The tightly packed streets of Walton and the shopping street of County Road are a little quieter on weekends these days
Eton Street, which leads on to Goodison Park
Eton Street, which leads on to Goodison Park(Image: Jamie Greer/Liverpool ECHO)
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People living in a "forgotten" part of Liverpool say there are reasons to be positive despite major changes in the area. The tightly packed streets of Walton and the shopping street of County Road are a little quieter on weekends these days.
That’s because Everton’s men’s side moved out of the historic Goodison Park, where they had played matches since 1892, into the brand new Hill Dickinson Stadium at the start of this season. The move has prompted a wave of new pubs, bars and cafes around the new ground, located on Bramley-Moore Dock in the north of the city centre.
This has been a welcome addition to the area, often referred to as Ten Streets, which used to throng with dockers before the rapid de-industrialisation of the 1970s and 1980s. It’s hoped that the new stadium, alongside major property developments in the area, can be the catalyst for further regeneration of Ten Streets and integrate it closely with the rest of the city.
But the loss of matchday trade back in Walton is starting to bite. Last week, The Winslow Hotel, which opened in 1886, closed its doors for the final time with a huge farewell party.
Dave Bond, the manager of the pub which stands opposite Goodison Park, argued it wasn't financially viable to keep the pub going due to the collapse in business on matchdays.
Although Everton Women now play at Goodison, attendances have ranged from 3,000 to 6,000, well below the 40,000 that it used to host for the men's side.
Dave made plans well before the club's move to Hill Dickinson Stadium to try and breathe fresh life into The Winslow by running coaches from the pub to the new stadium.
However, not enough people used the service, with only around 15 to 25 people turning up for the first few matchdays. Dave, who managed the pub for 12 years, is now opening up a new Everton venue near Hill Dickinson Stadium called Dixies.
Dave told the ECHO that The Winslow needed business from Everton supporters far more than other local pubs.
Landlord Dave Bond with staff behind the bar for the farewell party for The Winslow Hotel last week
Landlord Dave Bond with staff behind the bar for the farewell party for The Winslow Hotel last week(Image: Liverpool Echo)
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Dave said: ”They were never as reliant on matchday footfall as we were. 90% plus of our turnover was on matchday revenue.
“And many people have said to me over the years, ‘Oh, if you opened every week or every day, you wouldn't be so reliant on matchday trade’ – I said, ‘Not necessarily because of the location.’
“I tried that, and you would actually lose money. We would've gone out of business years ago if we had done that. We did matchdays, and after that were bookings and events. We did a lot of birthday parties, funerals or what have you.
“You're getting 100 people in a booking; you're not just opening the doors willy-nilly and just losing on wages and everything else. We became so reliant because of the dynamics of our business.
“But it worked because it kept our overheads down as well. Just because you're open doesn't mean you're making money. You can lose money by opening. And I think that's what kept us going for 12 years - focusing on match days and bookings and events.
“But the lack of match days took away 90% or so of our turnover. And when you lose that 90%, it's gone; you can't make it up.”
The Winslow’s fate followed fellow Everton venue JT’s Bar on the nearby County Road, which also closed following the stadium move.
Natalie Jones, manager of The Craic House on County Road
Natalie Jones, manager of The Craic House on County Road(Image: Jamie Greer/Liverpool ECHO)
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However, another pub has taken its place. The Craic House became County Road’s first Irish bar when it opened its doors late last year. The pub’s manager, Natalie Jones, 33, lives locally and opened the venue alongside Jordan Daly.
When asked how The Craic House is doing, Natalie told the ECHO the pub attracts people coming to the city from Ireland, many of them Liverpool fans who stay close by before making their way to Anfield, a short walk away.
The pub was quiet when the ECHO visited on Wednesday afternoon, but Natalie predicted there would be an influx of Liverpool fans popping in later before the Reds’ game against Qarabag in the Champions League later that night. Other supporters would be watching the game on one of the bar’s several big TV screens.
Natalie said: “We’re flying. There are other places that are closing down, but we’re doing well. I think that it’s because we’re the only Irish place around here.
“Jordan, his background is Irish. On Friday we have Irish singers in. We get people from Ireland coming in here.
“It’ll be quite busy later with the Liverpool game. We’ve got more and more people coming in. We’re promoting more on social media. We’re getting another pool team.”
Walton is Liverpool’s second most deprived constituency and the 11th most deprived in England. These levels of poverty existed while Goodison was full every other weekend, and tackling deprivation here and elsewhere in Liverpool is an issue that political parties of all stripes have struggled with.
Graffiti on Oxton Street, calling for the removal of former Everton managers Marco Silva, who left in December 2019, and Sean Dyche, who left in January 2025
Graffiti on Oxton Street, calling for the removal of former Everton managers Marco Silva, who left in December 2019, and Sean Dyche, who left in January 2025(Image: Jamie Greer/Liverpool ECHO)
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Everton FC still runs the Everton Free School on Spellow Lane, off County Road, which offers alternative educational opportunities and experiences to young people aged 13 to 16 and Level 2 and 3 sport courses to post-16 students.
Back in August 2024, disorder broke out on County Road after the Southport attacks, with rioters attempting to make their way to a mosque and in doing so setting fire to the Spellow Library, and tensions in the area about what happened remain.
The ECHO visited County Road back in November, where some residents complained the area is "dying a death". Shopkeepers also talked about battling negative perceptions of County Road that they believe keep shoppers away, describing the area as being “the butt of the joke” in the city.
Some people we spoke to this week also bemoaned that the community spirit of County Road had long gone, but Natalie disagreed. She said: “I’ve lived around here for years. It’s a very close-knit community. I’ve worked here for just under a month; it’s a welcoming place.”
Sue Feather, 56, also lives locally and has made The Craic House her regular pub. She said: “It’s a nice little pub. Strangers visit, but once they come in, they aren’t strangers anymore.
“It’s just a nice, friendly atmosphere. You are getting quite a few Irish people coming in. It’s still a close-knit community. Everyone sticks together around here.”
Other businesses would never need a full Goodison Park to survive. Pam Kendell, 62, who lives in Walton, and Chloe Jones, 34, from Bootle, run Laser Schoolwear.
The business recently relocated here from Stanley Road in Kirkdale because this shop better suited the business. Chloe has spoken to the ECHO previously about bad parking on County Road but says Everton’s move hasn't affected the shop's trade, although the nearby pubs “aren’t that busy” these days.
Pam Kendell and Chloe Jones of Laser Schoolwear
Pam Kendell and Chloe Jones of Laser Schoolwear(Image: Jamie Greer/Liverpool ECHO)
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Pam feels the area has been forgotten a little amidst the focus on regeneration in the north docks but argues the shop was never going to be impacted by the men’s side moving and still serves many parents picking up school uniforms for their children.
Pam referenced the KFC on County Road closing last month, which she puts down to the loss of fans grabbing food there before and after matches. The branch opened in 1965. At the time, it was KFC’s first Liverpool branch and was just one of three KFCs in the UK.
Pam said: “I think the area’s been a bit forgotten. You don’t see anyone by the ground during the winter, really.
“On matchdays, there used to be loads of people, but now there’s not. You used to see the crowds here. As a whole, it didn’t really affect this business. It was more places like the KFC which closed a few weeks ago.”