Tap & Bottles

A beer bar and bottle shop with serious drinks credentials, Tap & Bottles in Southport feels like the sort of place that appeals equally to people who want a good pint and people who want to talk about why it is a good pint. Dogs are welcome inside, so nobody needs to do the pavement-waiting shuffle while the humans debate cask versus craft.

The emphasis on cask and craft ales gives it a more specialist identity than a generic pub, while still sounding sociable rather than intimidating. It is well suited to slower drinks, discovering something new and generally letting the beer do most of the heavy lifting.

A strong Southport stop for proper ale enthusiasm with a relaxed independent edge, and the sort of place where a dog can join the tasting panel in spirit while their human works through the bottle-shop options.