Taskers, a well-known Merseyside brand, is returning to Formby after eight years. The retailer is preparing to open a new home store in the former Formby Cycles premises on Altcar Road. The cycling shop closed earlier this year after more than 30 years in business.
Return to Formby
Formby Cycles was led by Phil Harvey from its opening, who first joined the company when it was owned by Dave Mitchell, trading as Cycle Sports from premises on Harrington Road. In 2003, the business became part of Taskers Group.
Taskers previously operated a store on Church Road in Formby, which closed in January 2018 as part of a major restructuring. At the time, the company cited challenging economic and trading conditions, saying it needed to focus on its larger stores and online operation.
New Store Announcement
Announcing the upcoming store, Taskers said: “Formby. We’re coming for you. Taskers' home is officially opening in Formby this August and we could not be more excited. The countdown is officially on.”
A household name since the 1950s, Taskers is known for its large showrooms, extensive collections of lounge, dining and bedroom furniture, and its popular Christmas displays. Its flagship showroom is located on Long Lane.
New Bistro at Long Lane
New to the Long Lane store this year is a joint venture between Taskers and Crosby's The Bus Yard, known as 1958 Bistro. It offers shoppers a break from browsing with everything from light daytime bites to hot meals.
The Bus Yard owner, Andy Laird, previously said: “We popped up at Taskers over the Christmas period and were overwhelmed by the love and support we received from Liverpool and beyond, with so many people visiting to shop for their home interiors. Opening permanently inside Taskers is a huge step for us. It’s been an institution in the city for so long and is the perfect local brand for us to partner with. We’re really excited to be part of the Taskers experience, giving visitors somewhere cosy to sit, eat and take a break while they explore the store.”
The bistro's menu includes homemade soup, sweet French toast with berry compote, brioche buns with bacon, loin and sausage, sandwiches, sausage rolls, quiches, poke bowls, hot pot with braised red cabbage, shepherd’s pie, a chef’s pasta special, steak and ale pie, chicken butter curry with basmati rice, and plant-based options such as falafel-filled pittas.
