Bold Street faces change: Local restaurant closures pave the way for chains
- Megan Wells
- Feb 17
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 8
In recent months, Bold Street’s once eccentric and quirky reputation has seen a dramatic decline as many local, independent restaurants have been forced to shut their doors. Larger, chain companies have taken over with places such as Rudy’s Pizzeria, Mowgli, Pho and Fat Hippo overshining above the last, few remaining individual food vendors.
Italian Club Fish, located in the heart of Liverpool on Bold Street, has closed its doors with immediate effect. The restaurant opened in 2009 and was a clear favourite for many in the city, as hundreds send sincere messages to the restaurant expressing their sadness for the closure. The eatery issued a statement on Instagram on Monday 13th of January conveying their gratitude to all their customers over the 16 years.
The statement read: “It is hard to accept that all good things must come to an end, but nothing can ever erase the deep bond our restaurant shared with Liverpool, our customers, and everyone who made the Italian Club Fish an integral part of the culinary history of this great city”.
Read the full statement here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DExhA-jMNl9/
The ongoing cost-of-living crisis evidently affects larger companies resulting in cheaper deals to entice customers. However smaller, independent businesses are heavily hit by increasing fees and costs and are left with no choice but to shut as they simply cannot afford to stay open. The people of Liverpool are aware of this serious issue that is tearing apart businesses each day.
Davide Garcia, 39, from Italy said: “I think the bigger, chain ones are definitely opening more. I’d prefer to see the independent ones. I think it’s the rates, personally. The rates are very expensive…overheads, everything’s getting more expensive generally”.
It is not just the continuing cost-of-living crisis that is affecting the city’s local businesses; each year January comes around the corner and businesses up and down the nation face serious struggle with the lack of customers.
Eadie Jones, 81, from Liverpool said: “I think there’s an awful lot [of restaurants] opening…but I like local, independent ones myself. January is a bad month, isn’t it? And everyone gets paid on the 31st…it’s a long month”.
It isn’t just the infamous Bold Street that is seeing the drastic change of local outlets leaving and large, national businesses entering, this issue is city-wide. Several independent businesses in Liverpool closed their doors in 2024. These include:
Crazy Pedros on Parr Street shut in December.
The Pilgrim, on Pilgrim Street shut in the summer after being open since the 1980s.
The GPO in the Metquater shut in November and used to hold the title of the largest food hall in Liverpool with 11 independent vendors.
St John’s Market shut in March when Liverpool City Council claimed it had no other choice but to end the tenancy of 43 traders.
Liverpool is a city known for its vibrant and authentic culture, and still is. However, the family-run cafes on Bold Street have slowly turned into Pret-A-Manger, Café Nero and Starbucks.
Notably, these larger companies create more job opportunities for many, benefiting the influx of students the city sees each September. But the individuality and authenticity of this quirky high-street is eroding.
Brad McGill, 23, from Liverpool said: “I suppose that the chains are taking over. The companies have decided to be everywhere, like McDonalds. People keep coming back to McDonalds”.
Local groups and advocacy organisations are demanding measures to be in place to stop or reduce the closures of these loved businesses. Suggestions include rent control, small business grants and more initiatives to encourage shopping in local companies.
The battle continues between independent businesses and large chains. Bold Street’s future is uncertain and with the shocking closure of the Italian Club Fish, the people of Liverpool are concerned. Many are hoping Bold Street can hold onto its unique charm and not become another typical high street full of corporate logos.
Article by Megan Wells.
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