The question comes up every summer. Usually from one of mine, approximately three minutes after we park. So here is the guide I have built up over years of being a Southport local with an ice cream habit and four kids with strong opinions.
Silcocks on the Seafront
The Silcock family have been on the Southport seafront for generations. The parlour near Pleasureland is the classic option: proper whippy, a good range of flavours, cones or tubs. It is not a boutique artisan experience. It is exactly what you want when you are standing on the promenade on a warm afternoon and need something cold in your hand within 90 seconds.
The candyfloss and sweet stalls along the front have ice cream too. Fine. But if you are going to do the seafront ice cream properly, Silcocks is the one.
Churchtown: The Hesketh Arms Garden or Fernley's
If you are in Churchtown, Fernley's bakery on the high street does good ice cream and gelato. Small queue on hot days but moves quickly. Worth it if you are already in the village.
The Hesketh Arms beer garden in summer sells ice lollies and basic ice cream. Not the point of the pub, but handy if the kids are with you and the adults want to sit down with a drink.
Southport Market
Southport Market on Market Street has had a dessert trader for a while now. The offering changes year to year but there is usually a waffle and ice cream option inside. Good for a rainy day when you want something indulgent without standing on a windy promenade.
Lord Street Cafes
Several of the cafes along Lord Street do proper sundaes and gelato. Seasons Coffee on Lord Street is the one I keep going back to: good quality coffee and the dessert options are properly done. Worth stopping in rather than grabbing a cone and walking.
The Honest Seafront Note
The kiosks on the promenade vary in quality. Some are excellent. Some are not. The ones near the Marine Lake and around the pleasure beach end of the promenade are generally consistent. If you are at Ainsdale beach, there are usually mobile ice cream vans in the car park on hot days, with all the unreliability that implies.
Best advice: hot day, kids in the car, Marine Drive car park, Silcocks on the prom. That is the reliable option. Everything else is a bonus.
What to Bring
- →Napkins. Always more napkins than you think.
- →On a really hot day the queue at the main seafront kiosks can be ten minutes. Worth walking slightly further to avoid the worst of it.
- →Most parlours are card only now. Keep that in mind.
Exploring Southport with kids this summer?
Full Kids Guide to Southport →Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk. Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
