Southport BID feature by Stand Up For Southport
The fun-packed Southport Beer Week returns for its second outing this week – here are 8 reasons to make sure you make the most of this unmissable local event!
Now in its second year, the beer festival celebrates the great beer served by the pubs and bars of Southport town centre.
Southport Beer Week takes place from Wednesday 20th May – Monday 25th May 2026, a perfect excuse to visit Southport over the bank holiday weekend.
Find the full list of venues and events at Southport Beer Week 2026 | Your Southport
1 – Try the Ale Trail
Explore the ‘ale trail’ featuring town centre pubs and bars across the town centre, which will be hosting a series of different events throughout the festival.
Visit some of the participating venues, try a selection of tasty cask ales and craft beers, and collect stamps along the way.
Collect enough stamps to complete the trail booklet and you could be in with the chance of winning the main prize of £250 to spend in a Southport town centre venue of your choice.
Runner-up prizes include limited edition Southport Beer Week t-shirts, vouchers, and beer gifts.
2 – Discover different beers and venues
It’s estimated that well over 90 beers will be available from the 17 pubs and bars signed up for this year’s festival.
Beer Week is an opportunity to support pubs and discover some new venues.
The event showcases traditional pubs like The Guest House, The Masons Arms, The Windmill, The Cheshire Lines and The Lakeside Inn.
Craft beer bar Tap and Bottles, Northern Quarter venues Sinclair’s and Punch Tarmey’s, and new beer bodega The Bugle Tap are amongst the many others involved.
3 – Taste through the tap takeovers
Breweries will be taking over the pumps at some of the venues taking part, with others unveiling special beers.
Tap and Bottles is hosting Rivington Brewery on Friday 22nd May 2026 at 8pm for a Beer Club tasting menu event.
Sinclair’s will host cask ales from Wigan Brewhouse, whilst Black Sheep and Saltaire will feature on the pumps at Sir Henry Segrave.
The Masons Arms will be focusing on Moorhouse’s Brewery and The Windmill will be pouring beers from Lancaster Brewery.
4 – Unique Beer Week events
Keep an eye on Your Southport for details of where you can savour a whole host of events and activities taking place.
They include tap takeovers, meet the brewer events, special quizzes, beer history tours, live music, and much more!
There’s even a Beer Week run taking place between Tap and Bottles and The Windmill on Saturday 23rd May 2026.
5 – Celebrate the CAMRA Pub of The Year
Southport & District CAMRA will be presenting its 2026 Pub of the Year Award to the Guest House during Southport Beer Week on Thursday 21st May 2026 at 8pm.
The award ceremony will be followed by a beer-themed version of their famous pub quiz! It’s a great chance to try through their range of ten cask ales.
6 – Sound the charge for a new Southport venue
Southport Beer Week issues a warm welcome to the Bugle Tap, which opened on Lord Street in March.
The new venue takes inspiration from by bodega and bierkeller culture, specialising in cask and craft ales, locally crafted small-batch spirits, and a curated selection of Belgian and German beers.
7 – Learn more about Southport’s pub heritage
Respected local historian David Walshe will be hosting ‘The Lost Beerhouses & Old Pubs of Southport Guided Walk’, a guided pub which proved very popular at last year’s festival.
Booking is required – Lost Beerhouses & Old Pubs of Southport Tickets, Saturday, May 23 • 12:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Eventbrite
8 – Live music
Southport town centre is well known for its excellent live music venues.
During Beer Week, you can call in and enjoy superb live entertainment throughout the festival at the likes of Kokomo, the Guest House, The Grazing Lounge, Punch Tarmey’s, and The Southport Coaster.
Southport Beer Week is organised by Southport BID in partnership with the participating pubs and bars.
For updates and everything you need to know, visit www.yoursouthport.com/beer-week and make sure to follow Your Southport on Facebook or Instagram
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