Saltrock celebrates 1st Anniversary in Southport with lots of reasons for families to visit

SALTROCK is celebrating its 1st birthday in Southport Town Centre, this summer, with lots of reasons for families to call in.  The colourful coastal lifestyle brand, which began life in Cornwall, expanded with a brand new shop at 415 Lord Street in May 2024.  During the school summer holidays Saltrock has a fun activity sheet which children can collect and complete.  They can also draw a picture of the Saltrock mascot Tok, with the chance to win some great prizes.  Tok is a crazy haired surfer boy, named after the Tokoloshe, a South African Legend about a mischievous water sprite. Inside the store are pictures dotted around with a variety of colourful icons. Children have the chance to win special Tok stickers if they find them all. Saltrock is giving out free postcards to shoppers who call in, with a variety of designs. The opening of the new Saltrock in Southport last year expanded the firm's signature blend of comfort, quality, and coastal-inspired designs.  The shop offers a wide selection of clothing and accessories for men, women, and children, embodying the laid-back spirit of coastal living.  From go to hoodies and surf heritage graphic tees to durable outerwear and accessories, the store will provide something for every member of the family, all crafted with Saltrock's commitment to surf inspired designs, comfort, and affordability.

Saltrock Southport Manager Julie said:- "We're looking forward to welcoming families this summer! Not everyone in Southport knows we're here yet, or exactly what we stock. If you've not been yet, please call in! We have lots to offer. I heard someone yesterday saying they thought we're a surf shop! We have no surfboards here; however we do have some amazing clothing and accessories for men, women and children with excellent quality and great value. We have t-shirts; hoodies; shorts; skateboards; body boards; picnic blankets; backpacks; bags; hats; call in and take a look around. It's a very friendly team! We have still got the same original staff we had here at the launch of the shop last year. We make a really good team! The shop had a great Christmas and a really good start to the new year, and now we're looking forward to a busy summer. Southport is a beautiful place to be at this time of year, with so many reasons for people to come and visit the Town. We have big events such as the Southport Flower Show, Southport Air Show and everything else going on. I have worked in Southport for 35 years. I love it here. We have lots of fun things happening in store for children and families, including:- our fun activity sheets, our postcards and more. The postcards are perfect for daytrippers and holidaymakers. Our nearest Saltrock stores are in Lytham and Llandudno, so we're looking forward to welcoming visitors to Southport from places nearby like Liverpool, Bootle and Preston this summer. We'd love to get our name out there across the Region! Soon we're looking forward to getting a giant plastic shell filled with sand and flags which we'll host outside our shop; children can choose a flag and win a prize. No purchase needed."

Julie has said that she is excited for the future for the Town.  "Work is currently taking place to build the new £73 million Marine Lake Events Centre; the Government has provided £10 million to create a new Town Hall gardens area and is funding the restoration of Southport Pier; millions of pounds are being spent to improve the Market Quarter area. There are really good prospects for Southport. There is a lot happening, a lot of building taking place. Southport has got so much to offer. It has so much potential. I hope all the businesses here will reap the benefits of everything that's coming."

The new Saltrock store in Southport represents a continuation of the brand's commitment to providing customers with affordable, comfortable clothing that allows them to embrace the spirit of adventure and exploration. Whether heading to the beach, exploring the countryside, or simply enjoying downtime with family and friends, Saltrock offers apparel that is perfect for every occasion.

Food safety expert reveals how to keep your food edible for longer

WITH the annual rate of food and drink price inflation in the UK reaching:- 4.5%, in June 2025, it's no surprise that many Brits are trying to keep their food fresh for longer to avoid trips to the shop to buy replacements. To help Brits keep their food fresh for longer and store it in the safest possible way, Sarah King, food hygiene expert at High Speed Training, has shared her advice on how to keep some particularly tricky types of food stored safely.

Many fresh foods can be tricky to keep fresh and safe to eat for long periods of time, and people are understandably concerned about eating food that is past its best in case it causes harm.

Bananas... Sarah states:- "Bananas are a household staple in most UK homes, but they can be tricky to store properly and often the timeframe between them being under-ripe to over-ripe is short-lived. So, how should you store them to keep them fresher for longer? The 1st step to keep bananas fresh for longer is to buy them when they're still green, helping to give you the longest window when they're at their best. You should remove them from their plastic packaging, which traps the moisture released by the fruit as they ripen, making them ripen even faster. You should also separate them from other fruit, as being in close proximity to other ripening fruits will speed up the process for both. Instead, keep them in an open bowl on the countertop, away from other fruits. You should avoid refrigerating bananas whilst they're ripening, as this can prolong the process, but you can store them in the fridge when they're ripe. They should be good to eat for a week or more. You can also freeze bananas, but this is best when making smoothies or baking, as frozen bananas won't make the nicest snack."

Avocados... Sarah explains:- "Avocados are a popular, healthy breakfast treat, but they can be difficult to keep ripe. When purchasing the fruit, make sure you're buying them at the right stage of ripening. An unripe avocado will feel firm to the touch and will last for roughly a week, whilst a ripe fruit will feel slightly soft and will last for roughly 3 days. Similar to bananas, you should avoid storing avocados near other fruits to slow down the ripening process. They can also be stored in the fridge, but only once they're ripe, where they will last for 3 days to a week. Avocados are also safe to be frozen, where they can be stored for up to 6 months. "

Bread... Sarah says:- "It's the age old question, should you bin or keep bread with spots of mould? Mouldy bread is generally best thrown away, as the mould will likely have spread much further through the loaf than is actually visible. Buying sliced bread is a good, cheaper option for keeping your bread fresh for longer, as mould takes longer to spread throughout the loaf. To keep your bread fresh for longer, it's best to keep it covered, either in a bread bin or bread bag, and try to keep the packaging intact and covering as much of the bread as possible. You should also keep the loaf away from water, which can speed up the development of mould. If you tend to go through your bread slowly, a good option is to freeze it. This keeps the loaf edible and prevents the spread of mould. To thaw the bread, simply use the defrost setting on your toaster to avoid a soggy slice."

Cheese... Sarah shares:- "Storing cheese can be tricky, and the best method often depends on the particular type of cheese. Hard cheeses can be wrapped in clingfilm to be kept fresh for longer, whilst doing the same to soft cheeses will cause them to:- 'sweat'. Instead, keep your soft cheese wrapped in baking paper or a waxed cheese cloth to allow them to:- 'breathe', and then place them in an airtight container. A consistent temperature is important to keep cheese fresh, so it's important to place your cheese in the back of the fridge. This will prevent bacterial growth. Soft cheeses should be consumed quickly after opening, as their high moisture content means mould spreads quickly. Whilst some cheeses, like Stilton, intentionally include mould to add to the flavour, others, like Cheddar, do not benefit from mould, which can in some cases cause illness if consumed. Keep your cheese in an airtight container, and unless it's a particular type of cheese, dispose of it when you see large amounts of mould."

Potatoes... Sarah says:- "Potatoes benefit from being stored in a cool, dark place, which will slow down the sprouting process. Avoid storing them in the fridge, as the cold will turn the starch into sugar and will taint the flavour. You should remove them from their plastic bags and refrain from washing them until you're ready to use them. Keep them separate from other veg, and keep them out of sunlight, which will reduce sprouting. Finally, you can cut off smaller green shoots, and potatoes in the early stages of sprouting are perfectly safe to eat."

Onions... Sarah comments:- "Onions are a staple of many food dishes and are always useful to have in the house. For this reason, it's beneficial to keep them for as long as possible to avoid unnecessary extra purchases. Onions are best stored in a dry, dark place and should not be kept in the fridge. Remove them from their plastic bag to allow the air to circulate around them, and keep them separate from potatoes, as the 2 together may impact the lifespan of both items. You can also safely store chopped onions. Once chopped, add the onion to a freezer bag. If you're using them soon, store them in the fridge, and they can also be frozen for longer periods of time."

For more information about food hygiene courses, visit:- HighSpeedTraining.Co.UK.

For more tips and in-depth guidance, visit High Speed Training Hub, or our article:- What's The Best Way to Store Vegetables? and How to Store Cheese.

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