Street with 'so much potential' where people have 'a real excitement' for change

People on a Wirral high street with “so much potential” feel like things could be about to change with millions of pounds is expected to be pumped into the area. While many promises are yet to be delivered, there’s a feeling of "real excitement" on Argyle Street.

The road, which runs from Birkenhead town centre to Hamilton Square, is currently dotted with hairdressers, a Wetherspoons, newsagents, takeaways, a bakery, and music venue Future Yard but also several derelict and empty shops in between. However in recent months, a new burger restaurant and MP Alison McGovern’s office have moved in with plans for a £4m health hub around the corner.

Recent plans approved by Wirral Council examine developing a creative hub on the road linked to plans for a new neighbourhood of around 1,000 homes connected to the Dock Branch park. As part of this plan, Wirral Council, which said it has “an exciting vision for the future,” has launched a grant scheme to repair and restore parts of the street, give shops a facelift and work with the landlords of empty shops.

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The Bakehouse Wirral has been on Argyle Street for two years but still feels like that part of town is yet to be discovered. On the corner at one end of the road, it looks out over the picturesque Hamilton Square.

Owner Vicki Charbourn said: “It does feel like there’s a lot of talk of change. I can feel there’s a sense, there’s a feeling that something is about to happen. It’s been neglected for so long. It’s got so much potential. It’s a spillover from Liverpool and it’s so beautiful. The whole street could be beautiful but it’s just very tired.”

With the square proving popular on Airbnb with people staying in Liverpool, Vicki said: “It could be a Lark Lane. It could be like that. They need to look after the street to make it more inviting and just let people know we are here. There are a lot of businesses along here and we all feed into each other.”

She added: “I do feel with Burger Lab opening and a few more places on Market Street, I feel like there are more businesses opening and I think everyone would love it to do well and that it wouldn’t feel so tired. Everybody really wants it. There’s a real excitement about what is going to happen.”

This month, the creative Make CIC’s new headquarters opened after a £1.6m grant helped them take over a former Riverside Housing bulding. The new building is double the size of its previous base, offering a larger space to bring people together and support creatives.

Make's Amy Higham, who took the ECHO on a tour of the new building, said they had had people set up businesses and even work for top brands like Burberry off the back of their support. However she stressed it wasn’t just artists who could move in, adding: “It’s good we have got the permanent space as the community knows we are not going to leave."

Pat Murrell is one of the many artists who have set up shop in the new building and told the ECHO she was happy with her new "lovely big” home, saying: “It was a bit dark before and I was always complaining.”

Originally from Moreton, Pat moved away from the Wirral before coming back after retirement. She said it was always her dream to paint but she only started doing it five years ago.

Having been part of Make for two years, she said: “You get to meet people. It’s so good, it’s been an inspiration. I am not good working at home alone. I did work at home but I found I wasn’t getting any inspiration and I was lonely. I wouldn't have come into Birkenhead if this wasn’t here. I’ve rediscovered Birkenhead from being here because I am so close to everything.

“I remember as a child, we used to do our shopping in Birkenhead. It was a fantastic shopping place and I was horrified when I saw how it has gone downhill but I do feel now it’s starting to come back up again. It’s good to feel part of the rejuvenation of Birkenhead. I think anybody, particularly my age group, has fond memories of Birkenhead as it was.”

Hannah Gerrard is one of Make’s newest residents. She was previously working out of her Birkenhead bedroom making lifesize animatronic puppets but had a massive Tiktok following.

With a workspace where she can move around, she said: “I feel at home now. It’s been amazing. I feel like I am more productive. With the cost of living crisis, one thing I like about this place is the affordability.

“Having a facility that is affordable, reasonable and you can work in the centre of Birkenhead which is easy to get to if you don’t drive, it’s a good opportunity to invest or have a space to explore your hobby.”

For many of those working on Argyle Street, the new Make building offers them the ability to build up a career in a way that is a lot less expensive. Brantina Chisango, who runs a fashion and home decor business inspired by both African and European cultures, said: “I think it’s very difficult for creatives just to find a place where you can just go and experiment and work together. Sometimes if you are on your own it just doesn’t broaden your mind as much.”

Sophie Pemberton who works for Grow Wellbeing CIC said: “I used to come to Birkenhead as a kid but as an adult, I tended to avoid it. I definitely feel like there’s a reason for people to come here now because for me there wasn’t one before. I would go to Liverpool.”

Director Duane Chong said Grow, which connects people with nature, hopes to be part of projects like the Dock Branch Park, adding: “With Make moving in, especially being as close as it is to Future Yard, it does feel like this is more of a hub, more happening in the area.”

Next door in Future Yard, Craig Pennington, its director, said he did feel like the music venue was helping bring about a change in perception of both Birkenhead and Argyle Street, adding: “It just paints a picture of what’s possible."

He said: “You can put on wild grime core nights in Birkenhead on a Friday night. You can watch hip hop artists on a Tuesday. You can do these things, it's not an intangible goal.

“I’d love someone to open an independent coffee shop on the other side of the street, a really great bar next door, someone to do something really exciting with some of these beautiful empty spaces which are numerous. There’s loads of them on Argyle and Market Street and on this block. We just need people to come in.”