A POPULAR deli and butchers shop is enjoying a new lease of life in St Helens after a turbulent time in the town.
Selling a wide range of high-quality meats and fresh-to-go options, the Womble Inn has become a popular business after opening in the Hardshaw Centre a week before lockdown in 2020.
Despite the awful timing, socially distanced queues quickly formed down the town's shopping centre as the key worker team remained open throughout the pandemic.
Subsequently, there have also been difficulties with the cost of living crisis and negotiations to leave the soon-to-be-demolished Hardshaw Centre, but after a series of delays, the Womble Inn finally opened the doors of its new shop on Church Street on Wednesday, May 8.
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Speaking previously to the Star, Womble Inn owner Dave Woods shared his apprehension about the forced move as the business had such a prime location next to the bus station on Bickerstaffe Street.
Dave, who opened the first 'Womble Inn' in Newcastle-under-Lyme 50 years ago, said that if the decision was up to him, the business "wouldn't be moving" because of this passing trade.
However, despite the delays and costs that have come with moving the business across town, Dave and the team are extremely pleased with how the switch has gone so far.
Dave, 78, from Leyland, said: "We were always busy in the Hardshaw Centre and everyone knew exactly where we were, so I wasn't sure about the move at first.
"But I've got to say we are very busy here already. We moved out on Saturday 4th and opened on Wednesday 8th, so it was a quick turn around.
"All of our customers have followed us across and we seem to have attracted new customers along the high street.
"We've been getting queues out of the door and some people have even said they're glad about the move because it's much more convenient here than in the Hardshaw Centre."
With the Womble Inn known for its high-quality meats, cooked breakfasts, tasty sandwiches, and chicken specials, the move across to Church Street has also afforded the business to widen its menu and food counter even further.
And while the unit's refurbishment has come at a cost for the business, Dave sees the move as being beneficial in the long run, as regeneration plans start to take effect in St Helens town centre.
Dave added: "The council has helped us out with the move, but we have forked out a lot of money ourselves to get ourselves up and running.
"So I'm glad the business has started off well because we need more and more people coming in to repay that money, and I do think the move will benefit us in the long term."
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