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Pints, Pubs & the Prom: A Southport Seaside Adventure
I headed over to Southport for a brilliant day exploring some of the town’s pubs, joined along the way by David and Pete from Southport and District CAMRA. I worked my way through nine venues, from newer places like The Bugle Tap to proper historic gems including The Guest House, Windmill and Bold Hotel. There was a great mix of traditional pubs, independent beer bars and plenty of local character, with a good choice of cask and keg beer throughout. Finishing beside the Marine Lake at the tiny, Grade II listed Lakeside Inn was a lovely way to round off the day.
Southport began developing as a seaside resort in the late eighteenth century, when sea bathing became fashionable. In 1792, Churchtown innkeeper William Sutton built a bathing house among the dunes, followed by a more permanent hotel in 1798, when the name “South Port” is believed to have emerged. The town expanded rapidly during the nineteenth century, helped by the arrival of the railways in the 1840s. Lord Street developed into its famous broad boulevard, lined with hotels, shops and grand buildings. Southport Pier opened in 1860, and the resort became one of Victorian Britain’s best-known and most popular seaside destinations.
Who I met
It was great spending part of the day with David and Pete from Southport and District CAMRA, who joined me for several pubs around Southport.
Pubs on this trip
Jump straight to any stop:
Tap & Bottles
The Bugle Tap
The Masons Arms
The Guesthouse
Punch Tarmey’s
The Bold Hotel
Sinclair’s Bar
The Windmill
The Lakeside Inn
Tap & Bottles
I headed over to Southport, with my first visit of the day being to Tap and Bottles, where I met up with David from Southport and District CAMRA who joined me for a few pubs. Tap & Bottles opened in Southport’s Cambridge Walk in August 2014, founded by Julian Burgess as a small independent beer bar and bottle shop. It quickly became one of the town’s early specialist craft beer venues, building a loyal following for cask ale and a wide range of modern beers. Its popularity meant the pub expanded into the neighbouring unit in 2016, giving it more room while keeping its cosy feel. Over the years, Tap & Bottles has twice been named Merseyside CAMRA Pub of the Year. Still independently run in town, it celebrated its 12th birthday in August 2026.
Inside, Tap & Bottles has a cosy, quirky pub feel, with plenty to catch the eye. The space is split across a couple of areas, filled with simple wooden tables, mismatched chairs and bench seating. Deep green and burgundy walls add warmth, while fairy lights stretch across the ceilings alongside hanging beer cans and brewery decorations. There are framed drawings, stickers and bits of beer memorabilia around the walls, giving the place plenty of personality. The compact wooden bar keeps things traditional and unfussy, while the large windows bring in plenty of light. It all feels relaxed, friendly and pleasantly lived-in.
There was plenty of choice, with 4 cask ales, a great variety of keg beers and an extensive selection of cans and bottles. I went for Sitar by Colbier Brew Co., brewed in collaboration with Fell Brewery, an East India pale ale with earthy spice, berry and citrus flavours and a smooth, balanced finish.
The Bugle Tap
Next up in Southport was The Bugle Tap. The Bugle Tap is a new addition to Southport’s pub scene, opening at 118 Lord Street on 4 March 2026. Before becoming a micropub, the unit was home to Plaza Cards, a long-running Southport business that traded for more than 60 years before closing in January 2024. The shop then stood empty for around two years before plans were approved to turn it into a bar. Its name has a lovely local connection too: the pub faces Southport War Memorial, with “Bugle” referring to the playing of the Last Post. It has given this Lord Street unit a fresh start.
Inside, the Bugle Tap has a warm, relaxed feel with plenty of character. Deep red walls and a dark ceiling give the room a cosy look, helped by warm hanging bulbs and little lights around the bar. Wooden benches, simple tables and metal chairs keep things informal, while old beer barrels are cleverly used as tables and along the front of the bar. Framed music, beer and vintage-style posters cover the walls and add plenty of personality. The long room has a slightly quirky, lived-in feel, but still feels comfortable and welcoming, with plenty of different spots to settle down for a drink.
There were 3 cask ales alongside a great choice of keg beers. I went for Nectaron Extra Pale Ale by HUSH Brewing Co, a pale ale with tropical fruit and citrus flavours and a clean, refreshing finish.
The Masons Arms
A short walk away was Masons Arms. The Masons Arms is a traditional pub tucked away on Anchor Street, close to Southport railway station and behind the town’s former main Post Office. The building is described as having Victorian character, and the pub has kept much of its old-fashioned feel over the years. Robinsons Brewery owned the Masons Arms for a long period, with brewery records listing it among their pubs by 1992. It remained Southport’s only Robinsons pub into the 2020s before later becoming a free house. Despite changes behind the scenes, it has stayed a cosy town-centre pub with a strong following for real ale.
Inside, the Masons Arms has a warm, traditional pub feel, with plenty of dark wood, cosy corners and lots of character. Rich wooden panelling runs around the rooms, while decorative arched partitions and glass-fronted cabinets add to the old-fashioned look. There’s a mix of built-in bench seating, wooden chairs, stools and a few softer armchairs, giving each area a slightly different feel. Patterned wallpaper, framed pictures and little decorative touches add some colour, while the fireplace and warm lighting make the space feel especially welcoming. Overall, it feels cosy, comfortable and full of proper pub character.
There were 5 cask ales available alongside a range of draught options. I went for Chapel Rock by Skinner’s Brewery, an English IPA with orange, citrus and tropical fruit flavours and a refreshing finish.
The Guesthouse
A short walk brought me next to The Guesthouse, where I also met up with Pete from Southport and District CAMRA. The Guest House has been part of Union Street for over a century. Robert Haslam was running a beerhouse at number 16 by 1900, and he later rebuilt it together with the neighbouring beerhouse at number 14. The present pub was completed by 1910, in an attractive Arts and Crafts Tudor style with sandstone, timber framing and decorative stained glass. Much of its original layout and woodwork survives, including three drinking rooms. The building became Grade II listed in 2002, recognising its special historic and architectural interest. It remains one of Southport’s best-preserved examples of an early twentieth-century public house.
Inside, the Guest House feels every bit like a proper traditional pub, with dark wood panelling, stained glass and plenty of cosy little corners. The different rooms each have their own character, with buttoned bench seating, wooden tables, stools and decorative fireplaces adding to the old-fashioned feel. Warm wall lights and patterned ceilings make it feel especially welcoming, while the wooden bar and glazed partitions help keep that classic pub layout. There are lots of small details to notice without it ever feeling cluttered. Out the back, there is also a simple enclosed courtyard with plenty of seating for warmer days.
There was plenty of choice, with 8 cask ales, a still cider and a wide range of draught options. I went for Hophead by Dark Star Brewing Co, an English golden ale with floral and elderflower flavours and a clean, refreshing finish.
Punch Tarmey’s
Next up in Southport was to Punch Tarmey’s. Punch Tarmey’s has a surprisingly long story behind its Lord Street home. Part of the building can be traced back to 1824 or earlier, when it formed part of a pair of cottages. By 1834 the row was known as Green Hill Cottages, with one adjoining property used as a Roman Catholic chapel. Over the years the buildings served as lodgings and apartments, while by the 1890s one section was known as Holly House. The corner part was also used as a post office and later, during the mid-20th century, as a butcher’s shop. More recently, the premises were home to Mulligans before Punch Tarmey’s opened here in December 2016.
Inside, Punch Tarmey’s has a warm, traditional pub feel, with plenty of dark wood, panelled walls and lots of little details adding character. The bar is a real focal point, surrounded by high stools, while leather chairs, bench seating and wooden tables give plenty of places to settle in. Black and white tiled flooring adds to the classic look, with framed pictures and decorative touches around the different areas. The pub feels spacious without losing its cosy feel, with softer lighting further inside. Outside, there’s also a large seating area with plenty of picnic tables, making a great spot on a sunny day.
There were 4 cask ales alongside a variety of draught choices. I went for Glacier by Beartown Brewery, a super-pale ale with light, refreshing flavours and a crisp, clean finish.
The Bold Hotel
Over the road is Bold Hotel. The Bold Hotel has been part of Southport since 1832, when it was built by Thomas Mawdsley in a late Georgian style. Originally known as the Bold Arms, it opened under licensee John Halfrey, who remained there for more than forty years. The building still keeps much of its grand early character, including its stucco frontage, bay windows and impressive Doric porch. Historic England describes it as probably the oldest surviving hotel in Southport, and it has been Grade II listed since 1951. Over the years it has been altered and updated, but it remains one of Lord Street’s best-known historic landmarks.
Inside, the Bold Hotel has a smart but comfortable feel, mixing traditional pub style with a few more modern touches. There’s plenty of dark wood, patterned tiled flooring and soft green panelling, along with leather chairs, buttoned seating and large wooden tables. Framed pictures, patterned wallpaper and lots of greenery add extra character, while the warm lighting keeps the bigger space feeling cosy. Different seating areas help break up the room nicely, from smaller tables to long benches for groups. Outside, there’s also a good-sized seating area at the front, making a pleasant spot to sit when the weather is good.
There were 3 cask ales alongside a selection of draught options. I went for First Class by Titanic Brewery, a session bitter with smooth, slightly sweet malt flavours and a subtle nutty finish.
Sinclair’s Bar
Straight over the road again to Sinclair’s Bar. Sinclair’s at 589 Lord Street is a new name, but the bar has a little more history behind it. The corner premises previously traded as Peaky Blinders Bar, part of a Southport venture founded by John Sinclair in 2015. In March 2024, the Lord Street venue was relaunched as Sinclair’s Bar, Cocktail Lounge & Rooms. The new name was chosen in tribute to John, who died in 2020, while moving away from the Peaky Blinders theme. Today it continues as a bar with accommodation above, occupying an old corner shop at the northern end of Southport’s grand Lord Street boulevard.
Inside, Sinclair’s has a warm, smart feel with plenty of traditional pub character. A long dark wooden bar runs along one side of the room, matched by parquet-style flooring and yellow-topped bar stools. Large windows bring plenty of natural light into the front, where there is a mix of tables, cushioned chairs and bench seating. Dark green upholstery, cream armchairs and mustard-coloured seats add a bit of colour without making the room feel too modern. Decorative pendant lights give the darker parts of the pub a cosy glow, while the open layout still feels relaxed, comfortable and welcoming.
There were 3 cask ales alongside a choice of draught options. I went for Filly Close Blonde by Reedley Hallows Brewery Co, a blonde ale with light fruity flavours, gentle spice and a smooth finish.
The Windmill
I headed next to The Windmill. The Windmill is one of Southport’s long-established traditional pubs, although its history is a little different from some of the stories that have been repeated over the years. The building itself dates back to the 1830s and was originally used as a lodging house. More recent local research has found the earliest evidence of it operating as a beerhouse in 1868, with it likely becoming one around 1867. Over the years, The Windmill passed through the hands of several brewers, including Nuttall’s, Matthew Brown, Scottish & Newcastle and later Heineken. More than 150 years later, it remains a traditional local pub on Seabank Road.
Inside, the Windmill has a warm, traditional pub feel, with dark wood, cream walls and deep green details running throughout. The long wooden bar gives the main room plenty of character, while separate seating areas make the pub feel cosy rather than too open. There’s a good mix of wooden tables, chairs and comfortable bench seating, with patterned wallpaper adding a bit of colour in one of the snugger corners. Framed old photographs, maps and pub memorabilia cover the walls, while a fireplace adds to the homely look. A dartboard and other traditional pub touches help keep everything relaxed, friendly and pleasantly old-fashioned.
There were 3 cask ales alongside a range of keg options. I went for Tenor by Colbier Brew Co., a pale ale with light citrus and fruity flavours and a clean, refreshing finish.
The Lakeside Inn
My final pub in Southport was The Lakeside Inn. The Lakeside Inn is one of Southport’s most distinctive little pubs, standing beside the Marine Lake on the Promenade. Historic England dates the building to somewhere between the lake’s expansion in the 1890s and its formal opening by King George V in 1913. Built in a charming timber-framed style with boarded walls and a red tiled roof, it has long been a familiar part of the lakeside scene. The pub was once listed by Guinness as Britain’s smallest pub, something it is still well known for today. In 1999, the Lakeside Inn was officially given Grade II listed status too.
Inside, the Lakeside Inn is small, cosy and packed with character. The room has red ceilings, cream walls and a compact bar, with buttoned bench seating and little tables making the most of the space. Nautical touches are everywhere, including a ship’s wheel, life ring and old lamps, while military crests, framed music prints and other memorabilia cover the walls. Mirrors around the bar help the room feel a little bigger and brighter. Outside, there’s a lovely waterside terrace with plenty of seating and wide views across the Marine Lake, making it a great spot on a sunny day.
There were 3 cask ales alongside a choice of keg beers. I went for White Witch by Moorhouse’s Brewery, a blonde ale with grapefruit and fresh citrus flavours and a clean, refreshing finish.
