Menswear store Lapel returns to its original home
Anthony Parkinson first opened his menswear store in Wayfarers Arcade in Southport in 1983 – now five years after leaving, the outlet returns to its original home. Andrew Brown reports
Lapel Menswear has opened its doors inside Wayfarers Arcade in Southport town centre this Saturday as the iconic menswear shop makes a welcome return.
Owner Anthony Parkinson first opened inside the arcade more than 40 years ago, in 1983, in a ground floor unit near the West Street end. Five years ago he moved out of Wayfarers and into a new unit further along Lord Street, but is delighted to be back.
He opened the doors on Saturday, January 31, inside the former Coco Boutique unit near the main Wayfarers entrance to Lord Street. Visitors will be able to find a range of shirts, jeans, jumpers, shoes, coats, suits, ties and more.
Anthony said: “I am really excited to be moving back into Wayfarers Arcade. It is such an iconic, beautiful Victorian shopping arcade. There are some fabulous local independent businesses inside and I’m really pleased to be joining them again.
“Lapel Menswear was here for such a long time and I would love to see my regular customers coming to say hello, as well as seeing lots of new faces.
“This is a brilliant unit to be moving into. It’s right at the front – you can see it from the main entrance – with great big windows, and a changing room inside.
“We are still selling suits, both suits in stock, and suits to order; Andrew Jeans, which are our best-selling jeans; Claudio Lugli shirts.”
This is a great time for businesses opening in Southport town centre, and especially on Lord Street, with four brand new major ‘Southport 2026’ events being planned this year.
They start with Lightport, which will see stunning light installations placed along Lord Street February 14 to 16 for the start of the February school half term holiday.
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That will be followed by Cristal Palace, the Big Top Festival and Books Alive, in addition to The Open golf championship taking place at Royal Birkdale Golf Club this July.
Anthony said: “This is a really exciting year for Southport. There are some amazing new events coming up over the next few months, all of them right outside Wayfarers Arcade. I’m looking forward to a great 2026 ahead.”