Archive for the ‘Southport’ Category

10 fish and chip shops from the North West have been shortlisted for a national award. Chippies in the region making it to the final of the National Fish & Chip Shop of the Year competition are:

Granada Fish Bar – Fleetwood
Johns Plaice – Wigton, near Carlisle
Olympus Fish & Chip Restaurant - Bolton
Seniors – Thornton
Seniors Fish Bar & Restaurant – Blackpool
Fosters Fish & Chips – Alderley Edge
Foz’s Fish Bar – Manchester
Frydays – Manchester
Harpers – Southport
Grapes Fish & Chip Shop Wigan

The grand final will be held in London next year and will be hosted by celebrity chef Simon Rimmer. The event, sponsored by Seafish, is now in its 21st year.

The Say Two Touring Company will be performing at some of the North West’s finest locations this summer with their production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Venues and dates for the open-air, evening performances are:

Pennington Park, near Wigan – June 21
Bank Hall, Bretherton, near Chorley – June 8
Kingswood College, Scarisbrick, near Southport – July 5
Brougham Hall, Penrith – July 11/12
Heskin Hall, Chorley – July 19
Chester Amphitheatre – July 26

Members of the public are invited to audition to take part in the show alongside professional actors. No previous experience is necessary.

For all enquiries telephone 01257 453956.

Moorfield Media have announced the nominations for the Northern Hospitality Awards 2008. The winners will be announced at the Lowry Hotel on April 7. The finalists include:

Best Restaurant

Brasserie Black Door, Newcastle Upon Tyne
El Gato Negro, West Yorkshire
Holbeck Ghyll, Cumbria
The London Carriage Works, Hope Street Hotel, Liverpool
The Peacock at Rowsley, Derbyshire

Best Hotel

City Inn, Manchester
Hilton Manchester Deansgate
The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
Malmaison, Liverpool
Radisson Edwardian, Manchester

Best Pub

The Bayley Arms, Lancashire
The Highway Man, Lancashire
The Q Bar, Cheshire
The Shoulder of Mutton, Harrogate
The Swettenham Arms, Cheshire

Best Chef

Lisa Allen, Head Chef, Northcote Manor, Lancashire
Paul Askew, Chef Patron, The London Carriage Works, Liverpool
David Kennedy, Executive Chef, Black Door Group, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Simon Shaw, Chef Patron, El Gato Negro, West Yorkshire
Eyck Zimmer, Executive Head Chef, The Lowry Hotel, Manchester

Best Wine Offering

The Devonshire Brasserie and Bar
Hillbark Hotel
Malmaison, Liverpool
Northcote Manor, Lancashire
Warehouse Brasserie, Southport

The skies of Southport will be lit up to the sound of music when the British Musical Fireworks Championships return to the resort this weekend. Each evening, from October 5 to October 7, there will be displays by two of the UK’s top professional firework companies at the Marine Lake. The programme starts at 7.30 pm each evening; with gates opening at 7 pm. Tickets are £5 on the door with under 5’s admitted free.

The Southport Air Show will be held this weekend (September 22 – 23) with a programme that includes displays by the Red Arrows, WWII aircraft, helicopters, and parachutists. The Air Show Village will feature trade stands, flight simulators, and more.

Tickets can be purchased on the day for £7. The show is open from 9 am to 6 pm each day, with the flying programme starting around 1 pm and finishing at 5 pm.

From May 17 to 20 Southport will be holding it’s first ever Food and Drink Festival. Events include chef demonstrations in a specially constructed marquee at the Arts Centre, a farmer’s market, an international market on Lord Street and Chapel Street, and a beer festival at Barons Bar in the Scarisbrick Hotel.

Eccleston’s C’est Tous Theatre Company will be touring some of the North West’s most exquisite locations this summer with their production of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. Venues and dates are:

Saturday 23rd June Kingswood Scarisbrick Hall Southport
Friday 29th June Kendal Castle
Saturday 30th June Kendal Castle
Saturday 7th July Haighton Manor, Preston
Saturday 14th July Carlisle Castle
Sunday 15th July Pennington Park, Wigan
Friday 20th July Beeston Castle, Cheshire
Saturday 21st July Chester Amphitheatre
Saturday 28th July Chester Amphitheatre
Friday 10th August Brougham Hall, Penrith

All performances start at 7pm. Don’t forget to bring a picnic! For booking/info please call 01257 453956.

Visit North West visited the Pleasure Beach at Blackpool yesterday for the opening of their new ride, Infusion. This is world’s first suspended looping coaster operating entirely over water and is essentially an improved version of the Traumatizer at Southport Pleasureland. Check out the video here.

After months of wrangling it looks like Antony Gormley’s statues on Crosby Beach may become a permanent fixture. Last year Sefton Council wanted to remove the Another Place exhibit due to safety concerns but agreed to wait for a report from planning officers. They have now recommended they remain, provided some outstanding safety issues are addressed. Sefton Council’s planning committee convenes this week to confirm the decision.

Construction of the £30 million hotel and business complex at Southport’s Floral Hall should begin in the next few weeks after Sefton Council and property group Neptune signed a development agreement this week. The ambitious scheme will include a 133-bedroom hotel, an exhibition hall, casino and numerous restaurants.