The Country Kitchen to close for the final time in the Hardshaw Centre

Taking over the old Country Larder space in the Hardshaw Centre ten years ago, the Country Kitchen has become a real community hub over the past decade, and is a friendly and familiar place to grab a hot drink or a bite to eat in the town centre.

Although it is still a popular venue, the Country Kitchen will leave its Hardshaw Centre premises on Friday, March 31 as the shopping centre will soon be demolished to make way for St Helens’ town centre regeneration plans.

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On the opening of the Country Kitchen in 2013 (Image: St Helens Star)

Taking over the business in 2013, owner Kimberley Soni was offered another space to relocate in the town centre, but as the “options weren’t realistic” and she has since moved to London, she turned it down.

As Kimberley also owns Cassandra’s café in St Mary’s Arcade, many of the Country Kitchen team will move over to this café, which will accommodate the closure by extending their opening hours. For some staff members, however, Friday will be their last day in the job.

An 'end of an era'

The Country Kitchen has become a popular town centre eatery over the past decade (Image: St Helens Star)

Jackie McBride, who is originally from Scotland but moved to St Helens 30 years ago, was there when the Country Kitchen opened ten years ago and will be there when it closes for the final time.

“It’s an end of an era”, she tells me, “I think there will be a lot of tears when we close”.

“It’s a lovely place here. There’s a massive community feel [to it] and we see the same faces every day.

“We have had to put some of our prices up [during the cost of living crisis] but none of our customers had any trouble about that. Business has been good recently so I don’t think we would have closed if it wasn’t for the Hardshaw Centre closing.

“But a lot of us work between here and Cassandra’s anyway, so I’m hopeful that a lot of our customers will come over there and support us.”

Country Kitchen a 'real St Helens institution'

John Taylor (left) with some of the Country Kitchen team at Christmastime (Image: St Helens Star)

Speaking to the Star in December, Paul Taylor said it will be a shame to lose the Country Kitchen as it is "a real St Helens institution".

Paul, a manager at the Country Kitchen but will not be making the switch to Cassandra's, said: "We've been open for decades and we know all the customers, who love coming in for a chat and telling us about their life.

"During the pandemic, it was especially tough but we did well with takeouts and it was great to see the friendly faces coming back again.

"We're gutted to be losing the communities that come here and those who we've developed our relationship with."

Owner 'really sad' to see the Country Kitchen go

The Country Kitchen owner, Kimberley Soni (Image: Country Kitchen)

Previously speaking to the Star, owner Kimberley, who grew up in Merton Bank and Rainhill, said: “Basically my lease isn’t up until 2028 and I’m really sad to leave but the options given to me weren’t realistic for the business and since I’ve moved to London, I was kind of pushed towards closure.

“It is sad because our clientele really loves the Country Kitchen, we are a more traditional venue with traditional dishes, and they really love that and I’m sad to think that that’s going to be gone now.

“I love my staff, and obviously we still have Cassandras, but plans moving forward from the council are to close St Mary’s Shopping Centre in Phase Two of the regeneration, so I’m not sure how much longer I’ll have that for either.

Kimberley at the Country Kitchen (Image: Country Kitchen)

“It’s scary, these are my only two businesses, these are my bread and butter. I’m going to have to pay for redundancies as well and the council aren’t helping with that.

“But like I said I love my staff, I have excellent managers in both venues and I’ve told them that if they can find a suitable venue elsewhere then I’ll back them all the way.

“There are fantastic modern businesses opening up, but I feel like what we offer is reassuring and safe to an older clientele and they use the town centre as much as anyone else. I’m still keen to offer a place to them.

Many of the Country Kitchen team will move over to Cassandra's in St Mary's Arcade (Image: St Helens Star)

“So until March 31 we can serve them at The Country Kitchen but after then it will be Cassandras until we can figure out what the next step is.

“I do think exciting things are ahead for St Helens, but at the moment the town centre does look dire. Hopefully with all these plans it will really transform.”