Grand National

The prestigious English Grand National is one of the toughest tests of horse and jockey in the world. It’s three days of excitement and drama but also a great excuse for some superb days out at this grand social occasion.

Grand National

Thursday  – Liverpool Day. A day to celebrate Liverpool-inspired entertainment, sport and music. Top flight racing with the totesport Bowl, the John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle and the Foxhunters’ Steeple chase.

Friday – Ladies’ Day. The North West’s biggest social and fashion day out. Races include the John Smith’s Topham Steeple chase, the John Smith’s Melling Steeple chase and the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle.

Saturday – John Smith’s Grand National Day. All eyes will be watching at 4.15pm as forty horses line-up to race four & a half miles and jump 30 fences at the arduous Aintree course.

11.00am – 7.00pm                   Aintree Racecourse

http://www.aintree.co.uk/pages/grand-national/

Southport International Jazz Festival

Jazz Festival

With a plethora of Jazz music across the town, the Southport International Jazz Festival has been bringing Jazz to Southport for over 10 years! Four full days packed with some of the best music of international standard!

By day head to the Town Hall Gardens where you’ll find a whole host of free music and then cross to Wayfarers Arcade where more free music will accompany you while you browse around the shops…

Or take a coffee break or a light lunch at one of the many cafes and restaurants in the town hosting a massive programme of talented artists.

And when the night draws in the entertainment steps up a beat.

Now is the time to head off to one of  several venues to enjoy a meal while soaking up the music, then dance into the early hours at the late night jazz club – you’ll find it hard to go home.

10.00am – Midnight                             Lord Street

We present Jazz in the Town Hall Gardens by day and in a variety of different venues at night.

Past artists include; Snake Davies Band, Kyle Eastwood, Evan Christopher and Empirical to name a few.

http://www.jazzinsouthport.co.uk

Southport Food and Drink Festival – 12-15th May 2011

The Southport Food and Drink Festival is a feast of food, a festival of drink, a celebration of Southport and the North West! A change to showcase the excellent food that Southport has to offer.

Food and Drink Festival

With an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruit grown close by, with many farms in the North West producing high quality meats and poultry and with good fish and seafood available locally, Southport has taken the opportunity to show what delights its many talented and inspired chefs can create with this abundance of high quality local produce.

Chefs demonstrate their skills in the Town Hall Gardens, alongside other food and drink events. Lord Street and Chapel Street is where you will find the festival’s  main produce stalls.

9.00am – 6.00pm                                 Town Hall Gardens

http://www.visitsouthport.com/site/whats-on/southport-food-and-drink-festival-p150071

England’s Golf Coast – “The Finest stretch of Championship Golf in the world”

Home to 19 of the most challenging and naturally beautiful golf courses in Britain, England’s Golf Coast boasts some of the country’s most vibrant cities, exciting tourist attractions, breathtaking coastline and picturesque countryside.

Royal Birkdale

Royal Birkdale

The stunning North-West resort of Southport has some of the finest links courses in England. This is the home of , one of the best of the great golf courses to have staged The Open Championship. Formed in 1889, this rugged, challenging links course was enhanced in preparation for hosting the 2008 Open Championship. Running through high, rough dunes, the fairways are mainly flat and most tees give a clear view of the task in hand. But be careful of the wind as it whistles down the fairways from the sea.

Royal Lytham & St Annes

Described by Bernard Darwin as “a beast of a golf course, but a just beast” Royal Lytham & St Annes was formed in 1886. This rugged and challenging links course may not be the longest of courses but it is hard to scramble a good score, as careful thought and accurate shots are required to avoid the 206 bunkers peppering the Fairways and surrounding the Greens.

Royal Lytham & St Annes hosts the next Open on 15 – 22 July 2012.

Royal Liverpool

This venerable links course in Hoylake is one of England’s oldest and most historic. The Hoylake links can be, by turns, beautiful, uplifting, awe inspiring and, on occasion, soul-destroying. The course was enhanced before staging its 11th Open in 2006, when Tiger Woods won the title by two shots from Chris DiMarco. The course is famous for its meticulously kept greens.  Formed 1869 (9 holes) extended to 18 in 1871

Southport and Ainsdale

Southport & Ainsdale

Locally known as S & A, this classic links course has narrow fairways bordered by sand-dunes, heather and gorse, making it quite difficult to play well. The original 9 hole course built in 1906 is now gone, replaced in 1923 by the 18 holes still in use today. S & A has been designated a Site of Special Scientific interest due to natterjack toads and other rare wildlife found within its boundaries.

Hillside

Widely regarded as the finest course not to have staged an Open. This beautiful course with  stunning views of the surrounding area from its elevated tees has a back nine second to none.  The course is situated alongside Royal Birkdale.

Formby

Course of contrasts sited among the pinewoods surrounded by dunes designated as a conservation area. Par-3s among the most challenging anywhere. Within the boundaries lies the completely independent Formby Ladies Golf Club

West Lancashire

Founded in 1873 One of the 10 oldest clubs in England. Natural under-rated course with views over the Mersey. Home to the longest hole-in-one ever recorded – Peter Richard Parkinson in June 1972 aced the 393-yard par-4 7^th hole

Formby Ladies’

Beautiful course, short but difficult with a premium on accuracy, spectacular views towards the Irish sea.Gentlemen are welcome to play.

Formby Hall

Hesketh

Southport’s oldest club dating from 1885. boating exceptionally outstanding clubhouse. Course of contrasts with half its holes meandering through sand dunes and the rest overlooking the spectacular Ribble Estuary

Hurlston Hall

Well placed traps and the finely sculptured contours of the greens, present an inspiring challenge. Not best course to practice a hook or a slice. Enjoyable course blanded into the surrounding landscape.

Formby Hall

Opened in 1996 and one of the newst courses. Water can be found on 16 holes making it a very different to the majority of  links courses nearby7 Home of the U&K’s first PGA Golf Academy

www.englandsgolfcoast.com

Wallasey

Caldy

Heswall

St Annes Old Links

Lytham Green Drive

Fairhaven

Carden Park

Silloth-on-Solway

Windermere

Southport Flower Show

Southport Flower Show has a reputation as one of the largest, most diverse and friendliest shows in the country. Whether you are a gifted amateur, professional or just starting out, there is something of interest for everyone of all ages.

Southport Flower Show 2010

It provides a horticultural hotbed of activity for the beautiful seaside resort and held in 34 acres of beautiful Victoria Park is transformed into a haven for those wanting a memorable day out.

Visit the offical flower show site by clicking here