The Park Hotel, Birkdale

The Park in Birkdale

Close to the level crossing in Birkdale village, you'll find the Park Hotel. It is a large pub and although it is open plan, it has several distinct separate drinking areas. Refurbished a year or so ago, it now has wooden floors and wooden panels and cladding in different parts of the pub. The split levels have gone and the pub has disabled access. The long bar featured four real ales when we visited: three Greene King beers - Purple Reign, London Glory and IPA - plus Thwaites Wainwright. I noticed a small range of bottled beers as well.

The Park is popular for food; they do reasonably priced meals until 10pm every night, and have a children's menu. There is a large beer garden to the front of the pub, a car park to the side, a covered smoking area and a dog bar for man's thirsty best friend. Dogs are allowed in a designated area indoors. Also inside are pool tables, darts, large wall TVs and WiFi.

Each night has a different theme. Monday is poker night, Tuesday darts, and Wednesdays Spice Club (curry night) and a quiz. On Thursdays they offer 10% off cask beers, Friday is Fizz Night with offers on certain sparkling wines, and Saturday is dedicated to sport. On Sunday you can try their roast dinners. I also saw a notice advertising a Motown Night on the last Friday of the month, so overall there's plenty to choose from.

The pub is at 36 Weld Road, Southport, PR8 2ED; telephone 01704 569941. Website here, and they are on Facebook. It opens at 11am every day except Sunday (midday), closing at 11pm every night except Saturday and Sunday (midnight). Birkdale railway station is a minute's walk away and the 49 and the X2 buses stop nearby.

This is part of a series of articles that I am writing for the CAMRA column in our local paper, the Southport Visiter. Previous reviews are here.