How Southport venues are committing to making nights out safer and more enjoyable

Members of Southport Pubwatch are working hard to ensure that customers and bar staff can enjoy nights out in the town safely and enjoyably.

The group, which is supported by Southport BID, is an independent group representing various pubs and bars in Southport.

Voluntarily run by owners and managers, Southport PubWatch actively meets bimonthly to work together to promote and improve licenced premises.

Drawing on the strength of its members the PubWatch group discusses various issues such as crime and anti-social behaviour.

Members share information on issues which can arise throughout town centre venues with the aim of increasing customer confidence and staff safety.

With the support of its partners including Southport BID, Merseyside Police and Sefton Council Licensing Authority, PubWatch helps to detect repeat offenders and stands together with issues such as town centre bans, making it harder for offenders to cause issues in licensed premises.

A Southport PubWatch spokesperson said “ We re-established the PubWatch at the beginning of 2022, as we had not met for nearly two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s a useful tool for owners and managers to share information on problem issues, ideas on building their businesses and just generally working together.

Southport PubWatch also operates a ‘Banned From One, Banned From All’ initiative which means that at our meetings we regularly review people who may require a ban and all premises agree to abide by it.

“This sends a clear message that abuse or violence in one place could lead to being barred from all participating venues.”

The group is also a useful way of campaigning to improve the night-time economy in the town.

The Southport PubWatch spokesperson said: “Our current task is trying to help lobby for more town centre funding for additional police cover during weekends.

“We are grateful that Southport MP Damian Moore will be attending our next meeting so we can voice our concerns in person. This will hopefully spark discussion and change in regards to how Southport is supported with policing.

“We won’t always get it right but as we are run by volunteers from the local industry we try our best to improve our industry for the people of Southport.

“With over 30 pubs and bars in Southport currently part of the scheme, please look out for the PubWatch logo in venues you visit.

“We would be delighted to speak with any other pubs or bars in Southport which are interested in joining us.”

Please email [email protected] if you are interested in finding out more.

Current members in Southport PubWatch include:

Banff

Beer Inn

Beach Bar

Cooper’s Bar

Enelle’s Glasshouse

Gigi’s Bar

Hey Amigos

House of Ivy

Hideout

Kokomo

Leo’s Bar

Le Grog

Lords Cafe

Pavilion (Lord Street)

Peaky Blinders

Ra Bar

Retro

Remedy

Royales

Sacre Bleu

Seasons

Skies Lounge

Spenders

Tap & Bottles

The Guelder Rose

The Guest House

The Lakeside

The Mason’s Arms

The Phoenix

The Victoria

The Windmill

Wetherspoons (both)