Southport's Walkers cafe celebrates five years of success with neon flair and community spirit

A quaint café that began its journey with a modest number of tables is now toasting to half a decade of flourishing business.

Nestled in Wesley Street, Southport, Walkers stands out amidst the vibrant and visually appealing storefronts that line the bustling town centre road. Its striking neon pink exterior and inviting light-filled interiors are enough to draw in passers-by, but it's the charm inside that keeps them coming back for more.

The entrepreneurial spirit of Helen and Simon Walker from Birkdale is the driving force behind this beloved café. With no prior experience in running a business, the couple took a leap of faith to start their joint venture, their enthusiasm triumphing over any trepidation of potential setbacks.

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Reflecting on the journey since they first launched Walker's, the duo celebrates the cafe's numerous achievements from the very beginning.

Helen told the ECHO: "It's a great milestone to reach. I can't quite believe it. We've created a really friendly café where everyone is welcome. We started Walkers on Wesley Street with just eight tables and then expanded next door, and now use upstairs as a meeting and function room.

"Now we have 15 tables inside while our nine outdoor tables are very popular during good weather too. Because we are five years old, we have just taken our first delivery of ice cream.

"We are going to be selling a variety of different flavours. We have five flavours at the moment. We are starting slow and are looking to develop."

Neither Helen nor Simon had a business background before taking the plunge to open their first project together but their passion far outweighed their fear of failure. Helen said: "Simon worked in hotels and catering all his life in different capacities but my degree was in early years and I was a lecturer.

"I knew he wanted to buy a unit and start his own business for a while but I was petrified. I was supportive but I thought, 'What are we getting ourselves into?'"

In 2019, the café came to life and Walkers on Welsey Street opened to the public. Helen added: "We just decided to go for it because Simon wanted to buy somewhere for a while and if we didn't do it then we may have never got round to it."

The couple work hand in hand with Simon cooking up a storm in the kitchen and Helen working front-of-house duties. Although they're professionals at this point in their careers, it was a rocky start for Helen. She said: "I wasn't supposed to work here to start with.

"Customers would come in and I didn't even know how to make coffee and they were asking for cappuccinos. It was very daunting to walk away from being a lecturer but I knew I could always go back to it but Simon needed me here and I wanted to help."

In the cafe's early days, the pair worked six days a week from morning to night. Despite the strain of the early days, it was the results of seeing people come through the door and the stories they had to share that kept Helen and Simon going.

Helen said: "We really became a part of people's lives. Everyone says we've really made a community here. We have a knitting group that comes in twice a week. There's a lot of nattering and they sit upstairs in the function room and we love having them.

"Then we have a writers' group on Tuesday and we have a lady who looks after adults with learning disabilities. There are also quite a few people who come in on their own."

After noticing the café acts as a hub and, for some people their only outlet for human interaction, the couple made it their mission to connect their customers with one another to ensure no one feels lonely.

Helen added: "We've got a gentleman who lives down the road and solely comes in for the chat. We've grown into a family and they ask us about our kids and our personal lives too. We couldn't ask for better customers."

The customers can natter the day away over a stunning range of cakes, sweet treats and delicacies that are said to fly out of the kitchen. Simon's culinary experience is a massive hit with customers and keeps everyone happy from morning until close, with no shortage of choices.

Helen said: "Simon's great at presenting food and worked at all the top restaurants. We've got a lot of royal Albert plates and china teacups. it's about the experience and the food but we want to make sure people are comfortable and feel happy and cosy with everyone we give them."