Southport after dark: things to do in Southport at night

Southport Pleasureland has so much to do during the day, but what does Southport offer in the evening? Find out.

Ling's On Kings is a Beijing-style Chinese restaurant on – you guessed it – King Street. It specialises in Chinese banquets and parties and even has a singing hostess.

The town also boasts a surprising number of French restaurants, including Auberge Brasserie, Chez Moi and the award-winning Bistrot Verité. And finally, great pub grub can be found at The Bold Bar & Grill, which also offers a cosy and well-stocked bar to complement your food.

An evening's entertainment

So, what about entertainment? It won't surprise you that Southport has many choices in that regard. 

Situated on the main Marine Drive, very close to Pleasureland, Ocean Plaza Leisure has many choices – all in one place.

If movies are your thing, then the eight-screen, 1400-seat Vue Cinema could be the spot for you. With VIP seating, a bar, a Ben and Jerry's café and all the latest releases, it's certainly worth the £4.99 all-day online booking price (£5.99 in venue).

Ocean Plaza also plays host to the town's only ten-pin bowling alley, Tenpin Southport, which has 20 lanes, a bar, pool tables and, of course, laser tag to keep the fun going. Do remember to book online before you go, though.

You'll also find several gyms and children's soft play areas in the complex, as well as a Premier Inn. It's well worth looking at when planning your trip.

At the opposite end of the cinema scale, Southport Bijou Cinema is a silver screen experience all of its own. Located on Post Office Street, a small side street off the main Lord Street, this tiny picture house has just 75 seats.

Don't let that put you off, though. Bijou was named "Best Hidden Gem" for the Liverpool City Region in The Guide Liverpool's 2022 Tourism Awards.

Showcasing the best independent releases, world cinema and more, Bijou is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit venture that offers quality cinema in relaxed surroundings. It also has a licensed cafe bar with a range of drinks and snacks available. Bonus: you can take your refreshments into screenings.

Amazing art and culture

Are you looking for some arts and culture of an evening? Southport can provide that too!

Your first port of call should be The Atkinson, the town's arts centre. It regularly hosts music, theatre, comedy, and more.

The venue opened as Southport Arts Centre and became The Atkinson in 2013, following an extensive remodelling project. However, it actually started life as two adjoining buildings: Cambridge Hall (built in 1874) and Atkinson Art Gallery and Library (opened in 1878). The buildings were combined when the arts centre opened in 1974.

Nowadays, this historic, grade II-listed building is a bustling complex that comprises a main theatre, a studio theatre, exhibition spaces, a library, a museum, a café and a shop. The centre has a full year-round programme of events of all kinds, with touring bands and shows as well as local productions.

Also on the theatrical side, Southport Little Theatre is one of the few remaining little theatres in the UK. It's home to the Southport Dramatic Club, a theatre group founded in 1920 that has been staging productions there since the theatre opened in 1937.

Several other groups are also hosted by the venue and the programme is wide and varied. You can expect musicals, murder mysteries, comedy and high drama, as well as concerts by diverse musical acts and touring bands. It's well worth a look if you enjoy an evening out at the theatre.

Unforgettable events

Speaking of shows, one of Southport's best-kept secrets is the Southport Comedy Festival. This year (2024), it runs from Friday 27 September to Sunday 13 October.

Staged in a gigantic luxury marquee set in the town's beautiful Victoria Park, the Southport Comedy Festival is now in its 13th year and goes from strength to strength.

Although the full lineup has yet to be announced, some names confirmed for this year include bona fide UK stand-up legend Ben Elton, as well as Omid Djalili, Henning Wehn, Jason Byrne and Jimeoin.

Before we round off, there is one more unique event in the calendar that we must mention. Did you know that Southport hosts the annual British Musical Fireworks Championship? Did you know that Musical Fireworks Championships even existed at all?

Well, now you do – and Victoria Park in Southport hosts the only UK competition. Exciting stuff!

Six teams of highly experienced and creative pyrotechnicians compete to dazzle and delight the audience with a spectacular firework display that's synchronised to music. Each display is then ranked by a panel of judges looking for things like synchronisation, creativity and overall impact. 

Played out over two nights – on Sunday 20 and Monday 21 September this year – the competition involves teams of approximately 15 technicians. They work for around 12 hours to assemble a staggering 10 tonnes of fireworks, connected by some five kilometres of electrical wire, into the most spectacular displays possible. Why not come and see them for yourself?

There's even more where this came from… If you're looking for events in Southport, don't forget to check Southport Pleasureland's exciting events calendar. Expect everything from bingo nights to late-night dance parties. See you at the next one!