Great outdoors is way to light up our future
IN JUST a few days’ time we will be able to enjoy the sight of scores of Southport businesses reopening!
After months of having to close through the winter Covid-19 national lockdown, we will soon be able to visit shops, hairdressers, beauty salons, gyms, and outdoor hospitality.
Outdoor areas at hospitality venues (cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs, social clubs) can reopen, including for takeaway alcohol. Table service will be the order of the day.
Over recent months businesses in Southport have been busy transforming their premises, as they get ready for people to return in an enjoyable and Covid safe way.
Sefton Council has also been helping businesses by facilitating things like ‘parklets’, to allow for businesses to expand their outside seating onto temporary structures in parking bays or service roads alongside them.
New rules announced by the Government earlier this month will see shops will have the flexibility to open until 10pm Monday to Saturday when they reopen after lockdown.
Here are some of the changes businesses have been making to welcome back their customers after lockdown.
If you know of any others, please email: Media AndrewBrown@gmail. com or message me via Facebook and we will publish via Stand Up For Southport or Southport BID.
1 – Remedy, Lord Street
A popular cafe is now sparkling, ready to welcome customers back after the national Covid lockdown. Remedy has paid Southport-based firm IllumiDex UK Ltd to decorate the building with 7,000 new lights.
Earlier this month IllumiDex completed the impressive project to turn the historic mile-long Lord Street into “a boulevard of lights” with 300,000 new bulbs strung across 80 trees.
Remedy owner Susannah Porter said: “IllumiDex has done a fantastic job with our new festoon lighting and roof lighting.
“We have ordered some new outdoor furniture too, so we are looking forward to reopening and welcoming back our customers.
“It all looks fabulous. It is going to look amazing when we reopen. We have lots of outdoor seating available.”
2 - Southport Market, King Street
Southport Market is undergoing an exciting £1.4m transformation into a brand new food, drink and events hub that is due to open in a few weeks’ time.
Traditional wood fired pizza from local business 600 Degrees is among new traders heading to the landmark facility.
Once complete, Southport Market will have 11 food and drink units serving up mouth-watering food, supported by fresh produce from Blackhursts Butchers and flexible event and market space.
3 – The Bold Hotel, Lord Street
Southport’s oldest hotel is preparing to create a stunning roof terrace with a retractable roof with “a unique experience” that includes views looking out across the coast.
The Bold, at 583 Lord Street in Southport town centre, has submitted a planning application for the scheme to Sefton Council. The striking plans have been designed by Clayton Architecture Limited, in Ainsdale.
Owner Andrew Mikhail said: “We are incredibly excited and proud that we can continue investing in Southport.
“The encouragement from the tremendous leaders within the local council to improve this wonderful area helps to keep us driven with our plans.”
Last year the company transformed the restaurant at The Bold Hotel into a stylish new carvery.
4 – Parklets
Last summer, outdoor seating became the new craze in Southport, with new ‘parklets’ appearing throughout our town.
Several Southport businesses benefited from additional funding from Sefton Council, who helped to extend the pavement areas outside local businesses, especially where the area is limited.
By using the parking bays, this allowed for social distancing where it would be difficult to do so otherwise, whilst still having consideration for all users of the highway, especially those with disabilities.
Areas included were Coronation Walk and Union Street in Southport town centre and Botanic Road in Chuchtown.
The council also implemented the road closure on Court Road, adjacent to Lord Street, from The Grand Casino to Union Street, helping businesses including the Lord Street Hotel and Punch Tarmeys increase their trading and to add life and character back into the local area.
The site was also enhanced with planters designed, built and installed by Southport Flower Show.
The council also adopted a new temporary pavement licence process, a streamlined consent route to allow businesses to obtain a licence to place temporary furniture, such as tables and chairs, outside cafes, bars and restaurants quickly.
If any other businesses are interested in how this project can assist, contact Sefton Tourism Department on Tourism@sefton. gov.uk or to apply for a temporary pavement licence visit: www.sefton. gov.uk/parking-roadstravel/temporary-pavement-licence.aspx
5 -–Trattoria 51, the Promenade
Owners of a stylish Italian restaurant in Southport upgraded its outdoor terrace last December.
The beautiful new space ensures diners can sit and eat in comfort, with Covid safety in mind.
A spokesperson said: “This terrace allows groups of up to six family and friends to legally and safely meet up and is one of the few venues to be able to genuinely offer this service in the region.”
6 – Monument, Hoghton Street
Landlord Martin Rowe created a new ‘Oasis’ beer garden area at the back of his pub, on the corner of Hoghton Street and London Street to add tables, plants and artificial grass. He also introduced a new ‘Bistro’ seating area at the front.
He said: “Things are going fantastic. We have made really big changes here, with our new beer garden, our new bistro area, new opening times – literally huge changes.’’
“I am looking forward to greeting all our regulars back, many of whom I’ve kept in touch with via either social media or telephone.”
7 – Cafe Bar N’Ista, Weld Road, Birkdale
A Birkdale cafe and bar is embracing Southport’s new cafe culture by unveiling a stylish new outside area.
Cafe Bar N’Ista, on Weld Road in the heart of Birkdale Village, updated its facilities for diners last December so that they can eat in comfort when the venue reopens.
The move will help to keep the business operating amidst vastly reduced capacity due to social distancing, and to maintain the jobs of 15 local people.
8 – Tipple, Station Road, Ainsdale
A new outdoor seating canopy outside a wine bar and eatery in Ainsdale in Southport was granted planning permission.
Giving the green light to the new canopy, shrubs and planters was a great birthday present for Tipple, at 42 Station Road, as it celebrated its fourth anniversary.