Hatters Row on Horsemarket Street has a new lease of life

Tucked away off Horsemarket Street, Hatters Row features everything from plant and clothes shops to barbers and businesses promoting aesthetics and wellness.

But with new life comes new hope and shop owners are hopeful the Row can return to its former busy self.

And for Nick Rodely, owner of Playzone which for 17 years was on Warrington Market and then Orford Lane before coming to Hatters Row two years ago, he hopes more customers will help support local businesses following such a difficult time for the high street.

“It’s essential that we keep looking after each other and I think that is what is missing at the moment with the high street suffering so much,” he said.

“Hatters Row is a lovely place and it really needs to be put on the map.”

Playzone sells retro and vintage items and Nick, based in Orford, adores his job.

“Retro to me is a link to the past,” said the 59-year-old.

Nick Rodely, owner of Playzone

“The world moves so fast at the moment that sometimes you have to have an anchor in the past to let you know who you are.

“I love my customers and a lot of that interaction has been lost with technology and ordering online.”

Linda Morley has had June’s Wool – named after her mum – for 22 years and has been based in Hatters Row for five years.

She says it is busier than previously but the Row is often passed by.

Linda, from Orford, said: “All the shops are being taken up now so it is busier than what it was when we came in. It’s nice.

“I think it has been missed at times because a lot of people don’t know it’s still open but if you’ve got a good customer base they know where you are.”

Linda Morley, who owns June's Wool

There are two other relatively new businesses as well, Ragdollz and Sheilli’s Nails. The pair cover beauty and boutique, clothing and lashes, spray tans and make-up all under one roof.

Lucy Humphrey opened her Ragdollz shop in October 2020 and despite the trade being hit and miss, she loves the community feel to it.

The 22-year-old, from Runcorn, said: “Some weeks you could be dead quiet, others you could be dead busy.

“It’s cute in Hatters Row. It’s like a little village.

“Even though it’s sometimes quiet for us, it would be great for all of the businesses to succeed.”

Lucy Humphrey who runs Ragdollz

Shelli Howell on nail duty

Shelli Howell, who completed a nail course in lockdown and built her business in the pandemic, echoes Lucy’s thoughts about a place that walked past.

The 48-year-old, based on Wickwick Road, said: “I remember Hatters Row being the posh place to go. I wouldn’t have come here but now I send people here like Playzone upstairs. He’s my favourite.

“It has been hard, some days I do sit here and think ‘what am I doing?’ but I love it and love the people that work here.

“The craft lady is doing something really, really good too.”

And speaking of that Craft lady, that would be Gillian Gorry, from Bewsey, who runs Craft Life and has done since lockdown.

She is an occupational therapist who wanted to set a place up where people can learn work skills, everyday life skills and join in on health and well-being classes.

Gillian used to come here as a child with her grandparents and despite it being ‘forgotten’, hopes residents can reignite their fond memories of it.

Gillian Gorry helps people learn skills at Craft Life

The 40-year-old said: “It’s a lovely place. I would come in here with my clients as it’s friendly, accessible and a little bit quieter, it’s easier for me to come in here with people that are learning skills or might get overwhelmed by busy environments.

“It’s brilliant to see new businesses, it’s like a family and we all support each other. It would just be nice to see more people come in.

“I think a lot of people will have really positive memories of coming into Hatters Row and have just completely forgotten it was here.”

Another shop, Bamboo Botanicals, opened in September and worker Jules Kaufman has worked there since.

She said: “People tend to walk past and don’t think about coming in.

“It’s booming at the minute on social media so we just want people to come in and know we are here.

Jules Kaufman, who works at Bamboo Botanicals

“We have got really unusual plants here so we are often a little bit different to some of the bigger garden centres and offer a more personalised service.

“I’m hoping Christmas will be really busy.”