June in Southport is a good month. Not peak summer busy, not the quiet of winter. The weather is improving, the daylight is at its longest, and there are some genuinely worth-attending events coming up. Here's what to have on the radar.
The Open Is Six Weeks Away
Royal Birkdale. 12 to 19 July. If you're coming to Southport for The Open, June is the last window to sort out accommodation. I mean it. Most hotels in the town are already full for Open week. Self-catering and holiday lets are your best option at this point.
The good restaurants are also booking up for Open week. If you're staying for the golf, I would sort your dinner reservations now rather than leaving it to July. The Bold, Warehouse Kitchen, Bistrot Pierre on Lord Street — these will fill up.
Full guide to The Open 2026 in Southport:
The Open 2026 Guide →Armed Forces Festival at the End of June
27 and 28 June. Free. The Promenade and King's Gardens. The Armed Forces Festival is one of the best events in Southport's calendar and this year it has some extra significance. There is a serious community push to bid to host the National Armed Forces Day, and 2026 is shaping up to be a bigger event than previous years.
Families tend to find this one genuinely good. Military vehicle displays, marching bands, the Drumhead Service, fly-overs (weather permitting). It's one of those events where Southport does itself proud.
Read the full guide to the Armed Forces Festival:
Armed Forces Festival Guide →The Seafront and Beach in June
June is one of the better months for the seafront. The tide is more predictable, the evenings are long, and Marine Drive is worth a walk on a clear evening. If you're after the beach, get there before 10am on weekends. By mid-morning it fills up on good weather days and the car park on Marine Drive fills with it.
Ainsdale Beach is slightly less frantic than Marine Drive on busy days. Worth knowing if you want a bit more space.
Eating Out in June
June is a good time to get a table at the restaurants that fill up in July and August. Book ahead for weekends at The Bold, Hesketh Arms in Churchtown, and anything in Birkdale village.
Southport Market on Market Street is a reliable option if you want something more casual and flexible. No booking needed, indoor seating, decent range of food.
June Summary
- →Food and Drink Festival: 29–31 May (this weekend, just in time)
- →Armed Forces Festival: 27–28 June, free, Promenade
- →The Open: 12–19 July — last chance to book accommodation
- →Daylight until 10pm: long evenings are worth making the most of
- →Beach and seafront: arrive early on weekends
Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk. Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
