Background / History
Freida Mo’s opened its doors on St Patrick’s Day in 2018, the brainchild of Sally Ayres, who named the shop after her two grandmothers, Freida and Mo, short for Maureen. Sally came to Lark Lane with a background in music management and entertainment, having previously run a dance school, and she started out with little more than a couple of café tables, a rail of vintage clothing and a case of handmade jewellery. The venture quickly outgrew that first incarnation. Working with designer Laura Brownhill, formerly of Liverpool’s celebrated Kazimier, Sally expanded the floor space and added a Moroccan-inspired courtyard at the rear that doubles as an intimate performance yard. The music side of the business is very much a family affair, with the vinyl collected and sourced by Sally’s father, Paul Ayres, a knowledgeable record collector in his own right.
What You’ll Find
The shop is a happy collision of interests. Rails of carefully chosen vintage clothing run from glamorous pieces dating back to the 1920s through to retro accessories, while glass cases hold handmade jewellery, much of it created by Sally herself. Crates of vinyl sit alongside this, joined in recent years by vintage amplifiers and hi-fi equipment for those building a turntable setup of their own. As South Liverpool’s allergen-specialist bakery, the kitchen turns out homemade cakes and cookies with options for a wide range of dietary needs, served with herbal teas and locally roasted coffee. Gifts, gift vouchers and a popular afternoon tea round out the offering.
Experience / Atmosphere
Colour is everywhere at Freida Mo’s, from the painted purple and pink frontage to the heart-strewn windows and the plant-filled courtyard out back. Inside, the mood is intimate and unhurried, an easy place to flick through records with a cup of tea and a slice of cake to hand. The secret garden comes alive for live music, poetry readings and EP launches, reflecting Sally’s belief that the shop is as much a creative movement as a business. There is a generous community spirit too: the much-loved Giving Gates outside see leftover food and donated clothing left out each week for anyone who might need it.
Why Visit
- Vinyl hand-picked by an expert collector, sitting alongside vintage amps and hi-fi gear
- One of Lark Lane’s most distinctive independents, blending records, vintage fashion and home baking
- South Liverpool’s allergen-specialist bakery, with cakes, cookies and locally roasted coffee
- A Moroccan-inspired courtyard hosting live music, poetry and intimate gigs
- A genuinely community-minded shop, known for its Giving Gates
Summary
Freida Mo’s is one of the most characterful stops on Lark Lane, a place where digging for records, hunting for vintage and stopping for cake all happen under one brilliantly colourful roof. With its family-sourced vinyl, expanding hi-fi corner, allergen-friendly bakery and lively courtyard events, it offers something far richer than a standard record shop visit. Warm, creative and rooted in its community, it rewards anyone willing to linger a while.
