Wayfarers Arcade celebrates a return to its former glory
The £2million refurbishment of Grade II listed Wayfarers Shopping Arcade, Lord Street, has been showcased at an event held to celebrate its success. The renovation works were sympathetic to the arcade’s Victorian history throughout, and culminated with the completion of the arcade’s new floor, a £350,000 project that took two years of careful planning and three months to implement.
Over 100 people joined the celebrations, including the Pedlar family (who own Lord Street Properties, which owns the arcade), arcade tenants and their guests, contractors involved with the refurbishment work and key players from the Southport town centre and tourism scenes.
Truly keeping it in the family, entertainment was provided by musician Matthew Lynch (a young member of the Pedlar family) along with two of his friends, and world-renowned Vercoe the Clown, otherwise known as Arthur Pedlar, performed his show for the guests.
Mary Pedlar and Nicola Lynch performed a mother and daughter double act to reflect on the arcade’s history and then look to its future. Following the speeches, the Mayor of Sefton, Councillor Paul Tweed, proposed a toast to Wayfarers Arcade.
Mary Pedlar, Chairman of Lord Street Properties, commented; "Southport is well known for its Victorian architecture and Wayfarers Arcade is one of the finest examples of this. It opened in 1898, when it was known as Leyland Arcade. Many families have been coming here for generations and some of our customers even remember coming here over 60 years ago as children. As owners of the arcade, we feel a sense of responsibility to preserve its Victorian splendour and unique atmosphere, while ensuring its continued success as a popular shopping destination in Southport."
Nicola Lynch, Managing Director of Lord Street Properties added; "We’d like to thank all those who were involved with the renovation programme, and also our tenants for their support throughout. Most importantly, we would like to thank our customers for their continued loyalty to Wayfarers Arcade. Wayfarers Arcade has now well and truly been reformed to its former glory, and we are delighted with the result."
Over 100 people joined the celebrations, including the Pedlar family (who own Lord Street Properties, which owns the arcade), arcade tenants and their guests, contractors involved with the refurbishment work and key players from the Southport town centre and tourism scenes.
Truly keeping it in the family, entertainment was provided by musician Matthew Lynch (a young member of the Pedlar family) along with two of his friends, and world-renowned Vercoe the Clown, otherwise known as Arthur Pedlar, performed his show for the guests.
Mary Pedlar and Nicola Lynch performed a mother and daughter double act to reflect on the arcade’s history and then look to its future. Following the speeches, the Mayor of Sefton, Councillor Paul Tweed, proposed a toast to Wayfarers Arcade.
Mary Pedlar, Chairman of Lord Street Properties, commented; "Southport is well known for its Victorian architecture and Wayfarers Arcade is one of the finest examples of this. It opened in 1898, when it was known as Leyland Arcade. Many families have been coming here for generations and some of our customers even remember coming here over 60 years ago as children. As owners of the arcade, we feel a sense of responsibility to preserve its Victorian splendour and unique atmosphere, while ensuring its continued success as a popular shopping destination in Southport."
Nicola Lynch, Managing Director of Lord Street Properties added; "We’d like to thank all those who were involved with the renovation programme, and also our tenants for their support throughout. Most importantly, we would like to thank our customers for their continued loyalty to Wayfarers Arcade. Wayfarers Arcade has now well and truly been reformed to its former glory, and we are delighted with the result."
