The Imperial

The Imperial is a solid shout if you're after a proper pub in the town centre. It's got that classic Joseph Holt's feel – you know, traditional without being stuffy. It's not trying to be a cocktail bar or anything fancy, just a good, honest pub with decent beer and a bit of atmosphere. It gets a 4.3 rating from over 1,300 reviews, so people generally rate it.

It's one of those places where you can settle in for a few hours. It can get a bit lively on weekends, especially when there's a match on, but that's part of the charm, isn't it? They're open from 9am until 11pm every day of the week so you can grab a pint whenever you fancy. I haven't taken my dog in before (the tags suggest they're welcome) but I've seen a few dogs in here, so your furry mate is probably safe to join you.

The prices are reasonable – I'd say about average for Southport, maybe a bit less than some of the newer places. You can find their website if you Google it.

Worth knowing: parking in town can be a pain, especially on weekends, so factor that in. There's usually spaces on the streets around Lord Street if you don't mind a bit of a walk.