'OUR VILLAGE IS ON RISE AGAIN'

'It's getting a similar vibe to Lark Lane'... how Crosby is becoming an exciting destination

- By CONAILL CORNER

ONCE a village that felt like it was fading, Crosby’s high street is finding its feet again.

After years of empty units and the loss of some big-name brands, the heart of Crosby Village is beginning to beat louder, thanks to a mix of loyal independents and confident newcomers.

And no one has seen more of that shift than Amy Wright, who runs Pritchards Bookshop - a local institution with her husband Chris.

She told the ECHO: "Pritchard’s has been in Crosby Village since 1975. It was started by Steve Pritchard.

“We took over at the end of 2021. I came here as a kid, to go to Pritchard’s. That was always my memory, even as a teenager, and now that I own it, it’s weird but great.”

Amy, who grew up in nearby Waterloo and attended school in Crosby, has seen many businesses come and go from the village throughout her life.

She said: "Over the years, the village has lost things like McDonald’s and stuff, but we've gained other things; Bailey's is amazing - the lovely card shop - and there’s Card Factory and Peacocks.

“The fact that people are investing in the village is amazing and it does make a difference.

“We're seeing that it's much busier and it’s definitely getting better.

"There were quite a few empty units until recently, which was a shame, but I think that’s just a sign of the times - stuff comes and goes.

“But, like I say, we're starting to see a lot of investment.”