A family-owned local business in Southport famed for its delicious Neapolitan pizza is making a positive impression on visitors to The 154th Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport.
600 Degrees, which has outlets inside Southport Market and at Hillside Village – just a short walk away from Royal Birkdale – is among traders which have been welcomed into Royal Birkdale this week.
It’s a busy week for owner Dan Johnstone and his team, as they work non-stop to serve hungry customers at all three venues.
600 Degrees was one of the founding traders inside Southport Market when it opened as a street food, drinks and events venue in 2021, before going on to also open 600 Degrees on Sandon Road in Hillside Village in 2023.
Dan and his family are proud to be serving some of the 300,000 visitors from around the world who have come to Royal Birkdale to enjoy watching The 154th Open Golf Championship this week.
He said: “It’s an honour to be part of such a prestigious local event which is enjoyed by golf fans from around the world.
“It has been very busy! It has been getting busier, and busier, every day The Open has been on.
“From the people I’ve spoken to at Royal Birkdale, we’re seeing record numbers here.
“We’ve been crazy busy. In one three-hour spell yesterday, we cooked and served up 400 pizzas!
“In terms of numbers, this is the biggest event we have ever attended. Being at The Open is a huge milestone for our business, we are really honoured to have been accepted to come and operate at Royal Birkdale.
“We expect to serve somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 pizzas over the course of this week.
“It’s been a big learning process for us, making the dough, managing the dough, and just trying to gauge just what numbers we are going to be managing.
“We have invested in a brand new food trailer for The Open, which we have been enjoying promoting.
“We are then looking forward to taking our 600 Degrees trailer to other events and festivals throughout the region as well as continuing to do our corporate work, and attending people’s houses for parties, events and celebrations.
“We are looking to name our trailer soon so we will be running a competition and getting it out there with the chance for someone to name it for us. They will win a prize for the family to come and eat at 600 Degrees at Hillside.”
The Open has been blessed with bright sunshine covering Sunny Southport throughout the tournament.
Dan said: “This superb weather has contributed to The Open’s huge success this week.
“It has helped to create a really fun, vibrant, festival atmosphere.
“Just down the road I have got 600 Degrees at Hillside, and that has been really busy too!
“It’s great – you come out of Royal Birkdale and head down the road into Hillside Village and it has got a really good vibe going on.
“The restaurants and bars in Hillside have all been really busy which has been great to see.”
And who’s Dan’s favourite to lift The Claret Jug this Sunday?
Dan said: “Who would I like to see win? Obviously it would be fantastic to see Southport golfer Tommy Fleetwood, who has already won a few majors, win The Open, but we also have another top Southport golfer here, Matthew Baldwin, so I’ve been cheering him on too!”
“I’be yet to see one of them come over for a pizza, but there’s still time!”
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.
Dan Johnstone 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.
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