An iconic Liscard coffee shop which had been closed for six months has been given a new lease of life after a new owner stepped in to give it an exciting new chapter. Since taking over The Coffee Roast Bistro in June, Claire Lamont has achieved record sales at the coffee shop and eatery — with people raving about the incredible quality, value and allergen-friendly offering.
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The Coffee Roast Bistro, located at 22 Seaview Road, has been part of the fabric of Wallasey for almost a century, retaining pieces of its remarkable history including signage dating back to the 1940s and its original coffee roaster. But after the much-loved business closed its doors for six months, its future was uncertain.
That changed in June 2026 when local mum and experienced hospitality worker Claire Lamont took over the Liscard institution — and just a few months later, the coffee shop is thriving again. Claire has spent around two decades working in hospitality, but taking charge of The Coffee Roast Bistro represents her first venture of this kind. It is, however, a business she knows exceptionally well.
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Claire previously worked at The Coffee Roast Bistro for former owners Richie and Hazel for more than 10 years. Alongside her hospitality career, she also built up her own bakery business, Claire’s Creations, selling her homemade bakes at pop-up stalls and markets. Now those two strands of her career have come together under one roof.
Since reopening, The Coffee Roast Bistro has enjoyed record sales, with customers sometimes queuing out of the door. While its history is an important part of its appeal, Claire has also carved out a reputation for something increasingly difficult to find: affordable food and homemade cakes catering seriously for people with different dietary requirements.
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Every cake Claire makes is dairy-free, while around 90 per cent are vegan. The food menu also includes substantial vegan and gluten-free choices, rather than treating dietary requirements as an afterthought. It means groups of friends and families with different dietary needs can sit down together without someone being left with a token option and the dishes are very generous indeed!
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And Claire’s cakes are becoming an attraction in their own right, with customers travelling miles to see what is on the counter. The selection regularly changes, but among the biggest hits is a creation nicknamed “crack” — an indulgent hybrid of chocolate brownie and shortbread. Traditional school cake is another firm favourite, while Claire’s loaded flapjacks have developed their own following.
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Despite the growing popularity, Claire has kept prices remarkably accessible. A Mini English breakfast costs just £6, whereas a Full English is £9.50 — as are the Vegan Breakfast alternatives. Elsewhere, Eggs Benedict and Eggs Chorizo are £7.50, loaded muffins start at £7, and an Olde English sausage or bacon batch costs £4.50. The value continues at the cake counter. Homemade cakes are priced at around £2.50 to £3 each, or four for £10.
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Claire is also reviving another piece of Coffee Roast tradition by bringing back its popular Sunday afternoon tea events. And providing the soundtrack is something of a local legend. Vibrant Vi, an eccentric 96-year-old pianist, has returned to entertain customers during the events, adding another distinctly Wallasey ingredient to a coffee shop already packed with local character. The revival feels particularly fitting for a business approaching a century of history.
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While cafés and high streets have changed enormously during that time, The Coffee Roast Bistro still carries visible links to its past. Its surviving 1940s signage and original coffee roaster give customers a glimpse of the generations who have passed through its doors. Now Claire is writing its next chapter.
Having spent more than a decade working there before eventually becoming its owner, she has gone from serving customers in one of Wallasey’s best-known coffee shops to being the person responsible for ensuring it survives. And after six months with the doors shut, the sight of queues forming outside suggests Wallasey was more than ready to have it back — especially with the incredible value on offer.
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Claire said: “It’s a great honour to be bringing this legendary establishment into its next chapter and so far the feedback has been incredible. It had moved to Vale Park for years and owners Richie and Hazel have since taken over The Scrapyard and The Wellington. When I was offered The Coffee Roast I was unsure at first, but people got behind me and I was inundated with people willing to lend me the deposit — it brought me to tears the fact that people believed in me.”
She continued: “Having worked for Richie and Hazel for 10 years, I know the business and staff really well. I’ve put my own spin on things and have introduced some new things — I’m delighted to say it’s been very well received. The cakes have been flying out, with up to 700 orders on some days! People have been travelling for miles due to the dairy free, gluten free and vegan options. I’m over the moon with how it’s been going so far!”
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For Claire, it is the culmination of 20 years in hospitality, more than a decade of memories at The Coffee Roast Bistro and years spent building Claire’s Creations from market stalls and pop-ups. For Liscard, meanwhile, it means a piece of local history that could easily have disappeared is alive, busy and serving coffee once again.
The Coffee Roast Bistro / 22 Seaview Road, Wallasey, CH45 4LA / 0151 638 5302
TO BOOK A TABLE, ORDER DELIVERY OR FOR AN AFTERNOON TEA EVENT VISIT THE WEBSITE OR CALL 0151 638 5302
