These are exciting times for Lord Street in Southport!
People will see lots of changes happening this year, with millions of pounds of new investment pouring in creating scores of new jobs.
These are just some of the new developments you will be able to look forward to, and there are more to come too with discussions taking place behind the scenes to fill more units.
The beautiful tree-lined boulevard famously inspired Napoleon III to create the Paris we know today.
It now looks stunning at night thanks to 300,000 new lights provided in a scheme led by Southport BID and installed by contractors IllumiDex.
Huge investment is taking place at either end at The Grand in the Northern Quarter and the former Garrick Theatre / Mecca Bingo site near the Ribble Building, with lots happening in between.
If you know of any more new developments happening in Southport in 2023 please let me know by emailing me at: StandUpForSouthport@gmail.com or message me via Facebook.
1 – The Grand
Over £4 million has already been invested by Mikhail Hotel and Leisure through the opening of The Grand in Southport last year.
Customers have been enjoying meals, drinks and lots of events at The Grand Brasserie and Chloe’s Bar on the ground floor and the 250-seater Princess Grace function room and wedding suite on the first floor.
This year, people can look forward to the opening of Harry’s Bar and Sky Bar on the top floor.
The beautiful art deco building, which has been home to a car showroom, a cinema and a casino, was built in 1923. Don’t miss their spectacular 100th anniversary celebrations this year.
2 – The Garrick
At the other end of Lord Street, building work is taking place at the former Garrick Theatre / Mecca Bingo site.
The new owners say that “a theatre and performance space will be at the heart of our plans”.
The magnificent art deco building on Garrick Parade, just off the Lord Street boulevard, was built in 1932 and once hosted world famous stars of stage and screen including Julie Andrews, Laurel and Hardy and many others.
New co-owner Niki Anderson said the site has now been bought by business professionals who have “a track record of developing listed buildings”.
3 – Debenhams building
Exciting plans have been revealed to transform the iconic former Debenhams department store at 539-563 Lord Street in Southport town centre into a thriving new development.
Phase one of the ‘comprehensive’ scheme would see the restoration of the beautiful Victoria era frontage on Lord Street into four new shops, restaurants or bars, in order to “return it to its former splendour”. It was created in 1888-1900.
The upper floors would then become:
- Series of small retail / office / craft spaces
- 20 new apart hotel rooms overlooking Stanley Street
- Residential apartments overlooking Lord Street
- Café in the first floor courtyard
The ambitious plans are being drawn up by Southport firm RAL Architects.
In the submission, RAL Architects owner Rob Anderson said:
“The proposal is a comprehensive one to enable the building to be fully utilised to ensure its long-term retention and to return it to its former splendour.”
4 – Indoor climbing centre and cafe
Businessman Duncan Craft is determined to play his part in the renaissance of Southport by investing more than £500,000 in a new climbing gym.
Located in a Grade II-listed former auction house at 339-341 Lord Street, a Victorian era building near the junction with Nevill Street, the ‘bouldering gym’ will feature climbing walls up to a height of 4.5m.
Duncan said: “I want this to be a great facility for climbers but, beyond that, I want this to be a real hub for the wider community.
“There is going to be a cafe on the ground floor and on the top floor we will have a lounge where people can come and work remotely.”
5 – Occulo Lounge
Proposals to open a new Occulo Lounge café bar on Lord Street in Southport, creating 30 new jobs, have been approved by Sefton Council.
The new venture, operated by Loungers UK Ltd, will open on the corner of Lord Street and Nevill Street, in the building previously occupied by Waterstones bookshop.
Waterstones relocated to its new home on Chapel Street in August.
Loungers UK will now invest £1 million in transforming the historic three-storey building, which was constructed in 1925-7.
6 – New Wetherspoon Hotel
Plans have been revealed for a brand new Wetherspoon hotel in Southport town centre.
The hotel would be created in the historic four-storey Pavilion Buildings on the corner of Lord Street and Coronation Walk, above the existing Wetherspoon Sir Henry Segrave pub.
It would see the creation of 28 new en-suite bedrooms.
In his report to Cabinet, Sefton Council Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services Stephan Van Arendsen said: “The use of the upper floors of Pavilion Buildings for hotel bed spaces… would support this end of Lord Street, would help to consolidate a successful business and contribute to wider vitality and viability of the town centre.”
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