STAY & PLAY 2015A GUIDE TO CONFERENCING AFTER

HOURS IN SOUTHPORT

Southport is a cosmopolitan seaside resort

that really has stood the test of time.

It has all of the traditional elements that

visitors still expect to see, combined with

areas of outstanding natural beauty,

boutique hotels, high quality restaurants,

first class attractions and some of the best

golf courses in the world.

All this, combined with the warm welcome

you are sure to receive and the resort of

Southport is the perfect place to transform

your business visit into a short leisurely

break.

For further advice on your trip to Southport

as well as access to all of the latest offers

available to you as a visiting delegate,

please visit

www.SouthportConferences/delegate-zone

or follow Southport Conferences on

Facebook or Twitter @SouthportConf.

CULTURAL DELIGHTS 2

EVENTS A PLENTY 4

THE GREAT OUTDOORS 6

SPORTING PURSUITS 8

SHOP AND PAMPER 10

EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY 12

WELCOME TO SOUTHPORT…ENGLAND’S CLASSIC RESORT

CULTURALDELIGHTS

With a wide range of theatres, art galleries,

museums, parks and gardens, it is easy to

see why Southport has a great reputation

for culture.

Set in a beautifully restored grade II listed

building in the centre of the resort, The

Atkinson is one of Southport’s newest

attractions. This multi-art form venue offers

a cultural pick n’ mix of dance, drama, fine

art, history and music, perfect for adding

some variety to your trip.

The Atkinson is also home to a unique and

hugely popular bakery, serving all sorts of

great and fresh treats for visitors.

Just a short walk away is the Waterfront Arts

Project on Southport’s Promenade. This

large fine art gallery space is well worth a

visit, having lead the way in Southport’s

artistic and cultural revival in recent years. It

showcases art and photography created by

several local, national and international

artists.

However, for something that’s truly unique,

pay a visit to Southport’s British Lawnmower

Museum on Shakespeare Street. This one of

a kind attraction features over 300 exhibits,

including some of the fastest, oldest and

quirkiest models in the world, plus you can

even see the lawnmowers of the rich and

famous including Prince Charles and

Princess Diana’s.

EVENTS A PLENTY

If you are lucky, your visit to Southport

might coincide with one of the many events

that the resort plays host to each year. It is

in fact one of the most diverse event

programmes in the whole of the North

West, with everything from flowers to food,

planes to pyrotechnics on show.

The season kicks off in May with the

Southport Jazz Festival, featuring a host of

free concerts around the town centre,

followed at the end of the month by the

gastronomic delight that is the Southport

Food & Drink Festival.

In June, the Woodvale Rally brings all sorts

of classic cars and vehicles to the beautiful

Victoria Park, followed later in August by

the world famous Southport Flower Show, a

mix of exquisite floral displays, stunning

gardens and other entertainment, showing

off the resort in all its blooming glory.

Look up to the skies in September for the

famous Southport Air Show and later the

three night British Musical Fireworks

Championship, when the air is filled with

light and sound.

For fans of comedy, it is the turn of the

Southport Comedy Festival in October and

finishing off the year in festive style, is the

Christmas Festival in December.

Visit www.visitsouthport.com/whats-on for

full details of all events taking place in

Southport.

THE GREATOUTDOORS

Located on a 22 mile stretch of beautiful

coastline, Southport beach is the perfect

place to unwind after the working day is

done.

There are miles of coastal paths and trails

that are great to explore whether on foot or

by bike or take in the sea air on the Grade II

listed Pier – the oldest iron pier and second

longest in the country at over 1000m long.

Enjoy the views out to Blackpool and the

North Wales coastline at the end and if you

don’t fancy the walk back, just hop on board

the pier tram.

Nearby award-winning Ainsdale Beach is

well known for its beautiful golden sand

dunes and has been recognised with the

International Blue Flag on a number of

occasions. It is here that you are likely to

see some of the many species of flora and

fauna that call the Sefton coast home.

Away from the coast, Southport is often

dubbed the floral capital of the North West,

due to the many stunning parks and

gardens it is home to. There is something

for everyone to enjoy from the historic

King’s Gardens with its cast iron shelters

and Venetian bridge to the vast Hesketh

Park, full of stunning greenery, a beautiful

lake, observatory and one of the UK’s oldest

floral clocks.

In 2008, Southport was granted Cycling

Town status and ‘by bike’ remains the best

way to get about in the resort. Many of the

hotels can arrange cycle hire and there are

ample secure bike parking spots around.

There is even a special delegate bike loan

service that is available to groups visiting for

their conferences or events.

SPORTING PURSUITS

Southport has a lot to offer sports fans with

its world-class golf courses, superb sailing

facilities and Aintree, one of the world’s

most famous racecourses and home of The

Crabbies Grand National.

With the UK's highest concentration of

championship links courses, golf in

Southport is of the highest standard. Royal

Birkdale, just a few minutes’ drive from the

town centre, has been ranked as England’s

top golf course and having hosted The

Open Championship on nine occasions will

do so again in 2017.

Hillside, Hesketh, Southport & Ainsdale,

Formby and West Lancashire are all superb

courses which are used as Open qualifying

courses as well as hosting tournaments in

their own right and providing a challenge to

even the most accomplished golfer.

Just outside of the resort centre, Formby

Hall Golf Resort & Spa is also home to The

PGA Golf Academy, where golfers can use

its cutting edge analysis technology to

understand and improve each aspect of

their game.

For those that are a little more adventurous,

Southport is a haven for watersports

enthusiasts. The Crosby Lakeside Adventure

Centre is just 25 minutes’ drive from the

town centre where you can try out a variety

of sports, meanwhile The Marine Lake in

Southport plays host to the annual 24 Hour

Yacht Race every September.

World famous racecourse Aintree is just a

short drive from the centre of Southport

and if your trip coincides, you can visit on

one of its six race meets held throughout

the year or perhaps even the main event

itself, the Crabbie’s Grand National held

annually in April.

SHOP & PAMPER

Shopping in Southport has something for

everyone with many hidden gems too.

For specialist shops and designer

boutiques, nestled amongst cafes and

restaurants, head to one of Southport’s

most famous landmarks, Lord Street. Its

stunning architecture is said to have given

Napoleon III, the future Emperor of France

the inspiration for the boulevards of Paris

you see today, following his visit to the

resort in 1846.

Lord Street is also home to Wayfarers

Arcade with its stunning glass domed roof

and period décor and over 30 more unique

shops and eateries to explore.

Also worth a visit are the quaint, individual,

pastel painted shops that can be found on

Wesley Street affectionately known as the

‘Village in the Town’ or for antiques and

collectables, pay a visit the Royal Arcade.

For a treat of a different kind, Southport is

also home to many spas and beauty rooms.

Visit the contemporary V-Spa located in the

Vincent Hotel to enjoy a range of holistic

therapies using the luxurious ESPA range or

the boutique Lavender House Day Spa, Hair

Salon & Tea Rooms for a unique experience

set right at the head of Lord Street.

Alternatively escape to Formby Hall Golf

Resort & Spa, a haven away from the rigours

of daily life.

EAT, DRINK& BE MERRY

You can soon work up an appetite after a

busy day at a conference and from

traditional British favourites, Mediterranean

tastes, American cuisine and Asian fusions -

the choice of restaurants in Southport is

outstanding.

Choose from over 100 restaurants, cafes

and tea rooms within the resort, offering

everything from fine dining to tasty snacks,

plus many small independent restaurants

too.

For a full guide to the eatery options in the

town, download the Southport Eating Out

Guide from visitsouthport.com created by

The Southport Restaurateurs Association

who represents many of the town’s best

restaurants and tea rooms.

By night, there’s a great choice of places for

you to while away the evening.

Southport’s promenade offers much in the

way of entertainment with The Southport

Theatre and Convention Centre, not just a

great venue for conferences, exhibitions

and events but with a year-round

programme of concerts and shows too -

from music, comedy and exhibitions to a

traditional Christmas pantomime, the

theatre caters for all tastes.

For a touch of glitz and glamour, visit the

Genting Club Casino situated on the

promenade. Try your hand at the many

casino games including American Roulette,

Blackjack, Three Card Poker and Electronic

Roulette and then enjoy dinner at the bar

and grill restaurant whilst taking in the views

over the Marine Lake from the outdoor

terrace.

For more information on Southport go to vis itsouthport.com

FOR CONFERENCE ENQUIRIES CONTACT SAMMI ON 0151 934 2436