years, working in busy restaurants on Bold Street, Hadi Rasuli decided to open up Turkiz restaurant on the Lane. The 29-year-old is one of Moss Lane’s newcomers, after opening the door in June 2022 with his wife Barbara.
Hadi told the ECHO: "It’s been going very well, it’s very popular now. We picked here because there aren’t any other restaurants like this around, so I thought the area needed something like this.
"There’s more in town but it’s easier for people to come here and stay local." Hadi said he particularly likes friendly customers, and added: "They’re good people who come in here with a good mood.
"Everyone always has a nice smile, it’s nice to see people happy. Everyone was very welcoming, even at the beginning we had so much support from the community."
GH Farrer and Sons butchers
One of the longest standing businesses on Moss Lane is GH Farrer and Sons butcher's, run by Chris Farrer. The butcher was passed down to the 49-year-old from his dad, George, who had established the shop in the mid-1980s.
Chris said his dad had a number of butchers but this is the one of the two remaining. Customers range from locals to people travelling from further afield, Chris said: "We get quite a few people who travel from Formby and Southport, it’s all word of mouth.
"There’s not that many butchers around now, so it’s just nice to be able to keep going. I think as long as you put the right product in the shop people will travel for you."
He said there’s a “buzz” around the lane lately, with new openings: "When shops shut down it does have a knock on effect for us but once everyone starts operating and we have the new openings, that seems to have brought more people to the road.
"You have key features like the post office, the chemist, the fruit and veg guy, they are the key elements and the other bars and restaurants add a bit of interest. There seems to be a bit of a buzz to the block at the moment."
Vons Bar
Vons Bar was opened two and a half years ago by Joanne Harwood who recognised the need for such a place in the area. The 41-year-old, from Orrell Park, said: "When you live here and there’s nothing to do you want to help the area, and I’ve always worked in bars myself so it just made sense.
"There’s just nowhere to go in the area, so I wanted to fill the gap. It’s getting into town and back as well, people can’t be bothered doing it anymore.
"We get mostly all local customers and we’ve always been busy since we opened so it just shows how there’s a demand for it. It definitely needed this."
Vons bar is open every day but on Fridays there’s karaoke and there’s also live music, Joanne added: "In the summer we have tables and chairs outside and it’s lovely in the nighttime when it’s nice and cool, and everyone is sitting outside, it’s just really nice."
Natalee’s Fruit and Veg Mini Market
Another longstanding business on the lane is Natalee’s Fruit and Veg Mini Market, which has been open since 1986. Stephen Bennett runs the shop with his wife, Natalee, after it was opened by her dad almost four decades ago.
The 57-year-old said they have worked in the shop since it opened and they bought it from Natalee’s dad some years ago. Stephen said: "There are people who come in here, in their 80s, and they'll say to their husbands ‘I’m just going around to see the kids’ because when we started here we were only young and they still think of us as kids."
He believes the key to the business lasting so long is changing with the times, he added: "There’s not many places left like this, it’s been pretty much the same since it opened but we’ve slightly changed the way we operate because we do home deliveries now as well for the older ones who can’t get out.
"We have generations of family that come in, we’ve had the mum and the daughter, now we’re even getting the granddaughter. The young ones eat differently, you get them going to the gym and wanting to eat healthier but their nan used to come in to just get the tea, the cabbage and spuds.
"The days of a bag of spuds are gone but we’ve just changed with what people want. As long as you’re willing to change there’s no reason why there shouldn’t be more places like this."
Flower Bomb
A previous vacant shop that used to be a florist has recently reopened as a new flower shop. Megan Smith, from Orrell Park, snapped up the opportunity to open on the road.
Her mum Marie Stanton, who also works in the shop said: "We live locally and the shop came available so it more or less came to us really. Now we’ve opened this there’s no empty shops because it’s a nice little community.
"That’s the main attraction is that it’s great for the locals and it’s very community based. I’ve found the locals are made up that it’s opened again as a florist because I know they were a little bit nervous about it being another charity shop, or something they didn’t want. There’s already a couple of them on the road."
Orrell Park DIY
Sid Breeze has only owned Orrell Park DIY shop for three years but the business has been running for more than 20 years. The 60-year-old, from Lydiate, used to work as a sales rep and would regularly visit the shop and old owner Brian before taking over.
He said: "I used to sell light bulbs and electrical bits to Brian and when he retired I decided to buy it. It’s brilliant, it’s a cracking little shopping road. Most of the local people use the road because we’ve got the greengrocers, the butchers, the post office, so it’s got the draw."
Sid’s customers range from tradesmen working on jobs in the area and locals, he said one of the best things about the job is getting to know people.
L9 Lounge Bar
Sports bar L9 has been open for less than a year but has already gained positive feedback from customers. Speaking about why he decided to open the bar, Craig told the ECHO: "I’ve always wanted to do it and I think the area needs it.
"It’s a nice area, we’re something different from the Vale, but I do think it needs more around here, a few more bars and restaurants.
"It’s a good community but it needs a bit of modernising, we need more places like this." Craig said he believes the area needs more investment and said the fact that his bar and other businesses are busy shows the lane is a destination. He added: "It’s stayed the same for years, it is a bit dated but it just needs a bit of livening up.
"It just needs brightening up, the road needs to be more attractive, there definitely needs to be more investment in this area."
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