One Liverpool area is proving the experts wrong

It's not all doom and gloom for the city's bridal boutiques04:00, 20 Jul 2026Across the country, independent bridal boutiques are battling rising costs, changing shopping habits and fierce competition from online retailers. Liverpool is no exception, with two long-established wedding dress shops set to disappear within weeks of each other after decades in business.‌Yet while some boutiques are closing their doors, one corner of the city is telling a very different story. In Allerton, bridal businesses say trade is booming. Boutique owners have expanded their teams, moved into larger premises and are attracting brides from across the UK and Ireland, bucking the national trend.‌Louise Hynes, 37, from Hale Village, opened Isabella's Closet Bridal on Booker Avenue in 2020 after getting married