Wendy and Tamara Priestman – bête noirs of the Southport drinking and gay scene – are said to be in France, out of the way of certain people.

So what’s this rumour of them owning a pub in Stockport?

The Herald and the Portland pubs have both shut their doors. The team in the Portland are taking over the troubled Victoria.

No word on whether the Vic will stay gay/mixed. But obviously the Herald’s attempt to go gay didn’t work out.

Posh bar Owens has closed after months of uncertainty.

The bar came to life after local hairdresser Tony Owens became so rich cutting hair he didn’t know what to do with himself. It was a big hit at first, being the only posh place to drink in Southport, but many others followed in its wake.

A disastrous and greedy expansion and  full-on restaurant charging crazy prices for mediocre  food proved his undoing. Other posh bars sprang up and Owens become unfashionable.

Meanwhile, The Victoria on the Prom looks closed once again. Windy and Tomato were in charge, so it could reopen soon.

Victoria pub on the prom is open again, me thinks as a mixed venue. No details on beer or decor. If anyone’s been, let  me know.

Nothing gets my readers riled more than the continuing shenanigans at the (Little) Crown and Victoria. Glenn has now sought to put the record straight in the comments section of this post. But even then there is outrage and counter-accusation.

I’m not sure what’s going on at the (little) Crown and the Victoria these days (especially as Jmensa’s news service has dried up) but if recent comments on this post and this post are anything to go by there is a lot of anger over recent changes.

As I’ve mentioned before, it amazes me that a resort town like Southport doesn’t have a more vibrant gay scene. Maybe that’s because everyone who’s tried to get something off the ground here has failed.

Why is that? Why does Southport fail where Blackpool, Manchester and Liverpool succeed?

One more question, can anyone confirm a rumour I head that the Oast House has a Lesbian ladies night?

Roxy Rivers, the smash-hit star performer at the Little Crown pub in Coronation Walk, is to get a shot at the big time in Blackpool.

Meanwhile, the Victoria - which is owned by the same people but is much less gay – plan to put on entertainers soon. They’ve made a big investment in the Vic, I think this is the right way to go.

Hat tip: Jmensa

The Victoria pub on Southport’s promenade is back in business.

Although it is to be run by the same four-strong team behind Southport’s only gay pub, the Little Crown, the new owners have decided not to go down the gay route.

Co-manager Duane Dibell said: “It’s going to be a community pub for community people. There are not many places for the traditional drinker to go but we aim to appeal to that sort of customer.

“We are open to all ideas. Because we’re not a big PubCo we can give people what they want.”

There will be real ale from the Thwaites range. On now is Original and Bomber, with the brews changing every couple of weeks. The pubs will start serving food “in about a month’s time”

The Vic boasts three new pool tables and will have Sky sports for the new football season. The management is interested in starting pool and darts teams but it looks like there won’t be the swinging sex parties that the previous regime hoped to get off the ground before having to hand back the keys.

“I think the last people who had the pub made a few mistakes,” added Duane.

The Victoria Pub on Southport promenade will reopen on Friday.

The pub, which became infamous after plans to turn it into a “swinging sex club” fell apart, will reopen under the management of new tenants. A spokesman for owners and brewers Thwaites said “we believe they will add considerable value to the popular drinking establishment”.

Since then it has been suggested that the Vic will return to its roots as a gay pub. Will keep all you guys posted when I hear more.

Sad to report that The Victoria and The Rabbit pubs in Southport are struggling badly and are open to takeover offers.

The Victoria’s plight is no surprise, poor beer and surly service have been the order of the day there for too long.

Ironically the swinging sex parties plan, which turned out to be a jape, would have packed the place out, given the number of people who have contacted me asking for info.

The Rabbit deserves our support (read my review of the pub here). Andy and Barbara have been working like dogs to keep the pub going, doing their best to keep real ale alive despite all the challenges and red-tape they face.