The Southport Run
Hey, it's been a while since I've done a blog. The last one was following the Beer Quarter walk around Dale Street (the less said the better about completing the challenge for a draw that never happened. Ho hum.). Anyway another wee crawl was undertaken on Friday. It was an all dayer, which is best – as it means the beers are spread over a longer time. Cramming beers in faster is a recipe for disaster after all. Nope, it was the always spot on Shiraz breakfast for stomach lining followed by the train to Southport. After a few beers in Southport it was then the train back to Liverpool with a few hops off at choice locations.
I've done the Southport run a few times. The first time was many moons ago with me buddy Ken and a group of his mates from Bootle and its environs. That time we had to wait in Southport for a late comer – so we ended up having about 8 beers before even getting back on the train for the hop off and on part of the trip. Given the group I was with it was largely Guinness on the menu for yours truly too. Like I say it was a long time ago. Indeed most of the pubs I went into this week (seven out of ten) weren't even in existence back then.
After the Shiraz it was straight to Southport using a Saveaway ticket. Didn't do many in Southport as I wanted to ensure I got back on the train at a decent time. Went to three pubs. First the Tap & Bottles – which would always be my choice if I could only do one pub in Southport – where I had a Salopian 'Neewollah.' (halloween backwards). Then it was Mason's Arms, where I had a Robinsons 'Dizzy Blonde' and chatted with some nice people with a similar outlook on getting around and about for ales. Finally it was the Guest House for a Phoenix 'Pale Moonlight' before getting on my bike (not literally) to the next venue.
The Barrel House in Birkdale was next up. It's a very short walk from Birkdale Station and had a nice couple of beers on, including Twisted Wheel 'Footsteps on the Dance Floor'. Loved the blues music which was on at the time as much as the beer. It was a short walk back of course within the half hour to get the train to Hillside and the Grasshopper. It was again a wee walk and one pint - it was 'Quagmire' from Big Bog. I missed out the next station and headed straight to the Beer Station at Freshfield. It really couldn't be much closer to the station, which makes it ideal for the Southport Run. And the beer is alway excellent. It is such a popular bar the main risk is trying to find a seat. Neptune 'Mosaic' was on and I had to stop for two didn't I?
Didn't bother with Formby or Hightown and headed straight to Waterloo. There are so many options around South Road and on this particular occasion I chose not to go to the Volunteer (I usually would go there). This time I went to the Trap & Hatch where I had 'HDA No.1 Ernest' from Buxton Brewery, then Four Ashes, and the Old Tap (Vocation 'Heart & Soul'). It was great to have some lovely beers and meet some great people.
Finally it was back to Liverpool Central. I popped out to the Head of Steam in the hope of finding 'Midnight Rider' on – the Ossett and Neptune black IPA collab – and I was in luck. It was a nice way to end a great day out.
The trip this time was as follows:
Will sort out a Southport Run map at some point. I promise it is always a nice day out: even without seeing the sea (and preferably ensure any accomplices arrive in good time so you don't have eight pints in Southport before starting back to the 'Pool).
I've done the Southport run a few times. The first time was many moons ago with me buddy Ken and a group of his mates from Bootle and its environs. That time we had to wait in Southport for a late comer – so we ended up having about 8 beers before even getting back on the train for the hop off and on part of the trip. Given the group I was with it was largely Guinness on the menu for yours truly too. Like I say it was a long time ago. Indeed most of the pubs I went into this week (seven out of ten) weren't even in existence back then.
After the Shiraz it was straight to Southport using a Saveaway ticket. Didn't do many in Southport as I wanted to ensure I got back on the train at a decent time. Went to three pubs. First the Tap & Bottles – which would always be my choice if I could only do one pub in Southport – where I had a Salopian 'Neewollah.' (halloween backwards). Then it was Mason's Arms, where I had a Robinsons 'Dizzy Blonde' and chatted with some nice people with a similar outlook on getting around and about for ales. Finally it was the Guest House for a Phoenix 'Pale Moonlight' before getting on my bike (not literally) to the next venue.
The Barrel House in Birkdale was next up. It's a very short walk from Birkdale Station and had a nice couple of beers on, including Twisted Wheel 'Footsteps on the Dance Floor'. Loved the blues music which was on at the time as much as the beer. It was a short walk back of course within the half hour to get the train to Hillside and the Grasshopper. It was again a wee walk and one pint - it was 'Quagmire' from Big Bog. I missed out the next station and headed straight to the Beer Station at Freshfield. It really couldn't be much closer to the station, which makes it ideal for the Southport Run. And the beer is alway excellent. It is such a popular bar the main risk is trying to find a seat. Neptune 'Mosaic' was on and I had to stop for two didn't I?
Didn't bother with Formby or Hightown and headed straight to Waterloo. There are so many options around South Road and on this particular occasion I chose not to go to the Volunteer (I usually would go there). This time I went to the Trap & Hatch where I had 'HDA No.1 Ernest' from Buxton Brewery, then Four Ashes, and the Old Tap (Vocation 'Heart & Soul'). It was great to have some lovely beers and meet some great people.
Finally it was back to Liverpool Central. I popped out to the Head of Steam in the hope of finding 'Midnight Rider' on – the Ossett and Neptune black IPA collab – and I was in luck. It was a nice way to end a great day out.
The trip this time was as follows:
- Tap & Bottles
- Mason's Arms
- Guest House
- Barrel House
- Grasshopper
- Freshfield
- Trap & Hatch
- Four Ashes
- Old Tap
- Head of Steam
Will sort out a Southport Run map at some point. I promise it is always a nice day out: even without seeing the sea (and preferably ensure any accomplices arrive in good time so you don't have eight pints in Southport before starting back to the 'Pool).