The smell of fish and chips lingers in the air, bolshy seagulls squawk over flyaway bits of batter, and the jingle of arcade machines and shrieks of excited children riding a carousel can be heard all around.
Have I somehow wandered back into my 90s childhood? No, it's present day, and I'm (sadly) an adult - but a visit to Southport certainly stirs up plenty of nostalgia and joy.
Southport is a spacious seaside town in Merseyside, just a short train ride away from Liverpool's booming city centre. My colleagues often joke about my love of Southport, branding it cheesy - but when did a bit of cheesiness ever hurt anyone?
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I moved to Liverpool from Yorkshire in 2009 - yes, I'm one of those annoying university students who came and never left - but it took a good few years to give Southport the attention it so rightly deserves. This is probably because I was a bit of a poser and more keen to frequent cool and quirkier spots than spend the day at the seaside.
But Southport has something for everyone. There's a long strip of high street stores and an impressive Waterstones I can never resist popping into on my way back to the train station.
There's Southport Pleasureland, complete with thrilling rides and amusements, in pretty and tranquil surroundings. Nearby, the marine lake offers relaxing pedalo rides surrounded by swans.
The British Lawnmower Museum is also an option for those craving something a little different and, let's face it, a bit weird. It's got history and intrigue, with tickets a budget-friendly £3. The building looks like it could be a pub, and to step over the threshold and be greeted with an abundance of lawnmowers from the past and present is an odd and unexpected experience.
Heading towards the pier, there's countless shops selling icons of the British seaside. There's ice cream of all flavours, from Malteser, Biscoff and Snickers to Jammy Dodger, Easter Egg, Cherry Cola and even Irn-Bru.
There's candy-floss in elaborate cone shaped concoctions, complete with pretty ribbons and toys. There's traditional pick 'n' mix sweets, with an impressive array of treats to choose from, with a large scooper suggesting generous servings is absolutely the best option - something I wholeheartedly agree with.
There's an abundance of rock and fudges in creative and ingenious flavours, and there's plenty of arcades with brightly coloured, loud games with coins, stuffed animals and electrical goodies up for grabs for any lucky winners.
On my first visit to Southport, a stranger said hello to me so warmly, I was sure she'd mistaken me for someone she knew, only to continue wandering about and receive similar greetings and well wishes all day. The friendliness has proved to be a trademark on every subsequent venture to Southport since.
The last time I was there, a little boy was begging for fish and chips, his parents sighing and saying, "oh go on then," before joining a fast moving queue to stock up on a generous helping of the quintessentially British dish. The kid's face practically cracked in half, his smile was so wide.
My dog, Flanders, had his nose to the ground and hoovered up chips that had escaped their trays, before launching himself at passers-by who, thankfully, recognised and greeted his relentless excitement with warmth and patience. An approaching seagull, however, looked at him as though he were an enemy that needed to be defeated - chips were still up for grabs, after all.
I tossed the seagull a few from my tray and Flanders turned to me, staring at me and instantly sitting with a level of determined intensity he normally struggles with, his little moustache quivering as he tried desperately to remain still. I rewarded him with a coveted chip.
We ventured to the beach, thinking we'd walk to the sea. The sounds and aromas guiding the short walk to the beach instantly transported me to childhood summers; feet clad in 'jelly shoes', bucket and spade in hand, and SPF50 generously - and perhaps a tad optimistically - slathered all over my pale face. It was a simpler time, and visiting Southport harks back to the joy and freedom of that time.
After 20 minutes of walking, we were still surrounded by golden sand and an alarming amount of dead jellyfish, the sea sparkling in the distance. We gave up and returned to the pier for sugared donuts and fizzy drinks, and started planning when we'd next come back to Southport for another visit.
It's no secret the cost of living crisis is having a detrimental effect on everyone, with many businesses and independents unsure if they'll survive. I worry for the future of towns like Southport.
Summers are, understandably, busy with families and tourists, but as winter approaches and many shops shut up, I fear some may not reopen when the warmer weather rolls back around. If you're in a position to support local businesses, then I urge you to visit Southport.
Pop into a local café, treat young ones to some fudge and candy-floss from a little sweet shop, and enjoy a walk along the pier. It'll be a huge loss if nostalgia laced towns like Southport lose their spark and sense of tradition.
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