The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the retail and hospitality hard, but with restrictions lifting it has given some businesses an opportunity to open new ventures.
From bakeries to pubs, there has been an influx in new businesses in Southport. It has varied from independently owned ventures to big chains returning to the town.
Southport has prided itself on tourism over the years, with people coming from near and far to visit the seaside resort and the new influx in businesses is paving the way.
READ MORE: Man followed mum out of Aldi store after realising she couldn't pay for shopping
The future seems bright for the town, with many people already seeing the rejuvenation take place across the resort.
The Cake Corner
The Cake Corner has become an instant hit with the people of Birkdale. The cake shop on Liverpool Road only opened on July 3 and has sold out almost everyday the shop has been open.
The shop, opened by 20-year-old self-taught baker, Leanne Prescott, was opened after her Instagram page attracted 6,000 followers.
The business was initially set up from her home, with an extension then being needed after business picked up.
Leanne has now been able to employ two of her best friends as she continues to feed Southport with her homemade cakes and brownies.
The Woollen Pig
The Woollen Pig, opened by the former manager of the Cheshire Lines, has proven to be a massive success.
The bar and tea room has taken over what used to be a salon on the corner of Duke Street and Cemetery Road, across the road from the now shut down George pub.
It has proven to be a "lockout" almost every night, and the owner, Vici Bradshaw, even named the bar after her two rescue dogs.
The bar is set to evolve further, with the introduction of an outdoor cinema on the horizon.
Royales
The live music venue is a new bar aimed at bringing the South end of Lord Street alive.
The bar has been opened by the team behind Retro Bar, although the bars are worlds apart. Royales has opened with reasonable prices and live music twice a week.
The bar also hosted it's first opera night on Tuesday July 27, and has an acoustic n ight every Tuesday with many local professional and up-and-coming musicians from guitarists to saxophonists, singer songwriters and ukulele players - hosted by local talent.
Southport Market
Southport Market has just reopened after seeing the units empty over the years.
Now the market has opened with a new look and an emphasis on food and drink, with the only retail unit being Blackhurst's Butchers due to it being the lone survivor, and long term tenant, at the market.
The market seems to have had a successful opening weekend, with people sharing reviews across social media.
The new look market has a centred bar ran by the owners of the Bold Hotel, the Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group, and has food venues that feature cuisine from across the world.
The Golden Monkey
The Golden Monkey has recently opened on Station Road in Ainsdale next door to Graysons Sandwich Bar, also owned by the same couple.
It has become a massive success with them having a wide range of beer on draught and even having cocktails on draught.
The bar only opened on June 11 but has already managed to create a strong following with many people taking to social media to highlight how good the independent bar is.
Kellen's Kitchen
Kellen's Kitchen has opened just outside of Kellen's butcher's, a family owned independent butchers that supply various restaurants and cafes throughout the town.
The new venture from the independent butchers has seen a static food trailer being placed outside the butchers shop on Upper Aughton Road and people raving about the food.
The van sells a variety of burgers and grilled food with it proving to be a popular vender already.
One Below
The new discount store has opened in the former Poundworld site on Chapel Street with it having stores across Merseyside already.
The £1-or-less shop has proven to be favourite for people across the region, with it originally being started by the owners of Poundworld before being sold to an American company.
The store features branches in Bootle, St Helens and St John's Shopping Centre.
The Southport store has only recently opened, with it first opening its doors to customers on July 9.
The Fragrance Shop
The Fragrance Shop is a well known brand to most and has recently opened a new branch on Chapel Street in Southport.
The chain features 200 stores across the country and is a welcomed addition to Chapel Street.
The shop was established in 1994 and, according to their website, is now the UK's biggest fragrance retailer.
The shop will be sure to challenge the likes of Boots and Superdrug in the town centre.
What's next?
Beales department store became a favourite for people in Southport until its closure in March 2020 after the company struggled to find a buyer. They then went into liquidation leaving one of the bigger units on Lord Street vacant.
It has now been announced that Beales is returning to its old unit with new owners. The department store is set to reopen its doors on August 12, with another local business, Remedy, getting involved with a café in Wayfarers Arcade connected to the shop.
Southport is set to see more shops come in the near future with a Tesco being confirmed to take on a space next to Southport Train Station.
Another vacant space in the centre is the former BHS building that has left a sizeable gap in Southport. The building is set to be transformed into affordable apartments with the ground floor being turned café/restaurant subject to Sefton Council approving the planning application.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
