Womble Inn to relocate to St Helens town centre high street

The Womble Inn is set to move into an empty premises on Church Street, St Helens.

As previously reported, the Hardshaw Centre will be demolished next year as part of the town centre regeneration strategy.

Relocations

Already, the likes of Bon Marche, Infinity Occasions and Shoezone have relocated and opened premises in Church Square shopping centre.

Some businesses - such as The Country Kitchen have closed their doors - however, the Womble Inn, described as a barbecue chicken specialist, is advertising that it will be taking a premises on Church Street, near to the Pound Bakery and Greggs.  

Operating as a North West family business for almost 50 years, the Womble Inn's first St Helens shop was opened in the Hardshaw Centre in 2020, just a week before the coronavirus lockdown.

Despite the awful timing, the butchers remained open as they were classed as key workers, and they quickly developed a loyal clientele.

Speaking to the Star in December last year, Chris Woods, one of the managers at the Womble Inn, said: "Thankfully, we stayed open throughout the whole pandemic, so we became very popular very quickly.

"There used to be queues right down the centre, and I think remaining open at that time helped us build a very good base in a short space of time."

Back then, Chris confirmed that the shop will be moving into another unit in the town centre, adding: "It's a new venture so you never know what you're going to get.

'One really busy area'

"But I think it makes sense to have one really busy area, like an old-fashioned town centre, rather than having empty shops across different areas. So hopefully it all comes off.

"We have a 10-year lease with the council, and they have been very good with us. They've kept the rent the same as the Hardshaw Centre and will help with the transition to the new shop."

The relocation of business has filled empty units in Church Square, help to consolidate a key retail zone in the heart of the town centre.

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Although the plight of the town centre remains the focus of criticism from sections of the St Helens public, council officials at the local authority-owned shopping centre have since witnessed an increase in footfall in recent months.

The council, meanwhile, continues to push on with its long-term development plans with partners the English Cities Fund.

Long-term development plans

Demolishing the Hardshaw Centre, although retaining the building that housed the former M&S, will create space for the construction of a new food & drink market (similar to one created in recent years in Warrington), a new bus station, hotel, office space, residential area and retail space.

Discussing the regeneration plans, earlier this year St Helens Borough Council said: "The footprint of the Hardshaw Centre forms a key part of the first phase of redevelopment which will see a wide avenue opening up the space from an improved bus station to the heart of Church Square."

“The purchase of the Hardshaw Centre – alongside purchase of several other properties in the area – paves the way for the creation of new high-quality office spaces and homes, an international hotel brand, a revitalised market hall and an enhanced bus station.

"It is now nearly 30-years since St Helens Bus Station was last improved to form the current heavily constrained footprint and poor appearance.

"A new and extended bus station that will future-proof the provision of bus services and act as an attractive arrival point in St Helens town centre is a core component of the Masterplan, delivering a more accessible public transport network to connect communities across the borough and drive sustainable footfall into the town centre."