The Cheshire Lines, Southport

The attractive frontage

Hidden just behind Lord Street in Southport is a fine traditional pub called the Cheshire Lines. It is a genuinely old pub which stands out prominently from the Victorian buildings that surround it. There is an outside drinking area to the front, and the pub sign still shows the old Walkers Ales trade mark from the days when that brewery was still brewing.

The pub has a lovely old frontage, and when you enter, there is a drinking area by the bar to the right and a small room to the left. To the rear there is a larger room where meals are served and where entertainment takes place. Food is available from midday to 6.00pm every day, except Saturday when it's 7.30pm. The pub is both child and dog friendly, and there's also free Wi-Fi for those who want it.

The rear room with fireplace
(when lit, a favourite with dogs)

The pub is named after the Cheshire Lines railway, which used to end at the Lord Street station (the front of which is now a hotel and the entrance to a supermarket). The railway connections are proudly displayed in the pub itself.

The beers: when I visited, the real ales available were Southport Sandgrounder, Robinson's Unicorn and Tetley's Mild. The mild is a permanent fixture, but the others beers do vary, usually between Martland Brewery and Southport. On a visit the previous week I had enjoyed the Martland Spinner's Gold. I have found all the beers were well-kept.

A feature in the front room

The pub is a friendly local, and on my visits I ended up chatting to several regulars. There is lot going on here: dominoes on Monday, darts night Tuesday, and Wednesday is a quiz night. There's a singer on the last Friday of every month, live entertainment on Saturdays, while Sunday is karaoke night. It is a very lively little pub. The Cheshire Lines is at 81 King Street, Southport, PR8 1LQ. Phone: 01704 546565. 

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.