TAKING IN TARLETON
What was once a mere blip on the A59 between Preston and Southport is now a thriving retail retreat, as Matthew Parkinson discovered on a trip into Tarleton. Photography: SusieQPhotography
It was more than a thousand years ago that Vikings rocked up at the edge of the River Douglas and decided, “this’ll be a nice place to stop!” Since the arrival of the Norse settlers, a quaint English village has sprung up in the midst of the fertile farmland that attracted them to the area in the first place.
Despite its obvious charm, unless you were one of the dedicated residents living there already, or farmed the fertile land for a living, Tarleton was more often than not on the way to somewhere else. Now however, it’s finally time to recognise the niche the village is carving out as a destination in its own right.
Unlike our Norse friends, you needn’t arrive by longboat to pillage the village these days. The journey by car is as simple as can be, following the almost poker-straight A59. Better still, there’s ample parking when you arrive. Fancy leaving the car at home? No problem. The X2 bus service from Preston city centre will see you there in around half an hour.
The phrase ‘shopping village’ is often applied to the clinically designed, cookie-cutter retail parks that occupy the industrial estates of most towns nationwide, but despite its size, Tarleton manages to punch way beyond its weight as a feasible alternative for shoppers looking for a more relaxed way to shop for their numerous needs. Whilst so many modern retail parks resemble little more than grand car parks with numerous shops at their perimeter, the close-knit layout of Tarleton, with its neat clusters of shops nestled in courtyards and alleyways, actually makes for speedier shopping for visitors whose time is of the essence.
Those with a little more time to spare will notice that the village’s shopping centre isn’t just practical, it’s pretty too. Unlike many retail parks, Tarleton trades yards of tarmac for acres of arable farmland, allowing visitors to take their time and choose a pace that suits them. You find yourself meandering along winding roads, past red brick terraces and whitewashed, timber-framed Tudor houses, winding in and out of courtyards that house shops with painted wooden doors and little bells whose light ring announces your arrival.
There are plenty of these little stores dotted around Tarleton. Salons, homely looking pubs, a family butcher’s shop, clothiers selling everything from occasion wear to stylish country casuals – there’s even a surprisingly well-equipped department store offering a variety of stock within Tarleton’s recently refurbished Courtyard. Behind a pair of large glass doors, customers meander along a rabbit-warren of corridors that introduce new offerings around every corner. Womenswear, menswear, homeware, cards, gifts – there’s even a restaurant area to take in a breather, enjoy a glass of something with lunch before hitting the shelves a second time. With its characteristic charm throughout, the store is a remarkable achievement, pairing high-street brands and prices in a more sedate, civilised setting.
Surrounding the Courtyard’s department store are a number of other recently opened outlets. Geoffrey & Joy provides shoes and occasion wear for newborns right up to kids aged 10. The Courtyard’s roster also boasts a stylish new salon, a furniture shop selling solid, authentic wood furniture, as well as a couple of clothiers selling a range of items for style-savvy shoppers, or capable clothes for outdoorsy types looking to enjoy the surrounding area’s natural beauty. The shops provide all the amenities you’d expect from a retail park within a picture-perfect setting, with many of the shops occupied by enthusiastic, independent traders, who know the local regulars by name but are more than happy to share their wares with curious visitors such as myself.
The close proximity of the shops means you’re never far away from your next bargain, but you’ll be glad to know that if you’ve worked up an appetite, you’re never far from a food-stop either. The Village Inn serves up a range of cuisines, with the Cock and Bottle offering traditional pub favourites with a selection of foreign flavours on offer.
For light bites and desserts, ‘The Chocolate Rooms’ provides locally made sweet treats and mouth-watering savouries.
Depending upon when you visit, the village plays host to a number of events all year round. Whether it’s the local library hosting readings and book signings or Easter egg hunts at the light steam railway, there’s something to keep visitors of all ages entertained. Venture beyond the winding streets and you can find yourself strolling along the banks of the River Douglas or the adjacent Leeds-Liverpool Canal on a crisp winter’s morning or under the setting sun of a summer’s evening.
If Tarleton achieves anything above all else, it’s the way this small but perfectly formed Lancashire village is packaged. The layout of its local amenities gives locals very few reasons to leave, whilst providing plenty of incentives for outsiders to pay a visit. Whether your next visit sees you coming to shop or just stroll, there’s something for every visitor who trusts that there’s more to Tarleton than a blip on the A59.
