The Southport Drinker
The best pubs in Southport and district plus news and views from beer land

Ship & Anchor closed

As predicted here not so long ago, the Ship and Anchor in Cable Street, Southport has now closed.

The pub managers, a couple from Skelmersdale, were evicted by the landlord on Wednesday over some money dispute.

He plans to reopen the pub soon, and put a temporary manager in as he searches for a new couple to take it over. 

The whole thing is very frustrating as the pub could have been a little beer drinker’s oasis in that clubland “quarter”.

But whenever I was in there, cask ale was off with a “manana” attitude or downright irritation that the last batch had sold out so quickly.

All in all though, I think the owners went in trying to make a fast buck rather than build up a good trade.

11 Responses to “Ship & Anchor closed”

  1. good riddence!!!

  2. Not all pubs can be real ale pubs. Mandy and Joe were very welcoming hosts as to the music tastes i.e. death metal was never heard in the evenings. Entertainment was varied to suit all i.e. theme nights, karaoke and live entertainment. As for drunks you will find these in the majority of drinking holes in Southport, there were plenty of local and colourful characters which made visiting the Ship and Anchor a pleasure. They will be missed as they were very genuine folk which is more than can be said for a lot of publicans.

  3. The Ship and anchor was a pub that wasn’t an old man pub like a lot of them it had a bit of oomph about it and lots of entertainment . it was a pleasure to get drunker therethan you would in the fox

  4. Paul, I don’t think every pub should be a real ale pub either, but the S&A advertised that it was, in the local press and the Ale & Hearty magazine. A lot of real ale drinkers went there and left without buying anything because ale was off. It just didn’t make any sense, they could have had a nice little trade there.When they did have it on, they made the mistake of putting on Theakstons, which everyone hates – all this and five minutes down the road they could have got great beer from the Southport Brewery, Cains or the George Wright.

  5. Read all your comments with interest. Watch this space. There will be real ale , real food, live music and a great atmosphere, when the S&A opens with a new name and new tennants Jane Cooper and Alan Turner at the end of February. Hope you can join us.

  6. best of luck to new tenants at ship & anchor see u soon

  7. is that the same jane from s& b

  8. Hi Paul. Yes its Jane from S&B

  9. Best of luck from Dixie and his firm

  10. The Dil Pickle is now open for business on the old S&A site.
    see link below

    http://southportbooze.wordpress.com/category/the-dil-pickle/


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