A woman who has run a popular catering van on Ainsdale Beach in Southport for the past 43 years is paying a tearful goodbye to her many customers, saying “we will miss it in so many ways”.
Kathy Lowe, now aged 73, looked back on the many changes she has seen since she began operating in 1978, and believes that Ainsdale boasts the best beach in the UK.
She will continue running her Snack Bar on the beach until later this year, either to the end of the summer season, or continuing up to the end of October half term if weather allows. People can continue to enjoy Kathy’s hot and cold snacks, including burgers, hot dogs, bacon barms, hot roast beef, sausage barms and more.
In years gone by she remembers being open on Boxing Day on Ainsdale Beach with large numbers of crowds down there, along with motorbike races and Ainsdale Lido being open.
Acclaimed local photographer Roger Green, owner of Roger Green Photography, took these superb pictures of Kathy and her Snack Shack in a photographic tribute to the popular local figure.
Kathy said: “That was a surprise when Roger came down to take the pictures! I have always loved his photos of Ainsdale Beach, particularly of the sunsets and the kite surfers.
Kathy Lowe (in the yellow hat) is saying farewell to her customers after running the Snack Shack on Ainsdale Beach in Southport since 1978. Photo by Roger Green of Roger Green Photography“We first opened the Snack Bar in 1978. My husband was a sun worshipper and always enjoyed being on the beach. I ran a guest house, so it started out as something new for us, and I just ended up getting more and more involved with it.
“It ended up that I was there all the time and running the place myself.
“When I am driving down the road, as a little old lady pulling a 17ft-long Snack Shack trailer behind me, I get some funny looks from people!”
Kathy has seen many changes taking place over the years.
She said: “The rules at the beach have become a lot stricter.
“When I first started they used to have motorbike races on the beach, but they had to go, and the sand yachting races had to go too.
“About 20 years ago, I was stopped from cooking chips because we were told we shouldn’t do them any more. But then this year the council said that a pop-up container selling fish and chips could open on the beach. They are selling tea and coffee too. I only found out about it the week before the summer season started. We never even had the chance to bid for this new concession, despite being here for so long.
“It has made a hell of a difference to us and has really impacted on our trade.
“That has put the top hat on it for me, and it is time for us to pack up.”
The response from people in Ainsdale, and from people who have been customers of Kathy’s for many years, has been heartwarming.
She said: “I will be very sad to go.
“There are so many people who have come down to Ainsdale Beach, telling me ‘you can’t go!’
“I am 73 years old now, and my husband is 80. It is time we hung up our pinnies.
“It has been a lovely job to do.
“We will miss it in so many ways.
“The council closes the beach to vehicles at the end of September, and we may go then. If the weather is good enough over October half term, then we could carry on until then. It all depends on the weather.
“Many years ago, I used to be on Ainsdale Beach with the Snack Bar on Boxing Day morning! There were no gates across the beach at the time.
“The beach used to be really busy on Boxing Day.
“I have a lot of regular customers. There are people in Ainsdale who live alone, who come down and have a coffee in the morning and then come down and enjoy a sandwich for lunch with us. “They don’t want to sit at home on their own all day.
“Lots of people from Ainsdale have come down to wish us well after they heard we were going.
“There are some lovely people in Ainsdale.
“One local lady said she will really miss us, so I told her I will come down with a flask each day and say hello. We had some lovely comments from people on a Facebook post on Stand Up For Ainsdale.”
Many people in the area have happy memories of their local food outlet on the beach.
Kathy said: “We used to run an ice cream concession on Ainsdale Beach at one time too, as well as the Snack Bar. That was hard work running both of them!
“Our ice cream supplier was a family concern based in Blackpool.
“We used to drive over and pick up the ice cream in Blackpool at midnight and be back in time to open on Ainsdale Beach the next morning!
“For me, Ainsdale is by far the best beach. Formby is good too, but there you have to climb over the dunes to get there. It’s not easy if you have small children with you.
“Ainsdale Beach is just beautiful, and Ainsdale is a beautiful village.
“We have been helping Sefton Council recently by giving out leaflets to people about the consultation they are running about possible changes to the area.
“I believe the beach is beautiful the way it is.
“When we first started, Ainsdale Lido was still open.
“The sand dunes have gone out so far and grown so high since we started, they are like mini mountains now! There is an old lifeguard platform buried under there.
“They used to have toilets at both ends of the beach too. There would be teams going round cleaning them both. There was a lady attendant in the ladies toilets, and a gentleman on duty in the gents toilets. It is a shame the old toilet block is closed now. They have put up portable cabins near the beach, but they are too far to walk for some people.
“There would be a beach nurse on hand for lost children, or to treat children who suffered from jellyfish stings or other injuries.”
The presence of Pontins holiday park in Ainsdale has long been a talking point locally.
Kathy said: “I remember a few years ago when new owners came in and they were going to build log cabins there, and take over Toad Hall and do something with that. It was a shame that never happened.
“It needs someone who cares about the place to take it over and make it into something special.
“They say Pontins is really great for children. The entertainment there is wonderful. But it just needs someone to invest in the site and really improve it.”
Local residents have been paying their tributes to Kathy on the Stand Up For Ainsdale Facebook group.
Janet Cliffe said: “What amazing service, and to so many locals, not to mention the holiday makers. They need a fond farewell for the service they have provided.
“It will not be the same next year without her arriving in her 4×4 and pulling the trailer. “Setting up, and her husband not far behind, with the dog and their grandchildren. It’s almost like a fairy tale.”
Tara Davies said: “Gonna miss you guys, best of luck in your retirement!”
James Callaghan said: “Congrats Kathy Lowe enjoy your retirement 43 years Selling snacks to holidaymakers.”
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