SouthportMarket
Nine independent traders, one bar, live music, and the best lunch in town. The complete guide — every trader reviewed, what to order, and honest advice on when to go.
At a glance
Traders
9 independents
plus the Market Bar
Bar of the Year
Won it twice
public vote, two years running
Meals per year
Nearly 500,000
meals and drinks
No reservations
Walk-in only
every day it is open
Terry's Take
What Southport Market actually is
I have eaten in this building more times than I can count. The old market, with its six butchers and fabric stalls, was a different place entirely. What it became in 2021 is something Southport needed and did not know it needed.
Nine independent food traders, a proper bar, live music on Thursdays, regular events, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you stay longer than you planned. It is not fancy. It is not trying to be. It is just very good at what it does.
A group of ten people can walk in and every single one can eat something completely different. Greek street food, Neapolitan pizza, handmade pasta, Korean fried chicken, smash burgers, New York bagels. That range, at market prices, in one building, with no booking required, is genuinely unusual.
The waiting list for trader units tells you everything about whether it is working. There is one.
The food
The Traders
Every trader reviewed. What they do, who runs it, what to order, and the honest opinion.
Tikka Bros
Newest traderIndian street food
On the menu
- ·Chicken tikka rice bowl
Terry's take
The newest arrival in the building, and the one with the least online presence. Indian street food has been underrepresented at the casual end in Southport for years. If the chicken tikka rice bowl is anything to go by, they have got the right idea.
600 Degrees
Original traderNeapolitan wood-fired pizza
Dan visited Naples on his honeymoon. He spent time learning the authentic Neapolitan method and came home determined to do it properly. The oven was designed and built in Naples. The dough is made fresh daily using only Caputo flour, proved for 24 hours. The tomatoes are San Marzano, from Campania. He has since opened a standalone restaurant in Hillside.
On the menu
- ·Margherita
- ·Italian Stallion
- ·Moroccan Lamb
- ·Vegan Special
- ·Capricciosa
Terry's take
Margherita first, always. If a pizzeria cannot do a good Margherita, nothing else matters. This one can. The Moroccan Lamb is worth trying second.
Brunch N' Bagel
Open from 10amNew York-inspired brunch, bagels and jacket potatoes
Open 10am–4pm. The only trader serving from 10am.
Leanne started Cake Corner from home at 17. By 24 she runs two units inside Southport Market, a shop in Hillside, and caters at Edge Hill University. Brunch N' Bagel opened in October 2025 — inspired by time spent in New York — and is the first trader in the market to open at 10am. All meat comes from Blackhurst Butchers, next door at Unit 11.
On the menu
- ·The Big Brunch Bite (Cumberland sausages, bacon, eggs, tater tots, black pudding)
- ·The Buffalo One (crispy chicken tenders, Frank's buffalo sauce, coleslaw, pickles)
- ·The Caprese One (pesto, mozzarella, tomatoes, rocket, balsamic glaze)
- ·Kids Lunch Box (with a Cake Corner brownie inside)
Terry's take
The Big Brunch Bite is what it says it is. If you want something lighter, the Caprese bagel is genuinely good. The kids lunch box has a Cake Corner brownie in it, which is the detail that wins children over immediately.
Pitamu
Original traderGreek street food
Dino and Banico have over 40 years combined experience in hospitality, having run restaurants and takeaways in Greece and the UK. Pitamu opened on day one of the new-look market in July 2021 and has been there ever since. Banico also co-owns Lennys Smashport (Unit 10) with his wife Jodie.
On the menu
- ·Yeeros (classic gyros-style wrap)
- ·Souvlaki (grilled skewer)
- ·Halloumi fries (rotating toppings: Hoisin and Spring Onion, Salt and Pepper, Tzatziki, Chilli and Lime)
- ·Chips with feta
- ·Greek salad
Terry's take
The halloumi fries with Hoisin topping sound wrong and taste right. For a proper meal, the yeeros wrap. Nearly 20,000 gyros a year. There is a reason.
Cake Corner
33,000 cakes a yearArtisan cakes, brownies, waffles and milkshakes
Wed–Thu 9am–9pm, Fri–Sat 9am–10pm, Sun 10am–6:30pm
The same Leanne who runs Brunch N' Bagel. She opened Cake Corner from home at 17, her first shop in Hillside at 21, and the Southport Market unit six months after that. The unit has since expanded into larger premises inside the market. 33,000 cakes sold in a single year. Food hygiene rating: 5.
On the menu
- ·Fresh-made waffles (made to order)
- ·Brownies and blondies
- ·Cookie pies
- ·Milkshakes
- ·Seasonal occasion cakes
Terry's take
The brownies are what the kids ask for by name. The waffles are made fresh. If you are bringing children to the market, this is where you will end up whether you planned to or not.
Pasta 51 Express
45 years of experienceFresh handmade Italian pasta
Attilio was born in Santa Maria di Leuca, Puglia — the heel of Italy, where his family grew wheat for pasta. He has 45 years in the food business. He came to Southport twenty years ago and opened Trattoria 51 on the Promenade in 2003, which is still there. He also runs Trattoria 51 on Old Hall Street in Liverpool. Pasta 51 Express is the fast-casual market version of his craft.
On the menu
- ·Orecchiette with cacio e pepe
- ·Pappardelle with slow-cooked bolognese
- ·Spaghetti bucatini with arrabiata
- ·Fresh ravioli
- ·Suppli (Roman rice balls, as a starter)
- ·Antipasti misto
- ·Panzerotti
Terry's take
Orecchiette with cacio e pepe. Simple, done properly. The suppli as a starter is underrated. Most people walk past it. Attilio has been making pasta by hand since childhood. It shows.
Little Korean Kitchen
Viral on TikTokKorean street food
Taeyeop built his reputation at Korean Kitchen in Hillside before opening the Korean Kitchen restaurant at 509 Lord Street in 2023. The Southport Market unit is a streamlined, fast-casual version of the Lord Street menu, designed for quicker service in a market setting. It had queues on opening weekend.
On the menu
- ·Korean Fried Chicken (boneless breast, house-made sticky sauces)
- ·Korean Corndogs (pork sausage or mozzarella in Panko batter, with ketchup, honey mustard and sugar)
- ·Korean Katsu Cups
- ·Korean Cupbab (rice bowl)
- ·Chicken Salad Boxes
Terry's take
The Korean Fried Chicken is the main event. Boneless breast, sauces made here. If you have teenagers they will find the corndogs on TikTok before you finish reading this sentence. Worth the fuss.
Lennys Smashport
Meat from Blackhurst next doorSmash burgers and seafood
Named after Lenny Goldwater, grandfather of Banico and Jodie Zeniou. Banico also co-owns Pitamu (Unit 04) with Dino Kottis. The Zeniou family also own the Fylde Fish Bar fish and chip shops. All meat at Lennys is sourced from Blackhurst Butchers next door at Unit 11. That is not a marketing line. It is just how it works.
On the menu
- ·Fresh beef smash burgers
- ·Chicken smash burgers
- ·Seafood options (setting it apart from standard burger stalls)
Terry's take
A smash burger done properly is better than most pub burgers at twice the price. The seafood element is what makes this one different. The meat is from Blackhurst ten feet away.
Blackhurst Butchers
Est. 1963Traditional butcher — dry-aged beef, handmade sausages, BBQ packs
Mon–Sat 9am–5pm (open when the rest of the market is closed on Mon and Tue)
Tony started here as a Saturday boy aged 12, following in his father John's footsteps. John opened the shop in 1963. There were five butchers in Southport Market alone in the 1980s. Tony is the last one in the whole town centre. Customers drive from Wigan, Liverpool, Chorley, St Helens. One drives from Wimbledon and fills up his car. Another takes sausages home to Scotland. BBC Radio Merseyside covered the 60th anniversary.
On the menu
- ·28-day dry-aged beef on the bone (Cumbrian farms)
- ·Handmade sausages (Cumberland, Olde English, Garlic and Herb, Sausage of the Week)
- ·Homemade sausage rolls and burgers
- ·BBQ Pack A (£23): pork steaks, burgers, sausages, koftas, kebabs
- ·BBQ Pack B (£34): extends Pack A with Welsh lamb chops and rump steaks
- ·Ready meals: stuffed chicken breast, fillet steak Cantonese, bacon ribs
- ·Dry-cured bacon
Terry's take
Tony Blackhurst started here as a Saturday boy at twelve. His dad opened the shop in 1963. The reason people drive from Wigan and Wimbledon is the 28-day dry-aged beef. The sausages are what I would tell you to take home. And check the sausage of the week before you decide.
At the centre of it all
The Market Bar
The carousel-inspired bar in the middle of the building is the visual centrepiece and the social anchor. It won the Southport BID Bar of the Year Award two years in a row. Voted by the public, not a panel.
Cocktails, locally brewed cask ales, a serious gin selection, and flat whites made with Crosby Coffee beans. The kind of coffee offer that suggests someone thought about it rather than just ticking a box.
If you are here with a group and everyone wants something different to eat, the bar is where you anchor. Order a drink, fan out to the traders, and reconvene. That is how it works.
Cocktails
Full cocktail menu
Cask ales
Locally brewed
Gin selection
Large selection
Coffee
Crosby Coffee flat whites
Plan your visit
When to Visit
The honest timing guide. Wednesday lunch and Friday night are completely different experiences. Both are worth doing.
Wednesday lunch (12–2pm)
QuietMost traders have just opened. You will find a seat immediately. No live music. The quietest full-service window of the week.
Best for: Anyone wanting a calm meal. Ideal for sensory-sensitive visitors and families with young children.
Thursday evening
ModerateLive music night. Busier than lunchtime but not yet at weekend capacity. Good atmosphere without being heaving.
Best for: Date night. Friends catching up. The best balance of buzz and space.
Friday evening
BusyFull. Louder. The weekend crowd arrives from early evening. Some traders will have a short queue at peak.
Best for: Groups, nights out, people who enjoy a lively atmosphere.
Saturday afternoon
PeakEvery trader busy. Communal seating fills up. Worth it but plan for a wait at the busiest units.
Best for: Families doing a full town day. Come early (before noon) to avoid the peak.
Saturday evening
PeakThe main event. Full dining hall, cocktails at the bar, events likely in the Extravaganza Room.
Best for: Nights out. Groups who want the full atmosphere.
Sunday lunch
ComfortableFamily day. More relaxed than Saturday. A good balance of atmosphere and space. Popular with dog walkers post-beach.
Best for: Families, dog walkers, people wanting a relaxed midweek-feel on a weekend.
Weekday morning (10am–noon)
QuietOnly Brunch N' Bagel is open at 10am. Other traders start from noon. Coffee and a bagel before the market opens properly.
Best for: Early risers. People who want brunch before a day out in Southport.
The short version
If you want to hear yourself think, Wednesday or Thursday lunchtime. If you want the full atmosphere, Friday or Saturday evening. Both are worth doing for completely different reasons. There is no wrong answer as long as you know what you are walking into.
Hours vary on bank holidays and during special events. Always confirm before travelling at southportmarket.com.
Accessibility
Sensory-Friendly Visiting
Southport Market is not a quiet venue by design. On a Friday evening it is loud, busy, and full of energy. But if you know when to visit and what to expect, it is one of the more accessible food halls in the region.
The open-plan layout is important. There are no narrow corridors, no cramped entries, no surprise rooms. You can see the whole space from the entrance. For visitors who find enclosed or unpredictable environments difficult, this matters.
The Changing Places toilet has been specifically praised for its facilities. It includes a hoist, adult-sized changing bench, curtains for privacy, and dedicated carer space. This is not standard.
What the market provides
Ramps on main entrance
Full step-free access throughout
Wheelchair and scooter access
Ample space around the bar area and all traders
Changing Places toilet
Hoist, adult bench, carer space, privacy curtains
Large print yellow menus
Available at every trader unit
Highchairs
Available throughout
Takeaway from every trader
Eat outside if the interior is too much
Dog water stations
Assistance dogs and guide dogs welcome
Best windows for sensory-sensitive visits
- ·Wednesday or Thursday, 12pm–2pm (quietest full-service window, no live music)
- ·Sunday lunch (calmer than Saturday, good atmosphere)
- ·Weekday morning 10am–noon (Brunch N' Bagel only, very quiet)
Higher-stimulus windows
- ·Thursday evening onward (live music at the bar)
- ·Friday and Saturday evenings (full capacity, loud)
- ·The carousel bar area is the loudest zone — seat away from it if noise is a concern
Dietary and allergen support
Pitamu (Unit 04) has a dedicated gluten-free fryer and staff trained specifically on allergen management — it is the safest choice for coeliac visitors. Brunch N' Bagel, Pasta 51 Express, and Little Korean Kitchen all have vegan and vegetarian options clearly available. Because the format is open-counter, you can have a direct conversation with the person making your food. That is genuinely easier than managing allergens in a full restaurant.
We want to hear from you
We are working with Sefton Council to improve sensory-friendly information for venues across Southport. If you have visited Southport Market as an autistic person or with an autistic family member, your experience would genuinely help improve this guide.
Share your experienceFinding it
Getting Here
By car
Postcode
PR8 1LA
Nearest car parks
- · Market Street car park (adjacent, directly next door)
- · Tulketh Street car park (5-min walk)
- · Lord Street car parks (5–8 min walk)
Market Street was pedestrianised in 2025. Check current access before driving to the door. See our full parking guide.
By train
Northern Rail from Liverpool Lime Street to Southport station. Around 45 minutes.
The market is a 12-minute walk from the station, or a short taxi ride.
From Manchester, change at Liverpool Lime Street or Wigan.
From Lord Street
Three minutes on foot. Walk to the bottom of Lord Street and turn onto King Street. The market entrance is on the corner of King Street and Market Street.
Multiple bus routes serve Lord Street — it is Southport's main stop.
New at Brunch N' Bagel · Unit 03
The Philly Cheese Has Landed.
Thin-cut ribeye, griddled onions and peppers, melted cheese, loaded into a proper hoagie roll. Brunch N' Bagel have form for doing this — they take a classic and they nail it. This is the kind of thing that sells out before most people know it's on the menu.
Unit 03 · Southport Market · King Street · PR8 1LA · Wednesday to Sunday
The community
The People Behind the Food
You hear “food hall” and you might think of chains sharing a roof. This is not that. These are local families who know each other, support each other, and in some cases supply each other.
The Prescott operation
Leanne Prescott started Cake Corner from home at 17. She is now 24 and runs two units inside the market (Cake Corner and Brunch N' Bagel), a shop in Hillside, and caters at Edge Hill University. She sources her meat from Blackhurst Butchers next door. That is not a standard career trajectory for someone in their mid-twenties.
The Zeniou family
Banico and Jodie Zeniou run Lennys Smashport. Banico also co-owns Pitamu with Dino Kottis. One family, two cuisines, two units. The Zeniou family also own the Fylde Fish Bar fish and chip shops. Lennys is named after Lenny Goldwater, Banico's grandfather.
The supply chain
Blackhurst Butchers supplies fresh meat to Lennys Smashport and to Brunch N' Bagel. Three separate businesses, one supply chain, all inside the same building. Tony Blackhurst started here as a Saturday boy at twelve. His father opened the shop in 1963. The last butcher in Southport town centre, supplying two of the town's most talked-about new food traders.
The story
From traditional market to food hall
The building on King Street has been a market since at least 1963. What happened between then and now is worth knowing.
At its peak, Southport Market had six butchers operating inside it. Plus poultry stalls, a specialist pork butcher, wool shops, fabric outlets, a sweet shop, card shops. A proper northern indoor market. Blackhurst Butchers opened in 1963, when John Blackhurst started the business. His son Tony started there as a Saturday boy aged twelve.
Internet shopping and the big supermarkets gradually hollowed it out. By the late 2010s, the building was nearly empty. Anyone who grew up in Southport remembers walking through it and seeing more closed shutters than open ones.
Sefton Council drew up a plan to transform it into a food and drink hall, inspired by what Altrincham Market had done in Greater Manchester. When Town Deal funding from the Government became available, they had a scheme ready to go.
The transformation cost £1.4 million: £900,000 from the Southport Town Deal, £500,000 from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. DV8 Design created the seaside fairground theme. The carousel bar became the visual centrepiece.
The new-look Southport Market opened on 22 July 2021. Nearly 500,000 meals and drinks served in a single year. Named in the UK's top ten seaside markets. The Market Bar won Southport Bar of the Year two years running.
The regeneration impact spread beyond the building. The McDonald's unit that had been empty for a decade was finally sold. Connolly's Irish pub opened. Quicksilver Music expanded. Season Coffee opened on Market Street. There is now a waiting list of food traders wanting a unit. That is the measure.
Historic images
Historic images courtesy of Southport Market. Used with permission.
What's on
Events and the Extravaganza Room
The market runs a busy events calendar throughout the year. The Extravaganza Room is available for private hire. And something is almost always happening.
Comedy Bingo
Winter events specifically designed to get people out of the house. Run with community isolation in mind.
Teddyfest
Family-focused event. Kids bring their bears.
The Big Night Out
Evening entertainment events in the Extravaganza Room.
Artisan Market
50+ independent makers and food producers on Market Street outside the main building. Free entry.
Full guidePrivate hire
The Extravaganza Room
The multi-purpose function room handles weddings, birthday parties, corporate events, conferences, networking, buffets, live bands, and performance shows. Smaller function rooms are also available for meetings. The room is better than it sounds.
Enquire about hire
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Southport Market open?
Wednesday and Thursday 10am to 10pm. Friday and Saturday 10am to 11pm. Sunday 10am to 8:30pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Brunch N' Bagel is the only trader open from 10am. Most other traders start serving from around noon.
Can you book a table at Southport Market?
No. Walk-in only. No reservations are accepted at any trader or at the Market Bar. This is deliberate. Turn up, find a seat, order from whichever trader you want. The communal seating means you are not tied to one unit.
Is Southport Market dog friendly?
Yes. Dogs are welcome throughout the market. Water stations are provided. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are of course welcome. We have seen dogs in there on a regular basis.
Is there gluten-free food at Southport Market?
Yes. Pitamu has a dedicated gluten-free fryer and is the safest choice for coeliac visitors. Brunch N' Bagel, Pasta 51 Express, and other traders also offer GF options. Talk directly to the trader at the counter about allergens — the open-counter format makes this straightforward.
Is Southport Market wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Ramps on the main entrance, ample space around the bar area for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, accessible toilets throughout, and a Changing Places toilet with hoist, adult changing bench, curtains for privacy, and carer space. It is well equipped.
Where do I park for Southport Market?
Market Street car park is directly adjacent. Tulketh Street car park is a five-minute walk. Lord Street car parks are five to eight minutes on foot. Postcode: PR8 1LA. Note that Market Street was being pedestrianised in 2025 — check current road access before driving to the door.
How old is Southport Market?
The building has been a traditional indoor market on King Street since at least 1963, when Blackhurst Butchers opened. At its peak there were five butchers here plus poultry stalls and a specialist pork butcher. The food and drink hall you see today opened on 22 July 2021 after a £1.4 million transformation.
Can you hire the Extravaganza Room for private events?
Yes. The Extravaganza Room handles weddings, parties, corporate events, conferences, live bands, and performance shows. Smaller function rooms are also available for meetings. Use the enquiry button in the events section above, or visit southportmarket.com directly.
What is the best thing to eat at Southport Market?
Depends what you are after. For pizza: 600 Degrees Margherita. For something Greek: Pitamu halloumi fries or the yeeros. For pasta: Pasta 51 orecchiette with cacio e pepe. For brunch: Brunch N' Bagel Big Brunch Bite. For Korean: Little Korean Kitchen fried chicken. For a burger: Lennys Smashport. For something sweet: Cake Corner brownies or a fresh waffle.
Is Southport Market good for autistic visitors or families with sensory sensitivities?
The open-plan layout, wide sightlines, Changing Places toilet, and dietary flexibility make it structurally accessible. Wednesday and Thursday lunchtimes are the quietest windows. Every trader has large print menus. Food can be taken away from every unit if the interior is too busy. Full detail is in the sensory-friendly section of this guide.
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