Table of Contents
A Liscard couple has offered to do something generous for their customers - to pay for their customers' parking as they fight to stay afloat.
Richie and Hazel Pitt, owners of The Scrapyard on Wallasey Road and The Wellington Music Venue on Seaview Road, have warned both venues could be forced to close within weeks unless things change, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
The couple, who run The Coffee Roast at Vale Park, took over The Scrapyard from the previous owner and have invested in the venue, which doubles as a restaurant and bar.
In a poignant statement, they said: "There comes a point where you have to be honest."
They continued, "We've spent thousands creating spaces we hoped our community would be proud of. Have we got everything right? No. We've made mistakes, listened to feedback and worked hard to improve."
They outlined the financial pressures facing independent venues, including energy bills, VAT, business rates, rent, staff wages, insurance, stock costs, brewery invoices and licensing costs.
"We're not a big chain with shareholders or a head office," they said. "We're a local family trying to keep two independent venues alive. The truth is this – if people don't use us, we won't survive."
Richie, who is local, had previously spoken of his excitement when taking on The Scrapyard, describing it as a "no-brainer" to continue the venue's reputation as a "unique hotspot" in the community to the Echo.
Now, in a bid to boost footfall, the couple are covering parking costs for customers. They said: "If parking has ever put you off visiting Liscard, let us take that excuse away. When you visit The Scrapyard, we'll pay for your parking. It doesn't matter which car park you choose to use, we'll cover it."
Customers need to take a photo of their parking ticket on the day to claim the offer.
The couple also challenged negative perceptions of Liscard, pointing out the town centre has over 500 parking spaces within a short walk to their businesses and where the action is. They said: "We also hear people say there aren't any decent shops left in Liscard. We understand why people feel that way, but if we keep telling everyone that Liscard is dead, has nothing to offer, and isn't worth visiting, who in their right mind is going to invest here?"
The Wellington Music Venue is popular in Wirral's live music scene, as it hosts performances by locals and touring artists across genres. It has been a music venue for a few months now, and was formerly The Duke Of Wellington pub.
The couple urged residents: "Come and visit. Park where you want. We'll pay for your parking. Have a drink, have some food, and support a local independent business. If enough of us start backing Liscard instead of writing it off, we might just help bring our town centre back to life."
