The two multi award-winning landlords at a thriving community pub in Southport have been recognised for their positive impact on the town at the 2026 Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards.
Neil Walsh and Tom Hodgin, landlords at The Windmill Pub on Seabank Road in Southport town centre in Southport, were Finalists in the Sefton Business In The Community Award sponsored by In Demand Radio.
They were among local heroes honoured across 13 categories at The Grand in Southport, with judges receiving thousands of nominations from across Sefton.
Neil and Tom were the youngest pub landlords in Southport when they took over the historic venue in November 2018.
Since then they have transformed it in many ways, making it a real hub of the local community.
They have won many awards along the way, including being recognised as Finalists at the prestigious Liverpool City Tourism Awards for four years in a row.
They regularly donate cooked food to Southport Soup Kitchen; they host a weekly Community Christmas lunch in the lead-up to Christmas; they train apprentices from Southport College; they support Southport Air Cadets, recently raising money to sponsor their minibus.
One of their nominations said: “I would like to nominate Neil and Tom the landlords of The Windmill pub and their team in Southport for their work with different age groups in the community.
“As well as running a popular, welcoming and dog-friendly pub with excellent food in the town they are making a difference to the local community in a variety of ways.
Throughout the year they provide a monthly cooked donation to Southport Soup Kitchen which is used to feed the homeless.
“At Christmas they introduced an affordable weekly Community Christmas lunch to encourage people who were lonely in the run up to Christmas or who wouldn’t have a Christmas Dinner to come together and meet other people and have someone to talk to in a bid to help with loneliness and isolation at what can be a difficult period for some.
“They train and support apprentices in their kitchen from Southport College and more recently have added some on day release from other educational settings. They are taught a wide range of skills and cater not only for the normal menu but for special occasions and events too.
Photo by Bertie Cunningham
“They also support the work of the Southport Air Cadets and have raised money to sponsor their minibus, give donations to the work and offer the cadets a bacon butty and warm drink after they have stood at the War Memorial on events like Remembrance Sunday. They also gave a donation to the British Legion from the quiz Open the Box.
“In November Neil grew a moustache for Movember raising funds for Prostate Cancer.
“Although this is a small business I think that the ways in which they support the community are really well thought out. To not only help raise money for good causes but also thinking about what will help build a stronger community in Southport. By investing time and money in the young people both on the staff and kitchen and through the cadets they are creating confident, helpful people who in turn will help build a good future for the town having seen such good examples themselves.
“Also thinking of the homeless and people who are lonely and making them feel included and well fed is another example of bringing all in the community together. “They are both very modest and don’t think of all the things they do, they just get on and do it.”
The 2026 Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards celebrated selfless, talented and courageous people across 13 categories at The Grand in Southport on 24th April 2026.
The Main Award was won by Queenscourt Hospice founder Dr Karen Groves MBE.
The evening was hosted by former Sky Sports News presenter Fraser Dainton with VIP guests including HM Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside Peter Oliver OBE and Mayor of Sefton Cllr Burns.
Funds were raised on the night for the ICU Steps charity, which supports patients in intensive care and their families.
The Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards are organised by Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group and Stand Up For Southport in association with media partners In Demand Radio with support from Southport BID.
There are 13 categories including Child of Courage, School Of The Year, Community Impact, Charity Champion and more, plus the Main Award.
Next year’s event takes place on Friday 30th April 2027.
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