Halloween is fast approaching and Southport is always up for some spooky celebrations. Whether you’re looking to keep the whole household amused during the day, looking for somewhere to enjoy a quiet pint and a ghostly tale, or you’re after a full-blown Halloween extravaganza, there’s something on offer for everyone in town. We’ve done the hard work and rounded up a selection of spine-tingling events taking place in Southport this Halloween.
Haunting at The Fisherman’s Rest
The Fisherman’s Rest is all that remains of what was once the Berkdale House Hotel. This hotel was built in 1888 and all that remains of it today is the old coach house, now refurbished and turned into a pub. During its service as a hotel, the Berkdale had a few unfortunate visitors. One of them, an unidentified girl who was murdered by a hotel employee and hidden under his bed. The others were fourteen lifeboat men, who tragically never set foot through the doors alive, but rather died at sea and were stored here, during the building’s brief spell as a mortuary. Amazingly, these weren’t the only bodies to exist at the hotel, which explains why there have been so many tales of hauntings. Even as the building was being demolished in broad daylight, the construction workers contracted to undertake the works reported eerie voices from certain rooms.
Nowadays the pub is generally a more friendly atmosphere, with minimal ghost sightings for a while. However, they’re known for putting on a bit of a show at Halloween, so it’s well worth a visit, even if they can’t guarantee any ghoulish encounters. They can guarantee free wifi though, so if you get unlucky and don’t meet the lifeboatmen, you can enjoy a similarly spooky experience online. There are plenty of ghostly slots games available to play that make the idea of a haunting a lot more fun. If you’ve not played casino games before then it’s worth finding out a little bit about it before diving straight into it. You could start with this guide to gambling in the UK which was made for complete beginners, so it’s easy to understand and totally transparent. You’ll find information on good sites to use, including their current bonuses, a synopsis of some of the most common gambling myths, and even tips to win.
Sidney Road Halloween Lights
If you’re looking for something a little less scary and a little more sparkly, then Sidney Road’s Halloween Lights never fail to impress. This year the event has again been sponsored by Southport Funeral Care and is completely free to attend. There will even be hot chocolate, sweets, and hot dogs available with no charge at all, but the suggestion to donate to Freshfield Animal Rescue as thanks. As well as tasty refreshments, you can expect to see an enormous selection of lights, including cats and bats, spiders and skulls, all glimmering in spooky lights, set to a haunting soundtrack. Although the show is free, it’s by no means cheaply done. The whole thing really is a spectacle worth venturing out for and it’s only running on Halloween weekend. Put it in your diary and remember to bring some change with you for the charity collection.
The Pumpkin Trail
For those hoping to get out and about and a little more active over Halloween, there’s nothing better suited than a wander around town in search of some pumpkins. Wayfarer’s and The Atkinson have printed maps of the locations of each of the pumpkins hidden around Southport, your task if to get your hands on a map and find them all. Keeping the little ones busy will be a breeze, as those who find and draw each pumpkin design will win something special at the very end of the route. As well as drawing the pumpkins there’ll be puzzles along the way and two unusual Halloween creatures to find as well. Whilst this is designed with little ones in mind, it’s proven surprisingly good fun for adults through the years too! There are pumpkins hiding in all kinds of places in town, so there’ll be ample opportunity to stop off for a quick coffee or a snack en route. Rumour has it that now the Oktoberfest celebrations at the market have finished, they may be making way for something altogether spookier. It would be rude not to look, wouldn’t it?