Free September gardening workshops at Dobbies Southport store

DOBBIES Garden Centres is inspiring gardeners in Southport this September with 2 free to attend gardening workshops, Little Seedlings Club and Grow How, suitable for all ages and abilities.

September's Little Seedlings Club, Incredible Orchards, is designed for children aged:- 4 to 10 years old. During this workshop, children at the Southport store will learn about the fascinating world of orchards, how fruit trees grow and the ways the orchards change with the seasons, alongside the importance of these spaces as habitats for wildlife, including:- bees, birds and beetles.

The children's gardening club sessions are designed to be fun and interactive, and attendees will also get the chance to take part in an apple tree craft activity.

Dobbies' Grow How sessions, Mow & Grow, are taking place in September 2025, at the Southport store. September's topic is all about lawncare and seasonal planting. It's an interactive session that takes around ½ an hour with a live demonstration, followed by a Q&A session with a member of Dobbies' Green Team. Attendees will discover top tips and gardening know-how, to take back to their own garden space, as a well as a demonstration on planting a bulb lasagne to give flowers from late autumn right through to spring 2026.

Dobbies' Plant Buyer, Nigel Lawton, is passionate about supporting the nation in their gardening efforts. He said:- "Autumn is a great time of year in the gardening calendar and our free-to-attend workshops at the Southport store showcase just how accessible and fun this hobby is. These sessions are designed for gardeners of all ages and abilities. Those attending our Little Seedlings Club will discover the wonders of an orchard, and September's Grow How session, Mow & Grow, will help give gardeners the confidence to get ahead of the season by preparing the garden for the cooler months while ensuring a colourful bloom right the way through to next year with carefully selected bulbs."

Connolly's Irish pub in Southport to reopen as Southport Market Quarter revamp continues

CONNOLLY'S Irish Pub in Southport has announced the date for its grand reopening! The popular venue on King Street, opposite Southport Market, is inviting people to call in and join them for a day of celebration on:- Saturday, 23 August 2025.

People calling in during the August Bank Holiday Weekend reopening event can enjoy superb live music from popular local musicians Carl and Gerorge.

Plus there will be free shots for customers too.

Connolly's has been closed over the past few weeks while building work continues to revamp the Market Quarter area of Southport.

The owners of the pub said:- "After months of disruption and an extended closure due to extensive roadworks, Connolly's Irish Pub is thrilled to announce that we are officially re-opening our doors on:- Saturday, 23 August 2025. The management and team are delighted to welcome back both our loyal regulars and new faces to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere Connolly's is known for. To mark this long-awaited return, we've lined up an afternoon of live entertainment and unbeatable Hospitality. At 3.30pm, our much-loved resident showman Carl will take to the stage in his regular slot, guaranteed to bring the energy and smiles. Then at 5.30pm, enjoy the incredible voice of Southport's own George, performing live for an unforgettable early evening performance. And because no celebration is complete without a toast; shots are on the house all day! Doors open from midday, so come early, soak up the atmosphere, and help us make this re-opening 1 to remember. It's been a challenging few months for our team and our customers, but we're proud to have come out the other side stronger than ever. This re-opening isn't just about business; it's about community, music, and celebrating the resilience of Southport together. Join us at:- Connolly's Irish Pub, 12 King Street, Southport, and be part of our next chapter."

Connolly's Irish pub celebrated its 1st birthday earlier this year and is looking to build on its offering with a busy summer and autumn ahead.

Connolly's opened on:- Saturday, 11 May 2024, creating 15 new jobs.

The venue is famous for its live music....

In April, Connollys was among 3 venues in the Liverpool City Region which hosted successful Open Mic nights organised by BBC Radio 1, BBC Introducing and BBC Radio Merseyside. Inside is a large mural celebrating some of Ireland's most legendary sporting heroes including:- footballer George Best, snooker player Alex:- 'Hurricane' Higgins and golfer Rory McIlroy.

The iconic former Coronation pub had previously been empty since the start of the Covid pandemic in March 2020 before being revamped and reopened.

Further ambitions for 1 of Southport's landmark buildings includes:- converting the ground floor unit adjacent to Connolly's Irish pub to become a new Catherine's restaurant and wine bar.

After that is complete the ambition is to begin phase three, which will see the creation of new Catherine's luxury hotel and spa rooms on the 1st and second floors of the building.

The public realm works in the Market Quarter are due to be completed this October / November.

In the meantime, there are lots of great reasons to visit.

The Market Quarter renaissance began with the transformation of Southport Market by Sefton Council into a stylish food, drink and events venue in a £1.4 million scheme in 2021.

Quicksilver Music has since moved into bigger new premises, while other new local independent businesses to open since then include:- Season Coffee, Bar and Kitchen; The Plant room; Eva's Sewing Room; Southport Market Blinds; The Cake Box; Crystals and Crowns; and more.

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