I'm back and this time I will be writing some new reviews as well as making some long-overdue update...
I'm back and this time I will be writing some new reviews as well as making some long-overdue updates on my older work.
Member since:11.07.2000
Reviews:82
Members who trust:43
I must come clean and say that my views of Southport are undoubtedly biased as it is my home town, although I haven't lived there for over ten years. I think I now visit infrequently enough to see the changes, yet frequently enough to be familiar with the town.
Southport was built as a resort town but has always lived in the shadow of its bigger and brasher neighbour, Blackpool. To be fair, if you like Blackpool, then go there. Southport will only disappoint. If you're still open-minded then read on.
Southport is a mid-sized town on the Lancashire (technically Merseyside)
coast about 15 miles north of Liverpool. Its most well known feature is the impressive shopping boulevard, Lord Street. This broad tree-lined street benefits from almost continuous cast iron and glass Victorian canopies which serve to shelter the shopper from the rain or (sadly less frequent) sun. A good range of shops both small and large are within a few minutes walk of this street.
The other well known feature of the town is the range of excellent parks. Southport is a very colourful town in spring and summer and frequently features in the various 'In Bloom' competitions. There are large parks both on the sea front and a little further away from the centre. Botanic Gardens in the quaint old village of Churchtown, to the north of the town centre, features a local museum as well as beautiful floral displays and is well worth a visit. Late each summer Southport stages a three day Flower Show which attracts up to 100,000 visitors.
There is a pleasure pier which is one of the longest surviving in Britain. However, it is currently closed while extensive (and long overdue) renovations are carried out. These are partly funded by the European Union. The work is due to be completed by the end of 2001 but they will need some rapid progress to meet that deadline. I shall update this when I have more information.
The beaches stretch for about 6 miles and some parts, to the south of the pier, are available for parking. The distance to the sea is the stuff of comedy, but it is true that due to the very gentle slope of the beach the sea does goes out a long way. When the tide is in, this has the advantage that you can go a long way before you are out of our depth.
There is also a moderately large funfair, now operated by Blackpool Pleasure Beach, which has enough rides to empty your wallet if you are visiting with children (of any age). This is gradually improving over the years although it's never likely to compete with Blackpool as its growth is limited by its position between the beach and the Marine Lake.
Having mentioned Marine Lake I should say that it is (reputedly) the largest artificial marine (that is to say, salt water) lake in Britain. This may be because no one else wanted one! The lake is quite different in nature between its northern and southern halves, possibly because they were constructed separately over a period of time. The southern part of the lake, between the pier and Pleasureland, is the more tamed area. Bounded by parks and an adjacent miniature railway it is home to various for-hire motor boats and so forth.
The northern section is less tamed and features two large centre islands. It is overlooked by the Promenade and used primarily by sailing clubs who have their clubhouses between the lake and beach. Each summer a 24 hour yatch race is held here - mainly remembered from my younger days as the only source of 24 hour drinking! From time to time other events are held here, for example power boat racing.
Come nightfall and Southport takes on a different air. The centre of town has plenty of pubs and clubs. Although its many years since I last counted, there used to be thirty odd pubs and bars within five minutes' walk. There are at least half a dozen clubs offering scope for dance and drink into the later hours.
There are hotels and guesthouses to cater for just about every pocket from the 4* Prince of Wales down. Virtually all are within a few minutes of the town centre. Restaurants offer cuisine from all corners of the globe with some particularly good Chinese restaurants.
Overall, whether you are spending time with children on the funfair and beach, shopping with your partner or hitting the bars with your mates Southport has something for everyone. Try it sometime!
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I love Southport, maybe because we married there. Lusia.
Scatz500 11.09.2001 14:26
Excellent op! Very informative. I havn't been to Southport since I was about 12, but after reading this I'll deffinately consider giving it another look.
brianlfc 05.09.2001 02:47
Being from Liverpool, Southport has always been our "Day out", I have always loved the place, wnet there a few months back and noticed the place seems to have been given a face-lift and it looks very nice, as for the beach, totally agree with you, it used to take us about 10 minutes just to reach the water (when tide was out) and you could walk out for miles (literary) until it was past your waist, LOL...Excellent op, well done...Brian
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Mar 15th, 2001
(Sep 3rd, 2001)
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