Southport Beer Week runs 20–25 May and it is, straightforwardly, the best week to visit Southport if you like a proper drink. Six days, 18 pubs across the town centre, 90+ beers, and a free ale trail stamp card that you can pick up from any participating venue.
🍺Southport Beer Week: 20–25 May 2026. 18 pubs. 90+ beers. Free ale trail stamp card. Collect stamps at each venue. Details at southportbid.com.
How the Ale Trail Works
Pick up a stamp card from any participating pub. Every time you visit a venue and buy a beer, you get a stamp. Once you've collected a certain number of stamps, you can exchange the card for a reward — previous years it's been a free pint or a certificate. The trail is designed to get people moving around town rather than staying in one place all evening, which is the right idea.
The 18 venues are spread across the town centre and include most of the main pubs — The Hesketh Arms in Churchtown usually participates, as do the more central pubs on Lord Street and Neville Street. The full list goes up on southportbid.com a week or two beforehand.
The Beers
90+ beers across the week, rotating across venues. A mix of local and regional cask ales, craft keg, and guest beers from breweries across the North West and beyond. If you're serious about it, it's worth checking which pubs are running which guest beers — some venues put more effort into the curation than others.
The Willow Grove (Wetherspoon, PR9 0NJ) typically has the widest selection of guest ales in one place during Beer Week. The Punchbowl and The Guest House are usually worth visiting if you want somewhere more traditional. The Atkinson's bar is a good spot if you want something a bit more considered with the food side.
Going With the Kids
Most of the pubs have outdoor areas for the better weather. If you're taking children, the early part of the evening on a weekday is fine. Neville Street later on gets busy and loud — it's a proper night-out area. Know where you're going and when.
Parking and Getting Home
If you're driving in, park and plan to stay over or get a taxi back. Southport has plenty of taxis and Uber operates here. The NCP on London Street (PR8 1HR) and Market Way car park (PR8 1EH) are both central and open late.
See all bars and pubs in Southport:
Bars & Pubs in Southport →Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk. Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
