A long queue formed in Liverpool city centre as shoppers rushed to buy last-minute costumes ahead of Halloween celebrations. Hundreds of people were seen waiting outside Lili Bizarre Fancy Dress & Balloons, with the line stretching along Tarleton Street and snaking around the corner onto Leigh Street.
Dozens of hopeful shoppers braved the lengthy queue in search of the perfect Halloween outfit. One person who spoke to the ECHO said they initially thought the crowds were queuing for a nightclub.
Last-Minute Rush at a Rare Fancy Dress Store
The shop is one of the last remaining fancy dress stores in the city. Its owner has previously warned shoppers not to leave Halloween preparations until the last minute, as queues can quickly build up.
Last year, queues of hundreds of people stretched from the shop's entrance along Church Street and all the way to Primark during Halloween week.
Owner's Family Advises Early Shopping
The store is now primarily run by owner Lilian 'Lili' Wakefield's children, Gary and Lorna, who have become familiar faces to shoppers.
Speaking to the ECHO previously, Lorna urged customers to visit early to avoid disappointment. She said: "We advise people to get in as soon as possible. People normally start looking for outfits the last two weeks [of October] but it's usually too late by then - the queues have started."
She added: "At around 4pm, we assess the queue and tell people they probably won't be served after this point. We tell them to go home."
Team Endures Relentless Demand
Despite the exhausting run up to Halloween, Lorna said the team has learned to take the intense period in its stride. Reflecting on November 1, she said the team is "knackered" after weeks of relentless demand.
"The lead up and through Halloween is chocker. It's horrible but we get through it. We're hands on with authority but we're still very nice as people know we are," she said.
"We like to laugh about how busy it gets afterwards, but only when we get through it. We tell people every year to get down early but they never listen."
