Happy third birthday to The Grand in Southport!
This sensational venue opened on Lord Street three years ago today, on 15th July 2022.
It followed the meticulous transformation of the former Grand Casino, a once grand art deco landmark building that had sat empty, neglected and badly vandalised over many years.
The good news was that many of the site’s original features were restored for the public to once again admire.
The highlight of this arguably was the legendary Disney stained glass windows on the first floor, which were famously created with the blessing of Walt Disney himself in the days when it was used as a cinema.
The windows depict a variety of Disney characters from the 1920s and 1930s including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and have been lovingly restored.
The first Grade II Listed building opened the doors in the summer of 2022 revealing the first phase of the works – the ground floor – which was carried out thanks to £3million investment by the Mikhail Hotel And Leisure Group.
A total of 60 new jobs were created as a result.
Since then, the investment has continued to flow.
On 14th October, the official opening of the second phase in the project took place, with people able to view the Princess Grace Suite on the first floor.
The stylish function and events space seats 250 people while its huge windows provide beautiful views across Lord Street as sunlight floods into the room.
It has since hosted a wide variety of events and functions. They include the annual Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards, which honours community heroes from across the borough.
Last year saw the opening of Harry’s Rooftop Bar and Terrace on the top of the building, perfect for sunseekers and unmissable events such as Free Flow Fridays and Sax Sundays.
This year saw the opening of the new Sirocco Mediterranean restaurant and bar on the ground floor, bringing the vibrant energy of the Mediterranean coast with laid-back days, lively nights, fresh flavours, and an atmosphere that’s made for living in the moment.
The Grand initially opened in 2023, and celebrated its centenary in 2023.
Restoring the beautiful Grade II Listed art deco building was a true labour of love for Andrew Mikhail, Chairman of Mikhail Hotel And Leisure Group, and his family.
The Mikhail Group has a real passion for Southport, having already invested substantial amounts into redeveloping the Lord Street Hotel, the Bold Hotel, the Lord Street Sports Bar, Punch Tarmey’s bar, Maverick’s, and the Southport Market centre bar.
Their huge investment has led to the revitalisation of the trendy ‘Northern Quarter’ of the iconic Lord Street boulevard, which a decade ago was blighted by empty units in need of repair.
There are not many units available now, with recent investment by businesses including Sincliar’s, Gingers, the Clare Wright Art Gallery and others, with work due to take place soon at the former Debenhams site and the new Wine & Words by Watson opening soon.
The Grand holds a particularly special place in Andrew Mikhail’s heart, as the venue where he and wife Vicky enjoyed their very first date together 26 years ago.
Southport, a coastal resort where Andrew Mikhail has so many happy memories from days out with his parents to meeting his future wife, is a place where he is determined to create special experiences for others to enjoy.
The Grand first opened in 1923 as a car showroom.
It later became a cinema, and was more recently known as the ‘Grand Casino’, until its closure saw this magnificent building sitting empty for many years.
Andrew Mikhail said: “Bringing fabulous buildings back to life is such a rewarding feeling, it’s what I love to do, and a building as stunning as The Grand deserves to be enjoyed by the people of Southport and beyond.
“It feels so strange to be owning not only The Grand but the surrounding venues, Lord Street Hotel, Punch Tarmey’s and The Bold as they are all places I visited as a kid with my parents.”
● Find out more about The Grand and book tables at: www.thegrand.co.uk
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