I don't go out as much as I used to. Four kids will do that. But when I do, I know where I'm going. Southport's bar scene isn't Manchester or Liverpool, and it shouldn't try to be. What it is, when it's at its best, is proper local pubs and bars with character, decent drinks, and the kind of atmosphere that comes from people who actually live here.
Coopers Bar
My first port of call, every time. Coopers is a family-run independent bar that does jazz on Sundays, live rock and acoustic acts on Fridays and Saturdays, and open mic on Sunday evenings. It's been a Southport institution for years. Not flashy, not trying to be anything it isn't. Just a genuinely good bar with consistently good music and a crowd that's there for the right reasons.
Along the Lord Street stretch
Lord Street has a decent range of bars at the southern end in particular. The mix changes year to year — new places open, some don't last — but the core of independent and small-chain bars along that stretch makes for a good starting point for an evening out.
The Hesketh Arms, Churchtown
Not technically Lord Street, but worth the short journey. Real ale, proper pub atmosphere, regular live music. If you want a 'Southport local' experience rather than a 'bar on a main street' experience, the Hesketh delivers it.
What Southport nightlife actually looks like
Southport has a town centre late-night scene that's livelier than you might expect for a seaside resort. Banff is the main nightclub option for those who want that. But the most enjoyable nights here tend to be in the pubs and bars that have live music — there's a genuinely active live music scene across multiple venues.
- →The Auld Dubliner — traditional Irish pub with regular live acts
- →The Ship and Anchor — old-school rock pub with Friday and Saturday bands
- →Avenue Southport — central spot with acoustic acts
- →Kokomo — neighbourhood bar with live music Thursday to Sunday
🎶Check the Southport Live Music Facebook page before you visit — it's the best single source for what's happening on any given weekend. Good for planning a night where you follow the music rather than committing to one venue.
The honest verdict
Southport's best nights are in its live music pubs. Coopers on a Friday. The Hesketh on a Sunday. The Ship and Anchor on a weekend. That's a better night out than trying to replicate what you'd get in a bigger city. Know what Southport does well, and enjoy it.
Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk — Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
