Carlton

If you're wandering down Lord Street and fancy a proper pint, Carlton's your place. It's got a solid 4.4 stars on Google from 147 reviews, so it's not just me saying it's decent. Give them a ring on 01704 808448 if you want to check what's on.

Carlton's got a good atmosphere – not too rowdy, not too quiet. More of a traditional pub vibe than a cocktail bar, if you get me. It’s a proper local, the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think. Perfect for a catch-up with mates or just watching the world go by. I think they let dogs in too, which is always a bonus.

It's right in the middle of town on Lord Street, so dead easy to get to. Can get a bit busy on weekend evenings as you'd expect, especially when the football's on. You can suss their site out at discoversouthport.co.uk/business/carlton/ — it's not got loads of info, but you can get the gist.

One thing to remember: parking on Lord Street itself is a nightmare, so best bet is to use one of the car parks a few streets back.