Meet the 21-year-old Fylde Coast entrepreneur with four businesses

It’s fair to say that 21-year-old Declan Stephen, from Garstang, has had a rewarding few years.

Since the age of 16, he has managed to set up a number of highly successful businesses, including one bar, one bar/restaurant, an AirBnB business and a yoga and pilates studio. He is also close to opening up a third bar.

After battling with dyslexia in school Declan decided against the ‘academic’ route of college and instead chose to hone his skills during a two year business apprenticeship at the Barn in Scorton.

However, after three years managing the Barn, Declan was left wanting more. He explained to the Gazette: “There was a burning desire in me, I knew I could do it alone and run my own place. I was only 19 years old at the time, but the time just felt right. We got the keys to the building here in Garstang in October 2024, and the rest is now history.”

In November 2024 Declan opened Nineteen Kitchen and Bar in Garstang, a bistro-style bar serving both great quality food and an excellent array of drinks.

“Our biggest strength is our diversity. We sell restaurant quality food in a bar setting. On Friday and Saturday nights we are an incredibly busy bar, but you've also got a family of six having a birthday meal, or a couple coming in for their tea as they do every week. We do well because we service so many different markets.

Despite some early scepticism and doubts, Nineteen flew out of the stalls and quickly established itself as the place to visit in Garstang.

While many entrepreneurs- especially those as young as Declan- might’ve been content with one successful business, the then 20-year-old spotted another ‘golden opportunity’.

Just two doors down the high street from his existing place, Declan noticed that an old bank in a prime location had been sitting vacant for months on end. The entrepreneur continued: “Barclays Bank had been derelict for four-and-a-half years by the time we bought the building, and that for me was really upsetting: it was an eyesore in the town.

“I thought, I might as well give this a go. I decided to set up Treble 20, a sports bar with a darts theme which is open until late at night, as I saw the potential to get young people back into the town.”

Treble 20 has been open for 10 months and has gone from strength to strength, offering a new kind of experience for customers in the area. For Declan, the opportunity to open two businesses in his hometown has been nothing short of amazing.

“I think, being a young entrepreneur in your hometown has so many pros. There’s a lot of competition, but I like that, because the more bars there are, the more trade there is for everybody.

“I absolutely love what I do, I wouldn't change it for the world. I'm so glad that I took the risk and it's absolutely paid off. Obviously, I’m still only 21, but I don’t think I’ll ever stop trying to expand.

Who knows what’s next? I’m actively working on plans and I have something in the pipeline which is very close to completion, which I can’t wait to share with everyone.”