The 2025 Southport Heritage Open Days Festival has been a huge success with the hundreds of people who visited some of Southport’s most cherished landmarks – along with some hidden treasures.
Feedback from people who attended has been impressive, with 100% of people who enjoyed one of the visits this year saying they would love to head back to the Festival in 2026.
This year’s event has been organised brilliantly by Southport Heritage Open Days Co-ordinator Heather Cook, who would love to expand the scope and range of the festival in 2026 with even more venues opening their doors and more activities taking place including talks and guided tours.
Venues which featured this year – some for the first time – included Southport Masonic Hall; Silcock’s Pier Family restaurant; Masters Crazy Golf; the Prince of Wales Hotel; Southport’s Lost Cinemas; Kings Gardens; The Atkinson; Holy Family Catholic Church; The Windmill pub; the British Lawnmower Museum; Marshside Fog Bell; Scarisbrick Mausoleum; St Philip & St Paul with Wesley Church; and many more.
Every event was free.
The festival is an integral part of an exciting year of events in ‘Southport 2026’ when the town will host The Open Golf Championship along with four brand new events under the ‘Elegantly Eccentric’ banner.
They will add to existing ‘Southport Originals’ such as Southport Flower Show, Southport Air Show, the British Musical Fireworks Championship, Southport Comedy Festival, Southport Food and Drink Festival and others.
Southport Heritage Open Days Co-ordinator Heather Cook said:
“We loved putting on the Southport Heritage Open Days Festival, and it’s amazing to know that 100% of respondents said they would visit again!
“97% said they were inspired to engage more with heritage and culture as a result of the festival.
“84% of respondents said our festival made them feel more proud of Southport. There’s so much to love about our town, and it’s amazing to know the festival played a part in boosting local pride.
“Great things happen when you celebrate what you’ve got on your doorstep!
“90% of respondents said that they learned something new about Southport as part of our festival. Our amazing organisers put so much time and effort into making their events informative and interesting, and we’re so glad to see that visitors left with new stories about our lovely town.
“The festival will return in 2026 from 11th to 20th September, and we’re already hatching plans for it!
“If anyone would l;ike more details about the festival or who is interested in taking part please email me at: southport.hod@hotmail.com
“We’d love to hear from you.”
This year’s theme has been ‘Architecture’ while the 2026 theme is ‘Stories About Ordinary People’.
It doesn’t have to be a big venue to take part and Heather would love to see more places getting involved from across Southport.
She said: “What a fantastic 10 days we had at this year’s Southport Heritage Open Days Festival.
“We had over 60 events taking place across Southport, from Crossens to Ainsdale, showcasing the town’s heritage. Next year we’d love to see more from across the whole town.
“It wasn’t just a celebration of places and buildings, this has been a celebration of people and community. Over the course of the festival, business owners and custodians opened their doors to tell their own stories of what Southport means to them.
“It’s been such a privilege to have had so many people pour their time and love into these events, sharing personal stories, and swapping tales of the past with those who visited.
“We have an amazing community here in Southport, and that’s what heritage needs. It’s our job to carry these stories and these buildings forward so that future generations can share in the pride and magic of Southport’s history.
“I was really grateful for the support of Sue Latimer this year and all the organisers who took part. It was a busy 10 days, but it went really well.
“Over half of the people visiting venues had never done it before and that is really encouraging.
“It was lovely to see so many faces making an itinerary and heading to one venue after another, really packing everything in, and trying lots of different things!
“I would love to see them come back again next year, and help us to spread the word about what’s on offer.
“In 2026 our theme will be ‘Stories About Ordinary People’ which gives us lots of exciting possibilities to celebrate some remarkable people from Southport’s past and present.
“It’s all about the everyday history of working lives, which will work so well in Southport.
“I’d love to encourage people to help us tell the stories about local industries – shrimping, sweet making, making Vulcan cars, the families who have been in Southport for generations.
“I’d love to expand the areas featured. Southport town centre has lots of impressive landmarks, but I’d love to see opportunities for people to learn more about Churchtown, Crossens, Marshside, Birkdale, Ainsdale, Kew and others too.
“I am really looking forward to 2026. This is exactly what Southport needs.
“I have lived in Southport my whole life and I love it here.
“We should all be coming together and celebrating all that Southport has to offer.”
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