Frank is a bulldog. He's three years old, weighs about the same as my eight-year-old, and has opinions about everything — including which pubs deserve his presence. Over the past couple of years, he's visited most of the dog-friendly pubs in Southport and surrounding areas. This is his guide, as dictated to me.
What actually makes a pub dog-friendly
There's 'dogs welcome' and then there's genuinely dog-friendly. The difference matters if you've got a big dog who needs space, or a dog who needs to settle before he's comfortable.
- →Water bowl available without asking
- →Enough space between tables to manoeuvre without drama
- →Staff who acknowledge the dog without making it weird
- →Beer garden (for warmer days, and for dogs who need a leg stretch)
- →Treats at the bar — a bonus, not a requirement
The Hesketh Arms, Churchtown
This is Frank's local. It's a proper traditional pub — low ceilings, real ale, a roaring fire in winter. Dogs are welcomed warmly, there's a water bowl by the bar, and the beer garden is large and flat enough for Frank to lumber around without incident.
The Hesketh is also just a genuinely good pub. Food is solid pub grub, service is friendly, and it fills up with regulars at weekends. If you're staying in Southport and want to experience a real local, this is it.
Birkdale and Ainsdale options
The Bold Hotel in Birkdale has a bar area that welcomes dogs. It's a more upmarket setting — the kind of place you bring Frank when you want to look like you have your life together. Staff are unfailingly polite to both of us.
Further out toward Ainsdale, there are a couple of pubs along the coast road that are happy to accommodate dogs. Worth calling ahead to confirm, especially at weekends when it gets busy.
Town centre options
Town centre pubs are more hit and miss. The Ship and Anchor is reliably dog-friendly and has the rock pub atmosphere to prove it. The Windmill on the edge of town is another good option — bigger beer garden, slightly less chaotic on weekends.
🐾Always call ahead on busy event weekends. The Open, the Flower Show, and the Comedy Festival all draw big crowds, and some pubs temporarily restrict dogs in certain areas.
Frank's verdict
If Frank could write, he'd tell you The Hesketh Arms is unbeatable. He'd also tell you that any pub that brings treats unprompted gets an extra star. He has standards, despite appearances.
Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk — Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
