Most people visiting Southport for The Open base themselves in the town centre and get the shuttle. That works. But if you're staying for more than one day, or you just want to be closer to the action, Birkdale village is worth knowing about.
Birkdale village is the residential area just south of Royal Birkdale Golf Club, centred on Liverpool Road. It has its own restaurants, pubs, and a handful of independent shops. And it is roughly 10 to 15 minutes on foot from the main spectator entrance to the course.
📍Birkdale village: Liverpool Road, PR8 4. Walking distance to Royal Birkdale. No shuttle needed.
Distance From the Course
The main spectator entrance for The Open 2026 is on Waterloo Road. From Liverpool Road in Birkdale village, that is roughly a 12 to 15 minute walk south. During Open week, the roads around the club are controlled, which means walking is often faster than sitting in a taxi queue anyway.
If you want a taxi from the village to the course entrance, it is around five minutes and plentiful during Open week. You will not be waiting long.
Where to Eat in Birkdale Village
The Bold Hotel on Liverpool Road has a decent restaurant. Book ahead for Open week — it will fill up. It is not the most exciting meal in Southport, but it is reliable, walkable from the course, and will still have tables when more interesting options are full.
Trattoria 51 is a good Italian, also on Liverpool Road. Worth booking if you are in the village for the week. There are also a couple of cafes for a working breakfast before heading to the course. Nothing spectacular, but they do the job.
Full guide to where to eat during Open week:
Restaurants near Royal Birkdale →Where to Drink
The Fisherman's Rest on Wennington Road is Birkdale's best pub. Beer garden. Proper pub food. It gets busy during Open week but nothing like the town centre. Worth the walk.
The Birkdale pub on Liverpool Road is the most convenient option if you do not want to go far. Decent enough. Open late during Open week. Both pubs will have the golf on during championship rounds.
Full list of pubs near Royal Birkdale:
Pubs near the course →Staying in Birkdale
Birkdale has B&Bs and guesthouses scattered around the village streets. Most will be full for Open week if you have not already booked. But it is also good territory for self-catering. Properties in the PR8 4 postcodes put you 15 minutes' walk from the course without dealing with town centre traffic or relying on the shuttle.
I have watched people make the mistake of booking accommodation in Southport town centre, then spending 45 minutes each day trying to get close to Royal Birkdale. Birkdale is the smarter call. Less atmosphere, more practicality. If your priority is the golf, base yourself here.
Accommodation in and around Birkdale for The Open:
Where to Stay for The Open →What Birkdale Village Is Like During Open Week
It gets busy. The village pubs fill up in the evenings with spectators who have walked back from the course. The restaurants are full by 7pm. But it is a different type of busy to the town centre. Quieter, more local, more manageable.
There is a specific energy to the place during Open week that does not exist any other time. The streets closest to the club see the players and their entourages moving around. The whole area has a pulse to it. Being based here rather than in town means you feel that rather than watching it on the news at night.
⛳The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale: 12 to 19 July 2026. Full visitor guide, transport, accommodation and restaurants:
The Open 2026 Complete Guide →Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk. Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
