Every time you walk down Lord Street it seems there is something new to see or do.
Development on Southport's main thoroughfare has boomed over the last year, and the face of the historic street is changing. Last month it was announced that The Garrick Theatre which was a former Mecca Bingo could be transformed into a hotel and spa.
It was the latest in a string of bars, restaurants, and hotels that have come to the street. During the May bank holiday a new Top Gun inspired American bar opened on Lord Street and on June 7 the upmarket Occulo Lounge opened its doors.
Below we have rounded up all the major changes that are coming to Lord Street.
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The Grand
When The Grand first opened last year it added a touch of 1920s Hollywood to Lord Street. The art deco-style bar and function room gave life to the building which has been home to a car showroom, cinema, and casino.
The first part of the development has already been completed with The Grand Brasserie and Chloe’s Bar on the ground floor and the 250-seater Princess Grace function room open to the public. Later this year Harry's Bar and the Sky Bar will open on the top floor completing the development of the building which opened in 1923.
Debenhams building
Debenhams was once one of the flagship stores on Lord Street before it closed down three years ago. The property was bought by new owners in 2021 for £799,000. While no plans have been fully confirmed yet the new owners have announced that they want to transform the building into four new shops, restaurants, or bars.
Garrick Theatre
The Garrick Theatre on Lord Street, Southport, was bought in 2021 after it was left vacant by Mecca Bingo. Now, a planning application has been submitted to Sefton Council by Garrick Southport Ltd. Before the Garrick was built in 1932, the site was home to an opera house which was destroyed in a fire. The theatre has been used as a bingo hall under different names since 1963.
The ambitious plans for the theatre, include a hotel with 137 rooms, 11 residential apartments, a spa and restaurant, and a complete refurbishment of the existing auditorium.
Albany Buildings
The Albany Buildings were once owned by J Hatch, Sons, and Fielding auctioneers. When it was a gallery, the ground floor was the showroom and the auction room was on the first floor with the upper floors believed to have been offices.
Work is now taking place to transform the Grade II listed building into a new climbing gym and café. The renovations are being carried out by Craft & Sons. £500,000 has been invested and it is one of the most surprising on the list but the development will add some variety to the street.
509-515 Lord Street
The Grade II listed building at 509-515 Lord Street sits on the corner of Lord Street and Bold Street. The plan to rejuvenate the building is aimed at kickstarting a major part of the Southport Townscape Heritage Project.
The renovation is taking place with help from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and will see heritage features across the building restored along with the return of the two ground-floor retail units. The £1 million scheme has improved the historic features of one of the key buildings on Lord Street, as well as creating two new retail units and nine new apartments, with one of the units already occupied by SEP Insurance Services Ltd.
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