Lord Street has had a lot of new openings in recent years. Most of them are fine. One or two have been genuinely good. Gemini Lounge is the one I've been recommending to people who ask where to go for a proper night out. Somewhere that's not a chain, not a dive bar, and not trying so hard it becomes exhausting.
It's in the old NatWest bank building on Lord Street. High ceilings, ornate plasterwork, the kind of bones that most bars can only dream of. Whoever converted it had the sense to lean into the architecture rather than fight it. The result feels like a place that has always existed, which is harder to pull off than it sounds.
The Drinks
The cocktail list is solid. Not a gimmick list: no dry ice theatrics, no drinks served in lightbulbs. Just well-executed cocktails at prices that are high but not London-high. I had an Old Fashioned that was genuinely one of the better ones I've had in the northwest. My wife had something with elderflower and gin that she declared excellent. I believe her.
They do have a wine list and a reasonable selection of beers, but you're here for cocktails. The bar staff know what they're doing. On a Friday night with the place three-quarters full, service was confident and unhurried. That's harder than it looks.
The Food
The food isn't an afterthought. Gemini does sushi, which surprised me the first time I saw it. Not an obvious fit for a Victorian bank on Lord Street, but it works. The short rib is the standout on the main menu: proper slow-cooked, the kind that falls apart without effort. They also do a Sunday roast that I haven't tried but have heard consistently good things about from people who have.
It's not a full restaurant in the traditional sense. You can eat at the bar or at tables. The atmosphere is more cocktail bar with serious food than restaurant with a drinks menu. Which is exactly what Lord Street needed.
The Practical Details
- →Address: Lord Street, Southport. In the old NatWest bank building, between the post office and the arcade end
- →Booking: strongly recommended at weekends. Walk-ins are possible earlier in the week
- →Kids: this is an evening venue. Not somewhere for Sunday lunch with a pushchair
- →Parking: Lord Street car parks are the obvious choice. Town centre parking guide on SouthportGuide if you need it
- →Open most evenings; check their social media for current hours as they vary
The Honest Assessment
Southport doesn't have many places in this category: upmarket without being pretentious, with food that's genuinely worth eating and drinks that are properly made. Gemini fills a gap on Lord Street that has existed for a while. If you're visiting the town and want somewhere better than a chain bar for Friday evening drinks, this is the answer.
The building alone is worth a visit. Every town should have a few places that remind you architecture matters. Gemini Lounge is one of them.
📍Gemini Lounge, Lord Street, Southport PR8 1QR. Book ahead at weekends. Smart casual dress. Cocktails from around £10.
More of Terry's restaurant picks for Southport:
Best Restaurants in Southport 2026 →Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk. Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
