A new sports and games bar is set to open in Southport this winter. Pitch & Pot, located on Tulketh Street, will bring pool, darts, golf, live sports, and food and drink to the town.
The venue is backed by a £400,000 investment and will combine golf, pool, darts, interactive multi-sports, live sports viewing, and private gaming in the vacant space.
Founders and facilities
The founders are Jamie Rae, owner of Potters Sports Lounge in Formby and Lansdowne Bistro in Southport; Les Dodd, owner of the Les Dodd Snooker Centre; and Danny Balshaw, co-owner of the McNamara's sports bar brand with venues in St Helens, Runcorn and Crosby.
The owners have been posting updates on social media. On Facebook, they said the bar will open this winter with four golf simulators, 16 Rasson pool tables, a TV area with Sky and TNT, 10 dart lanes, a dart stage, lounge and bar for customers.
Licensing and opening plans
The owners have confirmed plans to open their doors this December. They have applied for a premises licence with Sefton Council to be open to the public Sunday to Thursday from 10am to midnight, and Friday and Saturday from 10am to 1am the following morning.
They have also applied for a licence to sell alcohol, hold indoor sporting events, hold live music and play recorded music for the same days and hours. Residents have until November 12 to send representations in support or against the application to the council.
Jobs and community plans
The new business expects to create 20 new jobs and establish a youth sports academy, as well as support community and charitable events.
In October, the owners said they "wanted to move beyond the traditional idea of a sports bar. Whether somebody is a serious player looking for professional-standard facilities and coaching, a family looking for somewhere different to spend time together, friends meeting for an evening out or a business entertaining clients, we want the experience to feel exceptional."
They added: "Southport has an incredible sporting heritage, particularly through golf, and we believe there is an opportunity to create something that complements that reputation while introducing a new generation of competitive social entertainment to the town.
"Ultimately, we want people to be able to play sport, watch sport and experience sport at a completely different level — all while receiving the standard of hospitality they would expect from a premium venue."
