Travelodge and Papa John's Pizza in the Ribble Buildings on Lord Street in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Media

How many quarters does Southport have now? And how many would you like to see? 

There has been huge debate in our Stand Up For Southport Facebook group since a collection of ambitious business owners at the Ribble building end of Lord Street in Southport town centre announced that they want to brand their part of town ‘the Western Quarter’. 

Of course the comments came back such as ‘more quarters!’, ‘how many quarters have we got’ and  ‘that’s about 13 quarters now’. 

Neville Grundy made a great point when he said: “There seems to be more discussion about the label ‘Western Quarter’ than about the actual subject matter of the article, which is particularly amusing considering that it’s in Southport which – confusingly – has never been a port in its history.”

It has certainly got people talking about the Western Quarter, and raising the profile of the area is exactly what the local businesses there want! 

The idea of ‘quarters’ is still a relatively novel one in Southport. But it’s already provingto be a superb idea. 

Let’s nail the definition first – yes, it can mean ‘each of four equal or corresponding parts’. 

But an alternative meaning is: ‘a part of a town or city having a particular character or use (such as) ‘a beautiful port city with a fascinating medieval quarter’.’ 

It’s a way of raising an area’s profile. Of establishing an identity. Of developing a real sense of community. 

Bold Hotel in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Media

This idea really gained ground in Southport with what is now the superbly successful ‘Northern Quarter’. The term was coined by local businessman and investor Andrew Mikhail. 

Mr Mikhail owns the fast growing Mikhail Hotel & Leisure Group, which owns ventures in the Northern Quarter including The Bold Hotel, the Lord Street Hotel, and Punch Tarmey’s. 

This year he has acquired the former Grand Casino building, which is currently in the process of being transformed into a five star hotel, a wedding venue, a brewery and a bar, creating 100 new jobs. 

An array of other hospitality themed businesses have since clustered in the area creating scores of new jobs, reasons for people to visit and a real vibrancy. 

This has happened in a part of town that a decade ago was derided by some for its series of charity shops and empty units. 

Lord Street in Southport in 1983, when retail dominated. Shoppers are pictured outside Denise Fashions, on the corner of Bold Street, while a man walks past Casa Italia on the opposite corner.

Lord Street in Southport in 1983, when retail dominated. Shoppers are pictured outside Denise Fashions, on the corner of Bold Street, while a man walks past Casa Italia on the opposite corner.

Southport town centre, and Lord Street in particular, were once hailed as the gold standard for great shopping. 

But since the steady growth of online shopping, out of town retail parks and giant supermarket brands, shops everywhere have taken a hit. Asking to fill an entire mile long boulevard like Lord Street with shops, especially in a town rather than a city, was always going to be a big ask in this day and age. 

In August last year the Nexus Planning ‘Health Check’ found that the amount of vacant town centre floorspace in Southport had grown from 13.6% in 2011, rising to 15% by 2015 and reaching 18.7% by 2020.  Something had to change. 

The growth of the Northern Quarter is now allowing retail in Southport to begin the process of contracting into a more centralised area of the town centre, something which was recognised among the ‘Big Ideas’ in last year’s Southport Town Deal consultation. 

Retail will still invest in Southport town centre, as long as it’s in the right area.

The Flannels, Sports Direct, USC and Everlast development on Tulketh Street in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Media

The Flannels, Sports Direct, USC and Everlast development on Tulketh Street in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Media

Sports Direct splashed out £3.5million to create its Flannels, Sports Direct, USC and Everlast gym development on Tulketh Street as a welcome addition to our town. 

Earlier this year, Beales forked out £800,000 and created 40 new jobs as it opened a new department store right at the heart of Lord Street – its first store in the north of England. 

In a further departure from retail, Sefton Council, in a £1.4million scheme supported by Southport Town Deal, transformed Southport Market from market stalls into an exciting new food, drink and events venue. Ten new food and drink businesses now operare inside, with 100 new jobs. 

That has also led to the growth of the ‘Market Quarter’, attracting some top quality local independent businesses such as: Season Coffee, Bar and Kitchen; Urban Attic; The Cake Box; and Eva’s Sewing Room. New owners have recently bought The Coronation pub, while German Doner Kebab has committed half a million pounds to regenerate the former McDonald’s building, leading to 30 new jobs. 

Season Coffee, Bar, Kitchen on King Street in Southport

Season Coffee, Bar, Kitchen on King Street in Southport

The idea of a ‘quarter’ has definitely worked here. Local businesses, the new Market, and events such as the monthly Makers Market all work together to attract visitors to a ‘destination’ venue. 

In retail terms, Wesley Street – which brands itself as ‘The Village in the Town’ – has long been a quarter in its own right. The business owners here have painted the fronts of their buildings different, vibrant colours, and have held events such as the Wesley Street Festival. Wolfe & Bear and Heimat Coffee are the latest businesses to open here. It’s a hub for local independents. 

So why wouldn’t the business owners at the Ribble building end of Lord Street want to work together to form their own identity? 

Why should the Northern Quarter, the Market Quarter and Wesley Street make all the noise, gain all the attention and grab all the customers? 

Defining, branding and promoting your own quarter is a great way to go. 

Chris Hesketh, who co-owns the Fennee Kay Hair and Beauty Salon here with partner Sarah Fenney, said: “We feel that us and our neighbours are making this end of Lord Street a lot better, with the other businesses around us now opening and trying to be successful, with all of us signing long term leases.”

“The other end of Lord Street has been named ‘The Northern Quarter’. We see ourselves as the Western Quarter of Lord Street with it being Lord Street West.”

Sarah Fenney said: “We couldn’t ask for a nicer community to be in. We have made new friends with most of the business owners here.

“We all want to be here for the long term.”

They are among new independent businesses to have opened here recently, while Wetherspoon is creating its new Wetherspoon Hotel nearby and a new owner has just bought the former Garrick Theatre / Mecca Bingo site. 

Good things are happening here. Through the ‘Western Quarter’, those in the area just want people out there to know, and to discover what they have to offer. Go see. 

So where next? Where would you like to see the next quarter develop in Southport? 

It is going to be fascinating to see. 

But the growth of these new quarters just goes to show the immense passion, creativity and sense of community that business owners have for Southport. Long may it continue. 

All it requires now is for all of us living here to support them. 

Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com

7 Comments
  1. Latandra 2 months ago

    Excellent write-up. I certainly love this website.

    Thanks!

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