Eating in Southport During Open Week: Book Now or You Won't Eat Well

I'll be honest with you. If you're coming to Southport for The Open in July and you haven't booked a restaurant yet, you're going to struggle. Open week fills every table in this town. I've eaten in most of the restaurants in Southport over 41 years. I know which ones can handle the volume and which ones can't. This is the guide I'd give a friend.

Book these now

The Bold Hotel restaurant in Birkdale is the one most Open visitors want. It's ten minutes' walk from the course, it's excellent, and it will be fully booked every evening of championship week. If you haven't already called, call this week.

Volare on Lord Street is a Southport institution. Proper Italian, consistent, been there for years. It handles busy nights well and the kitchen doesn't fall apart under pressure. Book ahead for the evening but you may find lunchtime slots available closer to the date.

The Warehouse Brasserie on Back Coronation Walk is the kind of place Open visitors discover and wonder why they didn't know about it. Solid cooking, good wine list, better value than you'd expect for the quality. Not as central as Lord Street but worth the short walk.

Good options that handle volume well

Hickory's Smokehouse on the waterfront is big enough to absorb Open week numbers without the wheels coming off. American BBQ, proper portions, always busy anyway. You might get lucky walking in for lunch. Evening is less likely without a reservation.

Southport Market on Market Street is the sensible choice when you can't get a table anywhere else. Multiple independent food traders under one roof. No booking required. Good food across multiple cuisines. If you've got a group that can't agree on what to eat, which is all groups, this solves the problem.

Birkdale village for something quieter

If the town centre feels too hectic, Birkdale village has a handful of independent restaurants within walking distance of the course that Open visitors rarely find. A quieter setting, slightly more residential feel, and some genuinely good food. Worth exploring if you want to eat well without the Lord Street noise.

What to expect on Open week evenings

Every restaurant worth eating in will be full from 6:30pm by Tuesday of Open week. By Thursday it starts at 5:30pm. Book early sittings if that's available. Lunch is more manageable but still busier than normal.

My genuine advice: book three or four evenings now at different restaurants, pay any deposit required, and treat at least one evening as flexible. Southport Market or a pub meal can fill gaps without booking. Don't leave every night to chance.

The pub option

For a relaxed evening watching coverage rather than eating formally, the pubs along Lord Street showing Sky Sports will be the place to be. The Hesketh Arms in Churchtown is worth knowing if you want something away from the centre. Good beer, dog-friendly, Frank-approved.