Guest House in Southport wins Pub Of The Year 2020 award

The Guest House pub in Southport is due to be presented with its well deserved 2020 Pub Of The year accolade! 

The award was given by the Southport & West Lancs CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) branch. 

The iconic real ale venue on Union Street, in Southport town centre, offers 11 hand pulls with a variety of cask ales that are brewed both locally and nationally. 

They add: “John Smiths, Strongbow, Guinness, Fosters, Kronenbourg and Heineken are also available on tap… if you’re into that kind of thing!”

When Coronavirus restrictions aren’t in place, live acoustic sessions take place every on the first Monday of every month, with new performers welcome. Live folk music nights are held every third Monday of the month.

The pub boasts it has “the best quiz in town” (in their own humble opinion) every Thursday 9.30pm(ish). 

Southport & West Lancs CAMRA spokesperson Neville Grundy said: “Our Pub of the Year, the Guest House in Union Street, is an extremely attractive pub that is on CAMRA’s National Inventory of pubs with intact traditional interiors, and it is in fact the least altered pub in Southport.

“It regularly serves between eight and eleven real ales that are always kept in excellent condition, and usually has one traditional cider.

“The impressive exterior is half timbered, and inside the walls are wood-panelled. It is mostly unaltered with three separate rooms, a drinking area around the bar and an outdoor drinking area to the rear. It regularly sells up to 11 real ales.

“It is also noted for its extensive Scotch malt whisky range. Outside drinking to the front and rear.” 

The Grasshopper in Hillside in Southport

CAMRA members awarded their 2020 Cider Pub of the Year to The Grasshopper. 

Neville Grundy said: “The Grasshopper is a modern two-roomed micropub in Sandon Road, Hillside.

“The premises were once a branch of Martins Bank, which had a grasshopper trademark.

“They always have seven real ales on and the biggest range locally of up to eight real ciders and perries (like cider but made with pears).

“They hold special events throughout the year, such as Lancashire Day, and have outside seating to the front.

“In addition to a good selection of real ales, this two-roomed micropub has the widest choice of ciders in the area. There are tables to the front where you can sit and enjoy the sunshine – when we get any.

“The Guest House and The Grasshopper are two worthy winners of two of our branch’s main annual awards.”

The Southport & West Lancs branch of CAMRA will shortly be presenting its branch awards to local pubs, bars and clubs. These awards are decided by the votes of ordinary CAMRA members who have visited all the finalists. 

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