The Open Championship 2026 is at Royal Birkdale, 12-19 July. Not everyone has a ticket and even if you do, you're not going to be there all seven days. If you're in Southport during Open week and you want to watch the coverage, here's where I'd go.
Most of the better pubs in Southport will have screens up for the main championship days. Sky Sports has the UK broadcast rights. A couple of the town centre pubs have multiple screens and decent sound. For the casual viewer who just wants a pint and a few hours of coverage, this is the right approach.
Town Centre Pubs With Screens
The Hesketh Arms on Cambridge Road is one of the best for a live sport atmosphere. It's a proper pub, not a sports bar, but it has screens and the coverage is usually well set up for major events. Get there early on weekend days. It fills up.
The Windmill on Lord Street is another solid option. More central, slightly younger crowd, but it knows how to do a televised event. The garden is worth it if the weather holds.
Southport Market on Market Street has the advantage of being a mixed food and drink venue with a relaxed atmosphere. It may or may not have full coverage depending on the year. Check their social media in the week before.
Birkdale Village for the Course Atmosphere
If you want to be close to the action and actually feel like you're near the course, Birkdale village is where to be. The pubs and restaurants there are going to be packed on championship days because gallery-goers use them before and after rounds. The atmosphere will be unlike anything you get in the town centre.
The Birkdale pub on Liverpool Road is the most obvious option. It's walking distance from the Royal Birkdale entrance. Expect it to be rammed by midday on the weekend championship days. Book a table if that's possible or go early.
Practical Notes for Open Week
Everywhere good in Southport fills up during Open week. This isn't a forecast, it's a fact from previous Open years. The town runs at capacity from Sunday 12 July through to Championship Sunday on 19 July.
If you're trying to watch the final round on the Sunday (Championship Sunday), every decent pub in town will be busy by midday. Go at opening time or accept you'll be standing. The golf crowd is a good crowd, so that's not the worst outcome.
Watching at the Course
Practice round tickets are still available as of May 2026. Championship day tickets are largely gone but Ticketmaster periodically releases returns. If you want to walk the course in person rather than watch on a screen, practice round days (Monday to Wednesday) are genuinely enjoyable and far less crowded than the championship rounds.
For spectators attending the course: Royal Birkdale's 18th green grandstand and 1st tee grandstand have the best atmosphere. Walk the back nine if you want to see the most demanding part of the course. The par-3 12th is always interesting to watch.
Full visitor guide to The Open 2026 at Royal Birkdale:
The Open 2026 Guide →Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk. Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
