It's good to see refurbishment work underway at an empty Heswall Lower Village shop that will soon be occupied by a company specialising in hog roasts for parties and events.

Formerly the Hedgerows fruit and veg shop, but closed for many years, the refitted premises will become home to Ye Olde Pen Norse Hog Spit Roast.

The opening will come hard on the heels of the launch a couple of months ago of Crush, the desserts and smoothie shop which has reinvigorated the retail unit once occupied by Chapman the butchers.

Ye Olde Pen Norse Hog Spit Roast is the brainchild of John Cowin, an experienced chef who has worked in the past at the Hotel Victoria, Gusto and the Devon Doorway.

From Pensby - one of many local place names which betray the Wirral's Viking past - John tapped into history to name his business.

Looking for somewhere which could serve as an HQ for his company and also showcase what it does, he settled on Lower Heswall.

"People have seen what's going on and stopped to ask what's happening, and they all seem interested and pleased which feels like a really encouraging start," says John.

Initially the new shop will simply promote John's business and act as a base, but in time he hopes to make more of it.

"The plan is to replace the present shop front with bi-folding doors so in better weather we can open up onto the pavement and let people see and easily enter what I'm aiming to be a delicatessen.

"We already have great contacts with local producers of meat and breads like Massey and Sons and Nova and so on, so in addition to catering for parties and events, in the future we'll be able to offer top quality foodstuffs to shoppers - like cheeses, cured meats and many more delicious treats."

The arrival of John's company means that all the retail and service premises on Village Road will be occupied, so a big vote of thanks to him, to Crush, and all the others who work so hard to keep an important little business community alive and well.

John hopes to open the doors to Ye Olde Pen Norse Hog Spit Roast before Christmas. He adds: "I just simply want to keep the local community happy and help stop our small businesses from disappearing as so many have in the past. The future for our local village in on the rise and I want my family name to be apart of it."

His family includes twins JJ and Lola who help out at many events. "This is very much a family venture and luckily they love being involved!" says John.

In the meantime he will be busy locally at the Dee View Inn with a hog roast for Halloween and a smokehouse on bonfire night, so save the dates if you want to get a taste of things to come.

Incidentally, if the thought of a Norse roast has whetted your appetite for knowledge of Wirral's Viking heritage, you can read our recent feature by Professor Steve Harding by clicking or tapping here.