End of the Lakeside Inn?

The Lakeside Inn on the Promenade

The Lakeside Inn on Southport's Promenade was once in the Guinness Book of Records for being the smallest pub in the country. It is in the 2014 edition of the Good Beer Guide and was the local CAMRA Pub of the Year a couple of years ago. It was listed among the top 100 famous pubs, compiled by Famous Grouse Whisky and the Sunday Telegraph three years ago. It even has a tribute pub in California. There is usually just one real ale on sale: Fullers London Pride, always well kept when I've had it.

I was therefore very surprised to read in our local paper, the Southport Visiter, that it is to close on Sunday 13 October. The article suggests that it to close for the winter, but there is no mention of a reopening date and the owner, who operates Southport Watersports next door to the Lakeside, "was unavailable for comment". The announcement came out the blue for manager and staff, and no explanation has been given to them or to the regulars. It is in such a vacuum of information that rumours and conspiracy theories thrive, so I hope we find out what's going on soon. It would be a real shame to lose one of our quirkiest locals.

P.S. 29 September: I was chatting to a local licensee about the Lakeside last night and she pointed out that a lot of the Lakeside's custom came from people attending shows in the Southport Theatre. She suggested that the new Hungry Horse outlet called the Waterfront on the other side of the theatre may have taken trade from the Lakeside, and that the new Marstons pub, the Guelder Rose which is due to open soon on the seafront, would probably do so as well. Unlike the Lakeside, both are or will be food outlets.