The Southport Comedy Pub Crawls have made a welcome return to the town, with 70 people enjoying a mystery tour around the town centre – seeing a top comedian in each one.
The first of five monthly pub crawls was organised by Big Comedy UK and funded by Sefton Council, to showcase Southport’s rich and vibrant night-time economy.
The event was hosted by Big Comedy UK Director Brendan Riley and saw pub crawlers enjoy seeing four stand-up comedians in four different pubs and bars.
They started off at Southport Market before heading off together on a night out that left everyone smiling.
Further Southport Comedy Pub Crawls will take place on Wednesday nights on 28th January 2026, 25th February 2026, 25th March 2026 and 22nd April 2026, with more details available here: Home – Southport Market
Brendan Riley said: “It was a fantastic night! We had nearly 70 people with us enjoying the first comedy pub crawl, which is the first of five!
“We started at Southport Market, which is such a superb meeting point. People can come in at any time they like before the pub crawl starts and enjoy some food from the traders they have here, or enjoy a couple of drinks as they meet their friends.
“We started at Southport Market with a hilarious show by Dave Twentyman.
“We then headed to the multi award-winning Tap & Bottles in Cambridge Arcade, for a performance by Raul Kholi.
“Next we went to The Auld Dubliner Irish pub on Lord Street, where we saw Andy Roach.
“Then we strolled along Lord Street to the Southport Coaster, for our final show seeing Harry Stachini.
“What a fantastic night it was – really good fun and a superb way to enjoy a midweek night out in Southport.
“If you’d like to come and join us on the next one, it will be on Wednesday 28th January 2026.
“It’s great to see the Southport Pub Crawls coming back. They were such a popular feature of Southport Comedy Festival before the pandemic; so many people have been asking when they’re coming back!
“Sefton Council’s Tourism team has now funded them to take place once a month in December,January, February, March and April.
“Each pub crawl starts at Southport Market and features four venues in all, with four fantastic comedians along the way.
“Each pub crawl features different venues, which you can discover along the way! Each tour will feature a different variety of venues; some big, some small, all various types.
“It’s a great way of giving a much-needed boost to Southport’s brilli\nt night-time economy and showing people just what this town has to offer.
“It’s not just the night itself, when we fill a venue with 70 people, all buying drinks – it’s all about the impact afterwards, highlighting bars and pubs to new people who may want to come back.
“I feature videos and images of the pub tours on our social media channels, raising more awareness of the venues that we visit.
“Tickets are only a fiver for four stand-up comedians – it’s amazing value and a brilliant night out.
“Come and join us on the next one!”
Fifteen different Southport town centre venues are hosting the Southport Comedy Pub Crawl project, providing a much needed boost to hospitality revenue in the town centre during the winter period.
Cllr Paulette Lappin, Deputy Leader of Sefton Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Employment and Skills, said: “We know lots of people and businesses have been asking if the comedy crawls would return after their last run in 2019 so we are delighted to have been able to make sure they do!
“The crawls are a brilliant way of discovering what Southport town centre has to offer this winter and support our wonderful local businesses who need that extra boost during what is traditionally a slightly quieter period.
“It’s fair to say the demand for the crawl’s return has been substantial so I encourage people to secure their tickets quickly before they sell out!”
Tickets, along with more information and future dates, are available via www.southportmarket.com
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