A family-run independent business that was once the heart of a local community is desperately trying to remain open.
Wavertree Nook Road Aquarium has been operated by the same family since originally opening as a chandelier shop in 1965. A few decades later, founder and patriarch Hugh Stamper, now 88, turned his passion for fish and aquatics into his business, launching the much-loved aquarium centre in the late 80s.
Despite thriving in the community and amassing a dedicated fan base, the business has been hit by a number of hardships. Now, Joss Stamper - Hugh’s granddaughter - fears for its future.
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In 2006, the beloved venue was almost completely destroyed in a fire. It was a “family effort, with all hands on deck” to restore the business. In the damage, the workshop where Hugh built tanks - as well as repaired windows for the wider community - was lost for good.
Then, a ring of road signs around the Edge Lane development more than five years ago impacted trade. The massive redevelopment of the Liverpool Shopping Park caused disruption along the busy main road, affecting passing trade and ease of access.
Joss, 40, is anxious the lack of footfall on the desolate high street - once lined with independent shops like a greengrocers, a butchers, hairdressers, sweet shops and more - will be the aquarium centre’s final undoing. But the Stamper family isn’t ready to throw in the towel and is determined to bounce back for a third time.
Speaking to the ECHO, Joss said: “We’re desperately hoping to keep the shop going. I think it's really important to keep independent businesses still in business. In terms of my own family, it’s their career - it’s a big part of our family. I worked there as a kid on Saturdays to earn money, it was happy memories of when my Nan was alive.
“My grandad, Hugh, retired about 10 years ago and he passed the business on to my dad Mike, his other son Kevin, and my sister Megan. We’re a very big family and [the aquarium] has been a massive feature in our family. My grandad opened it in 1965 and back then, my grandparents actually lived directly opposite the shop.
“They had seven kids and at some point, they all worked in there - even if it was just a day or two here and there. It was a chandeliers, a bit of a DIY shop when it opened.
“By the late 80s, shops like B&Q and Taskers opened on Wavertree High Street and that affected small businesses. He made the decision to switch it over to an aquarium, because his passion was fish and he had a tank in the DIY shop that always got a lot of attention.”
The business began to thrive and was a proud, firm feature in a bustling community. Slowly, other shops nearby began to close and the aquarium soon felt the effects.
Joss continued: “It’s in Wavertree Nook Road, it used to be a whole row of shops like a greengrocers, a butchers, sweet shops, a hairdressers. One by one, they've all shut down so we don't get any footfall or passing business which has really affected things.
“The likes of Dobbies, Pets at Home and online businesses has took away a lot of our custom. I’ve been trying to help out as much as I can - the shop has had a bit of a clean up and a fresh coat of paint, we’ve done our best but you need money to do that.”
Like many people, the mounting cost of living combined with huge energy price hikes has also had an impact on the aquarium. It’s lined with tanks with an eclectic mix of fish that require specific lighting and heating levels, depending on their natural habitat.
Joss said: “More recently with the energy prices going up, it costs quite a lot of money to keep the aquarium going and it costs a lot of money to keep them heated and lit. The last bill was about £2.5K just for a month.”
Joss hopes to revitalise trade to ensure the business can carry on against the odds. She said: “Back in the day, it was very much part of the community and because we are such a large family, everyone knew us. My grandad was always friendly, always willing to help out, and he used to make all the fish tanks for the aquarium as well but after the fire, the workshop out the back burned down so he couldn’t do that anymore. My grandad was the go-to person to help repair any windows or glass in the area - he fixed school windows too and anytime anyone needed anything, he was there. Everyone knew to come to him."
Joss added: “It’s been almost 60 years as a family run business. We want to keep it going.”
Wavertree Nook Aquarium is based at 67 Wavertree Nook Road, Liverpool, L15 7LF. It's open six days a week, closed only on Tuesdays. For the centre's full opening hours, click here.
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