Phoenix vegan cafe opens in Prescot after five years in St Helens

Starting out as a vegan food stall, Phoenix Plant Based Eatery launched as the first vegan restaurant in St Helens five years ago, opening up on Corporation Street in 2017.

A lifelong dream of owner Ann-Marie Owens, the eatery moved to a new premises on Bridge Street two years later, but once the pandemic hit, the relocated restaurant was left with little support to sustain or renovate itself.

READ > The market traders on the edge of town that boast unique homemade gifts

Inside Phoenix Plant Based Eatery, on Atherton Street in Prescot town centre (Image: Phoenix Plant Based Eatery)

On top of pandemic struggles, Anne Marie and the team then had to deal with declining footfall figures in the town centre, the potential to be displaced by St Helens' regeneration plans, and a rising cost of living crisis.

So after five difficult years in St Helens, the Phoenix team decided not to renew its lease in the town centre and "rise from the ashes" a few miles away in Prescot.

The vegan cafe has built up a loyal base of customers (Image: Phoenix Plant Based Eatery)

Ann-Marie said: "Over the years, I've had obstacle after obstacle put in my way but never gave up.

"I know how important it is for people to try and adapt their diet for the sake of the animals, the planet, and their health.

"We have struggled to keep going but making a huge profit wasn't important to us, building a community was our goal."

Like other businesses, the cost of living crisis continues to have an impact on Phoenix's profit margins as their electricity and food bills have constantly increased.

However, Ann-Marie said it is "such a relief" that loyal customers from St Helens have followed Phoenix's new venture, which has also attracted a host of new faces since opening in December.

On social media, customers have been full of support for the "amazing" community cafe.

Customers inside Phoenix around Christmastime (Image: Phoenix Plant Based Eatery)

Many have stated they are "so glad" that the business has survived all the hardships it has faced over the years, while others are grateful that the cafe is not too far away from its origins in St Helens.

Hoping the business is through the worst of the crises, Ann Marie added: "The Phoenix has risen from the ashes so many times over the years so we'll try our best to keep going with the support of the public!"