Wild Root, the family-run plant-based café that began on a quiet back road in Halsall, has opened its second location in Liverpool city centre. The new site on Old Hall Street marks the brand's official expansion after building a reputation for some of the region's best vegan food.
From Halsall back road to city centre
Founder Charlie Tomlinson, 32, from Halsall, started the business after being disappointed by vegan alternatives available in supermarkets. She began cooking and creating recipes at home before turning her passion into a full concept. The first Wild Root site opened in Halsall, just outside Southport, in 2021.
Tomlinson told the ECHO: "We were so surprised because where we're based is on a back road with nothing else around. There's not even a pavement. You have to come to us specifically and I think it's quite a miracle we've been able to make a successful business in that location. I think what we do is quite niche so people will travel for it."
Clean food for all, not just vegans
The café makes everything in-house and avoids processed alternatives. "We don't use any of the processed alternatives. We make everything ourselves. It's super clean and it's not just for vegans. In Halsall, only about 30% of our clients are vegan. A lot of people are just health-conscious, want to try something different or maybe have allergies," she added.
A renovation in 2023 marked a turning point. "We were a quite rough and ready, quirky, little café. And then we really like invested in it and made it like a cozier space for people to enjoy," Tomlinson said. Since then, Wild Root has added a Pilates studio, a dedicated children's play area and completed various renovations to create "much more of a full day destination".
Six-year journey to the city centre
The move to Liverpool city centre has been six years in the making. The initial lease was signed in March 2020 at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, but Tomlinson had to pull out. "We were supposed to be where Manifest is now in the Baltic Triangle," she said. "It's been a very long time coming for me to be in the city centre. The city has changed a lot and I didn't feel like the Baltic was the place for me now. I have always liked this area so [when this premises] came up, I just thought it was a no-brainer to give it a try."
The vacant unit on Old Hall Street was transformed in about 14 weeks, though the brand has held the location since April 2024. "There has been loads going on, things that needed signed off and so you just hold of for a little bit. It's been a long time coming but as soon as we started we didn't stop. I said for the first time that we're multi-site and that was quite a bit, like, woah. It's quite crazy to think how we started," she said.
Loyal regulars travel to celebrate
Wild Root's die-hard following has made the journey across the region to support the new venture. "So many of our regulars have come to surprise us in the first two days. They didn't need to be in town, they just came specifically to say hello. There's still a lot of hard work ahead but this isn't the end for us either," Tomlinson said. "We want to just keep going and open more and more."
