SOUTHPORT : IT BEGINS

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… jumping frog,

Last Sunday, after a week selling charity tat, I set off for Southport, home to the world’s biggest lawnmower museum and half the UK’s micro pubs.

I waved goodbye to my favourite bar towel,

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Still smells of beer

and drove the 4hrs 20 past the great UK cities of Derby, Stoke and Manchester.

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I’m an A50 man

Here, you get four (4) new small pubs in this year’s Guide, in a town of 90,000. Only Totnes can rival that level of GBG excitement.

Sefton Borough really is the new Thanet, for better or worse.  And you know how I struggle to find entertaining things to say about micro pubs.

But I have nothing but warm words for Southport, looking resplendent from the window of my £27 B&B.

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The Albert & Victoria – Bargain, H&C in all rooms
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Victoria, who co-founded my Guest House

No, I’m a fan* because of the contrasts between the grandeur of Lord Street and the grit of the arcades leading down to the pier.  Some excellent toy grabbing machines for the purist.

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Let joy be unfounded

For folk who like this sort of thing (possibly just me), here’s a list of all my Southport ticks, some 25 over a decade and a half.  A real mix of Tetley boozers, hotel bars, bottle shops, Herne-compliant micros, Spoons, fun pubs and oddities.

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The London was an Oakwell pub, a sort of poor man’s Sam Smiths, and consequently brilliant.

Just about the only type of entry not seen in Southport is the genuine social club. Surely the Cons Club deserves a chance ?

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Anyone know if they sell Golden Sands ?

For now, the newbie is Peaky Blinders, a theme pub drawing on the authentic Brummy backstreet Carling boozer so beloved of Ian Clarkson.  Promisingly, there’s a tribute pub to Peaky Blinders called Peaky Bliners just up the road according to WhatPub. I sense a ploy to confuse tickers.

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It’s a bar, not a micro

Rather like the nearby Sandgrounder, this is a seaside bar rather than a micro, closer in style to Chorlton than Chatham.   Which means it operates on commercial principles, being open when people want a drink.  It’ll never catch on.

You might find the quirkiness a bit much, but at least it has seats from which your legs can actually reach the floor.

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Bar flies

AS LONG AS YOU SIT AWAY FROM THE BAR !

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No beer mats, mind

Quite a decent beer line-up; not too big, not too obscure.

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Go for Stog

The Robbies was off, so I had the Stog while the barmaid hid behind the pump clip.

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Poor hide & seek effort

I felt a tap on my shoulder from a man wearing braces, always a worrying moment.

“Is that one a dark beer then ?”

Being a beer sommelier Level -3, I was able to tell him that yes, it was a dark beer, as the pump clip was black. I couldn’t tell him it was 2 degrees too warm from the clip.

MUSIC CHOICE: Lazy Sunday Afternoon.

 

* Full disclosure: I have a cousin now living in Birkdale.  Not sure how he’s my cousin, but in the Fens everyone is your cousin.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

18 thoughts on “SOUTHPORT : IT BEGINS”

  1. Quite a lot of trips to Scouseport between early Nineties & 2002, when in same division. Much the lesser human being, as can recall uttering few warm words. 🙂

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  2. More lists please! Recognise that lot- the London was the best of the lot. More than anywhere Southport typifies the transition over the years to a different economic model of smaller pubs/bottle shops. The likes of the Pines is not a micropub at all, just a small shop front bar. The distinction is important to some…..

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    1. Yes, good point about transition. The traditional pubs (remember good Thwaites & Tetley pubs) have long gone, replaced by new bottle shop. I’m coming onto the bar, and you’re right, it’s a neighbourhood bar, though it’s a subtle distinction.

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    2. Also, am struck by realisation that Simon (BRAPA) will be turning up at places like Southport (and Wigan and Ramsgate are similar) to do a set of GBG pubs completely different to the ones you and I did. Not that the beer is any worse, but they lack variety of custom.

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    1. I believe Sa Miguel is cheaper there, but then it’s not the authentic San Miguel here.

      Otherwise, no idea. Sun is very overrated, which is why I’m heading up to Scotland today to avoid it. What’s the weather like your way ?

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      1. I’d say it is not very different from Scotland at the moment. Rain, wind and 10 degrees now. Forecast says it’ll hit the 20s in a couple of days. Variation is key to not getting tired of anything.

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  6. Steve Marriott is arguably most underrated vocalist of sixties… discuss…only been to Southport with Nuneaton Borough for a dreadful conference game in 02/03 but I like seaside towns as always have rough diamonds

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