A thriving pizza restaurant in Southport is celebrating its second birthday with a special thank you for customers.
600 Degrees opened on Sandon Road in Hillside Village in 2023, as the successful family-run business expanded.
600 Degrees has become a popular outlet in recent years, with its hand-made, world class Neapolitan pizzas winning over an army of diners firstly through mobile catering, then as one of the original outlets inside Southport Market.
Now 600 Degrees is in Hillside too, part of a friendly and welcoming community that also includes the likes of The Grasshopper and The Pines, which all work closely together to ensure a great experience for everyone who visits.
Diners can sit inside 600 Degrees – or outside on warmer days – for either food or drinks.
Families looking to enjoy quality time together can also call up and other pizza to collect, or can order through the Southport Eats app which will deliver in the local area.
600 Degrees owner Dan Johnstone said:
“We’re delighted to be celebrating our second birthday!
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to all our customers and all our team for the huge support you’ve given us. We’re honoured to be part of this wonderful community we have here in Hillside.
“We’d like to give a free drink to anyone who comes and dines with us at 600 Degrees in Hillside between now and Christmas.
“We have just launched a new Christmas Menu with some new dishes and new pizzas – come down and see what you think!
“600 Degrees has continued to go from strength to strength. After building our business through outside catering, we were really excited to be one of the first businesses to open as part of the new-look Southport Market when it was transformed into a food, drink and events venue in July 2021.
“Being in Southport Market has been a huge success for us. It has allowed us to grow and develop as a business, expanding with a new outlet, creating more jobs in the local area.
“I’m excited for what 2026 has in store for us at Southport Market now the Market Quarter redevelopment has been completed. I know there are big plans to develop events both inside and outside the market.
“It’s great working with Southport Market Senior General Manager Jordan Khokar, he has really built up the events programme since he’s arrived.”
Now 600 Degrees in Hilliside is lighting the candles on its second birthday.
Dan Johnstone said:
“We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone this December.
“We have loved being part of Southport Market, and being local to Hillside, our family really wanted to open a good quality neighborhood restaurant here too.
“It’s been a great decision. We love being part of a superb community working together with The Grasshopper and The Pines.
“Visitors see Hillside as a real destination now. It’s perfect being near Hillside Train Station. People can enjoy a couple of drinks in Ainsdale; get on the train for some drinks and something to eat in Hillside; they can then hop on again and head to Birkdale and then Southport. We all have a lot to offer.
“People can enjoy a drink in either and can order our pizzas from there.
“They can also call into 600 Degrees for a couple of drinks or some sharing sides and a cosy atmosphere.
“Hillisde is a lovely place to be. We recently held our Hillside Christmas Lights Switch On, where we raised money for the Hillside Improvement Team, as well as for local charities. It’s all about improving the local community.”
It has been a difficult few months for 600 Degrees in Hillside which has suffered a series of vandalism including paint thrown at the windows.
The person responsible has since been prosecuted and jailed.
Dan Johnstone said: “It has really damaged our business for the past couple of years.
“It has been terrifying for me and my family.
“It’s still a mystery as to quite why this vendetta began. One headline after the court case described it as ‘man jailed after row on social media’ but that was not the case – there was no row. There was nothing said in court to suggest that.
“I am grateful for the support from Merseyside Police and the efforts they have made to gather all the evidence not just in relation to myself, but also the other people who were targeted.
“We are so relieved that it is all over and that we can now draw a line under it all.
“It’s all over and we can move forward with our lives.
“It feels like a fresh start for our business and we’re excited for what the new year holds.
“We can start planning for the future again.
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to all our members of staff and all our customers who have continued to support us over these past couple of years.
“We’re all looking forward to a great Christmas and a great 2026.”
Dan opened 600 Degrees as one of the first units inside Southport Market in 2021.
He had taken 600 Degrees to local events and food festivals before the move.
It followed Sefton Council’s £1.4 million transformation of the venue into a stylish food, drink and events venue.
600 Degrees was established in 2017, initially catering for outside events, before opening in the market four years later.
It was launched when Dan and his wife went to the Amalfi coast of Italy on their honeymoon, also spending time in Naples, the home of Neapolitan Pizza.
- 600 Degrees is at 66 Sandon Road, Hillside, Southport; and at Southport Market. For more details please visit: (20+) Facebook
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown or email: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
