Much-loved butty shop going strong in St Helens after 40 years

While the high street has suffered with declining footfall over the years, Pickles Farms Deli and Sandwhich Bar, on Barrow Street, has managed to stand the test of time in St Helens and is commonly banded about as one of the best places to grab a bite in the town centre.

On my visit on a warm Wednesday afternoon, the sandwich shop was bustling at lunchtime, which has just decked out its tables and chairs in an attempt to attract more hungry customers.

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A selection of the menu at Pickles (Image: St Helens Star)

Renowned for their tasty sandwiches on doorstop bread, I enjoyed a mouth-watering Chicken Tikka Melt, equipped with salad, sweet chilli sauce, and jalapenos. 

Speaking to owner Jane Taylor Lawrenson, who also owns two sandwich shops in Leigh, she said that business has been going "really well" despite the difficulties of the cost of living crisis.

A selection of Pickles' popular wraps (Image: Pickles Farms)

Jane, from Newton-le-Willows, said: "We have had to put our prices up accordingly [during the cost of living crisis] because our products have been going up every week, and our electricity bills have shot up too.

"We always take a hit in January too but touch wood, things have been going really well recently and we are quite happy.

"We have just put our tables and chairs outside so we're hoping that more people will notice us from either end of the street and come in."

A selection of pastries on offer (Image: Pickles Farms)

As well as the popular sandwich menu, Pickles also sells a wide selection of pies, pastries, and pasta pots, as well breakfasts and desserts.

Their popular reputation was particularly fruitful during the pandemic, Jane said, as Pickles stayed open throughout and had daily queues down Barrow Street.

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Pickles' pies are also a popular treat (Image: Pickles Farms)

As St Helens gears up for its 'once in a lifetime' regeneration plans, Jane hopes that the sandwich shop can maintain its popular reputation and benefit from the boost that it is hoped to bring.

She added: "We try our best to look after this business, day in and day out.

"I hope we benefit from the regeneration plans and we aren't left behind, and I think our street could benefit from a bit of sprucing up too.

"But we are happy with things at the minute [...] and we are also in the process of getting onto Just Eat for deliveries [to provide a further boost]." 

Pickles Farms, on Barrow Street (Image: St Helens Star)