NOW WE'RE OFF THE RAILS

We're still exploring the delights of Southport. This is Hesketh Park in 1966.

A bit of old Southport in this postcard of Pleasureland.

Here's the "Prom" in the 1950s. Another postcard view.

Nearby is a claimant to be the smallest pub in England. What do you think?

 Within the covered market, there is a tiny pub, the Tap & Bottles.

The Willow Grove is one of the town's mandatory Wetherspoons.

The Berkeley Arms Hotel was famous for real ales, pizzas and being the local of the fella' that devised the Keg Buster cartoons. Sadly, now closed.

The Cheshire Lines, named after the railway, served a decent pint......and still does, I believe.

The Guest House is one that shouldn't be missed.

A micropub, The Inn Beer Shop, at the north end of Lord Street, has now closed.

The Masons Arms is a decent Robinson's house.

The Mount Pleasant, seen in in Mathew Brown's colour scheme.

Peaky Blinders is now called Sinclairs.

The Phoenix is still in situ, but is now more of an Indian restaurant.

Another 'Spoons! The Sir Henry Segrave.

The Volunteer is a Thwaite's pub, just off Lord Street.

Between Lord Street and the sea is the Windmill.

Time for a look at the town's road transport. I photographed this old milk float in action on Lord Street in 2009.

Five years earlier, Memory Lane was operating this old Albion on the town tour.

Back in the mid 1970s, Merseyside PTE had taken over Southport Corporation's buses and were using an open-top Leyland Tiger on tourist duties.

More modern vehicles were used to get the residents of Southport around the town.

By 1994, Merseybus was operating this DAF/Ikarus saloon in the town.

Arriva is now one of the main operators.

The "new" North Western Road Car had services into Southport. 

The short-lived GTL also came in. 

Stagecoach provide several routes today.

Not many independents serve Southport, but Comfybus has some tendered work.

Ooh look! There's a bus rally down by the Promenade.

Before we leave Southport, there's time to visit the Merseyside PTE depot, seen here in the early 1980s.

To finish off this post, let's have a pint in the Zetland, in a residential area of Southport.

Next time, a look at the hinterland.