Southport Beer Week 2026 brews up a storm with ale trail, events, live music and tap takeovers

Andrew Brown
4 Min Read
Julian Burgess at the Tap and Bottles in Cambridge Arcade in Southport. Photo by Bertie Cunningham Southport BID

Southport BID feature by Stand Up For Southport 

Venues in Southport town centre will be brewing up a storm again for Southport Beer Week, which returns for its second year on 20th-25th May 2026.

The beer festival celebrates Southport’s pubs and bars, featuring an ale trail alongside a packed programme of events.

Seventeen venues are taking part this year, including Sinclair’s, Tap and Bottles, The Guesthouse, Masons Arms and new bar The Bugle Tap.

Gail Hayes at The Guest House in Southport. Photo by Bertie Cunningham Southport BID

It’s the perfect excuse for real ale fans and pub lovers to head to Southport over the bank holiday weekend to take on the town centre ale trail.

Visit a selection of the venues, try some interesting beers, and collect stamps in your Beer Week booklet as you go.

Collect seven stamps to be in with a chance of winning a £250 voucher (which can be spent at a Southport business of your choice).

There are runner-up prizes too, including limited edition Southport Beer Week t-shirts.

Alongside the ale trail, there are plenty of events and activities to enjoy throughout the festival.

Craft beer bar Tap & Bottles are hosting Rivington Brewery for a meet-the-brewer style event, as well as a Polish beer tap takeover and a traditional pub games competition.

Kam Wojtow at Sinclair’s bar on Lord Street in Southport. Phopto by Bertie Cunningham Southport BID

Several venues are focusing on specific breweries for ‘real ale takeovers’, including producers like Saltaire, Moorhouse’s, Wigan Brewhouse, and Lancaster Brewery.

A 5km pub run, open to runners of all levels, will take place on Saturday 23rd May 2026 between Tap and Bottles and The Windmill, with social drinks afterwards.

People are also invited to the Guest House on Thursday 21st May 2026 for the presentation of their ‘Pub Of The Year Award’ from Southport and West Lancs CAMRA branch, followed by a beer-themed pub quiz.

Pre-booking is required for The Lost Beerhouses & Old Pubs of Southport Guided Walk, a guided pub history tour which proved very popular at last year’s festival.

Secret Sand Land founder David Walshe leads a Beer Week tour at The Guest House pub on Union Street in Southport. Photo by Bertie Cunningham Southport BID

There will also be live music throughout the festival at venues such as Kokomo and Punch Tarmey’s amongst others, whilst The Grazing Lounge will once again be serving up pies made with Southport Brewery beer.

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.

If you have any questions about the event, contact [email protected] 

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