Guest Blog by Kelly Bond
Now the dust has settled and the gates have closed on Victoria Park after another incredible Southport Flower Show, I wanted to take a little time to write something…
It’s a long one, and many of you probably won’t read it in its entirety, but it feels important for me to do it.
So off I go…
Every year, I come away from Southport Flower Show thinking the same thing: just how incredibly lucky we are to have an event of this scale right here in our town.Year on year, the team continue to push it forward and better it, and I’m just always so “blooming” proud.
As somebody who will champion all things Southport until I’m blue in the face, it is always an honour and a privilege to play even the smallest part in something that brings so many people through the gates of Victoria Park and, more importantly, into our town.
This year, though, something felt different.
There was an energy injection into the whole show. A real oomph.
It welcomed new host Kevin Duala. Buskers’ Corner arrived, creating another platform for local talent, (some taking to a stage for the very first time).The Cookery Theatre was under the incredible command of Briony May, alongside new installations, traders, businesses, chefs, performers and experiences throughout the park.
One of the things that made me happiest was seeing so many local people and businesses being given the opportunity to showcase what they do to a much wider audience.
That really matters to me.
It’s also one of those wonderful weekends where I get to see SO many people I simply don’t get to see enough
When you work in events, entertainment and hospitality, you build these brilliant friendships with people you can go months without seeing because, ironically, we’re all always working!
Then an event like Southport Flower Show comes around and suddenly everyone is in the same place again – performers, caterers, event teams, suppliers, local businesses and familiar faces I’ve worked alongside for years.
There’s something really lovely about those little reunions in between the madness. A quick hug backstage, five minutes catching up between jobs, bumping into somebody you haven’t seen since the last event you worked together… it’s a reminder that there’s a whole community of people behind Southport’s events and hospitality industry, and I’m very lucky to know so many of them.
I could write paragraphs on all the things I loved about this weekend but if I had to pick my favourite – the moment I’ll treasure most from this year… it had nothing to do with celebrity guests, ladies day, presenting or cooking.
It was standing on that Piazza Stage alongside my Murraymyster Hayley Murray.
And now to my main point …
Events like Southport Flower Show are lovely, but more so they are IMPORTANT.
They bring coachloads of visitors into our town. People who discover Victoria Park, our promenade, our hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and independent businesses. Many stay for the weekend and spend their money within our local economy.
And a time when tourism and hospitality are already fighting incredibly hard, we should never underestimate the importance of events that give people a reason to come to Southport.
So please, continue to support them.
Because if we don’t support these events while we have them, we can’t complain when one day we don’t.
Finally, to Alan Adams and the entire Southport Flower Show team, thank you on behalf of the masses that may not be able to tell you themselves.
Thank you for the months of planning that nobody sees. Thank you to every member of staff, every contractor, every trader, every performer and every single volunteer who gave their time, energy and enthusiasm to make those four days happen.
You should all be incredibly proud.
And from one very proud Sandgrounder
Thank you for letting me be a tiny part of it.
So thanks for taking the time to read, I hope it inspires you to praise the efforts of team SFS a little on your own socials … or, since you’re here – if you went/ loved it / have a particular highlight you want to shout about go ahead and lash it in the comments!
Southport Flower Show 2026 … best to-date!
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