A new sports, hospitality and competitive social entertainment facility named Pitch & Pot will open in Southport in December, following a £400,000 investment to transform a previously vacant space at the rear of 72 Tulketh Street.
Spanning approximately 9,000 sq ft across five key areas, the venue will offer golf, championship-standard pool, darts, interactive multi-sports, major live sports viewing, private gaming and premium food and drink. Its founders describe it as "the ultimate live sports play and viewing experience."
Facilities and features
The venue will feature 14 Rasson Apollo II Ultimate pool tables, including two TV and match-table arenas. A darts area will include seven darts lanes, complemented by a separate exhibition and match-stage board capable of hosting competitive events and exhibitions. The venue also plans to host ADC darts tournaments.
Golfers will have access to advanced Trackman simulation technology, creating a professional indoor golf environment for practice, competition, coaching and social play. The simulation facilities will also deliver additional interactive sports including football and baseball. A dedicated live sports viewing theatre includes approximately 20 large screens throughout the venue and a full surround-sound system.
Live sports and dining
Football, boxing, golf, darts, pool and other major sporting fixtures will form part of a year-round programme of live viewing experiences. The venue will also include a private poker and games room for groups, members and corporate guests.
A separate attached building will provide a dedicated space for a rotating programme of seasonal street-food vendors, bringing together local and national operators. The concept will allow Pitch & Pot to showcase changing cuisines and emerging food brands throughout the year.
Founders and vision
Behind Pitch & Pot are founders 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 Runcorn, St Helens and Crosby.
They said: "Pitch & Pot is the result of three people with different backgrounds in hospitality and sport coming together with one shared vision: to create an environment where the quality of the sporting facilities is every bit as important as the quality of the hospitality.
"We 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.
"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.
"We are investing £400,000 into transforming a vacant sports and leisure space, but our ambition goes beyond the building itself. We want Pitch & Pot to become part of the local sporting community, create employment, develop young players and provide a venue capable of attracting exciting sporting events and personalities to Southport.
"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."
Jobs and community plans
Pitch & Pot expects to create approximately 20 new jobs, while the founders also plan to establish a youth sports academy and support community and charitable events through the venue. The academy will form part of a longer-term ambition to introduce younger players to sports including pool, darts and golf, providing opportunities to develop through structured coaching and access to high-quality facilities.
The venue also intends to build relationships with established sporting personalities, with connections across professional sport including figures such as Steven Gerrard and Luke Littler, alongside personalities from the worlds of pool, snooker and golf. Pitch & Pot will open at the rear of 72 Tulketh Street, Southport, in early December.
