Dog friendly days out in Southport

Southport is encouraging visitors to put their best paw forward, with a warm welcome guaranteed at the seaside destination for four legged fidos.  Every area of the town has opportunities for the whole family to enjoy their time in Southport, which will get everyone’s tails wagging.

Sammi Rudge, who runs the Southport Dog Friendly Facebook page, has shared some of her insight into making the most of your trip to Southport with your dog.  Her Facebook page is full of ideas and tips that visitors will find useful in planning their trip.

Fetching food and drink

Lord Street is part of Southport that everyone wants to take in, with the grand Victorian architecture and tree lined boulevards.  When it’s time for something to eat or drink there are plenty of dog friendly options.  Dogs are welcome in the bar of the French themed Bistrot Pierre where the menu features everything from delicious petits plats to steak, frites, burgers and baguettes.  The Bold Hotel offers a comfortable setting of soft armchairs and (for colder days) a real fire; making the ideal spot for ‘everyone’ to relax.  And the list doesn’t end there, The Pavilion, Ra Bar and Peaky Blinders all offer dog friendly hospitality. 

Southport Market on King Street only opened last year, with a £1.4million transformation of the original 1857 market building.  Now it’s a hot spot for food, drink and socialising with different outlets offering everything from Mexican burritos to Pie and Mash, all of which you can enjoy with your furry friend by your side.

Walkies

Southport is big on outdoor experiences, with lots of beautiful gardens to explore and open spaces to discover.  Kings Gardens leading through to the Marine Lake is a particularly pleasant meander and from there you could continue onto Southport Pier, where the walk to the end rewards with the views and the dog friendly Pier Pavilion where you can enjoy a cuppa.

Catch Churchtown

The medieval village of Churchtown is somewhere everyone visiting Southport should include on their itinerary, but for those bringing their dog it’s an added treat.  Churchtown is home to The Wagging Tail, which looks after pooches and their owners with an incredible menu of pupcakes, doggy doughnuts, dog beer and puppuccino.  The Bold Arms and Hesketh Arms are found among the thatched cottages and whitewashed buildings; both serving great bar food and with water and treats for the dogs also on the menu.

Fancy more of a walk, then you can lose yourself in the Botanic Gardens which is full of winding paths, formal planting and beautiful Victorian landscaping.  Then follow this up with a drink and something to eat in the Café, which is renowned for its homemade selection of snacks and light dishes.

To get Sammi’s latest tips, or to ask her a question about visiting Southport with your dog visit her Facebook page here.

To plan your trip to Southport visit VisitSouthport.com