Birkdale Sushi

Right, so Birkdale Sushi. Don’t let the name fool you, it's in town, not Birkdale Village. It's proper decent sushi though, and it's got a solid 4.5-star rating. I’ve been a few times myself and always enjoyed it. They’re only open evenings from 5pm, Wednesdays to Sundays, so plan accordingly.

It’s not a massive place, so it's probably better for couples or smaller groups than big family outings. The atmosphere is pretty relaxed, good for a date night or catching up with a mate. It's the kind of place where you can hear each other talk, which is always a bonus.

They do all the usual sushi bits – nigiri, sashimi, maki – plus some other Japanese dishes. It’s all freshly made and tastes great. Check out the menu online; it's on Southporteats.co.uk. Prices are what you'd expect for sushi, not dirt cheap, but not outrageous either.

Word to the wise: it can get busy on weekend evenings, so booking a table is probably a good shout if you want to guarantee a spot.