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News Report Page 6 of 16
Publication Date:-
2026-07-24
   
News reports located on this page = 2.

Care home residents tee off for their own Open Championship as golf fever comes to Southport

RESIDENTS at Birkdale Tower Care Home in Southport swapped the grandstands of Royal Birkdale for their own putting green as they staged a special golf day to celebrate The Open Championship which was taking place just a stone's throw away.

The home, part of Sandstone Care Group, embraced the excitement surrounding 1 of golf's most prestigious tournaments by hosting its own friendly competition, complete with putting challenges, certificates and even a couple of holes in 1.

Residents Patricia Dutton and Angela Taylor both impressed fellow competitors by sinking a hole in 1 during the event. In recognition of their achievement, they were presented with special awards, while every participant received a certificate to celebrate taking part.

For Angela, the occasion carried extra significance. A long time golfer, she was previously a member of Royal Birkdale Golf Club and still enjoyed playing the sport. She also continued to give speeches at the famous club, making the home's celebration a fitting way to mark The Open in Southport..

Liam Kenwright, Home Manager, at Birkdale Tower Care Home, said:- "With The Open taking place right here in Southport, we wanted to make sure our residents could be part of the excitement. Having our own putting green meant we could bring a little bit of the championship to Birkdale Tower, and it was wonderful to see everyone getting involved. Patricia and Angela's hole-in-ones certainly stole the show, and Angela's long association with Royal Birkdale made the day even more special. Events like this are a brilliant way of keeping residents active while celebrating something that means so much to the local community."

Patricia Dutton said:- "I never expected to get a hole in 1, so it was a lovely surprise. We all had such a wonderful afternoon and it was great fun taking part together."

Angela Taylor added:- "Golf has always been a big part of my life, so it was lovely to celebrate The Open with everyone here. The team put on a fantastic day and it brought back some wonderful memories of Royal Birkdale. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute."


1 of Liverpool's famous Mathew Street pubs 'The Grapes' unveils stunning facelift ahead of grand reopening

FOLLOWING a major exterior and minor interior refurbishment, the world famous Grapes pub, located on:- Mathew Street, Liverpool, has officially reopened its doors on:-  Friday, 17 July 2026.

Known globally as a key landmark on the historic Beatles trail, the iconic venue has undergone a striking aesthetic overhaul. The exterior of the pub has been completely transformed, featuring fully replaced:- doors and windows, crisp new signage, and bespoke window vinyls.

Crucially, the pub's main signage has been extended to span the entire length of the building; seamlessly uniting the left side of the property with the main bar front to create a much more cohesive, polished aesthetic.

The color palette has also evolved, shifting from its previous green scheme to a classic heritage combination of:- red, cream, and black, which was indeed the original colours.

Additional exterior upgrades include:- vibrant new florals, greenery, modern lighting, upgraded seating, cafe barriers, and custom planters. In a nod to the street's legendary musical history, these planters are designed as:- eye catching replicas of iconic Beatles albums.

Inside, the pub's sound system has received a state of the art upgrade to support its popular schedule of daily live music and karaoke. To mark the official reopening this Friday, The Grapes hosted a stellar line up of live local entertainment, featuring performances from:- singers Dominic Bassnett, Helen Fulthorpe, and Jessica Collins, plus the 1st 1st 50 customers got some free drinks.

Karen Strickland, Landlady of The Grapes, said:- "We are absolutely ‘made up' with the refurbishment, it looks amazing! Our kerb appeal is now the best on Mathew Street and we can't wait for everyone to see it. We've been at:- The Grapes since 2019 and we're constantly making improvements, but this facelift is just what the place needed. We look forward to welcoming everyone coming to Liverpool this summer to the home of the Beatles!"

When Merseybeat was in full swing, Mathew Street was full of warehouses and very few places to drink. The Cavern didn't sell alcohol, so for the Beatles the best place to go for a drink was The Grapes.

Chris Tulloch, the founder and Managing Director of Blind Tiger Inns added:- "We're delighted with the new look and proud to be keeping the traditional values of this historic landmark. In a City being overrun with unauthentic Irish bars it's important to celebrate our proud history."

The Grapes is 1 of over 20 pubs operated by North West based Blind Tiger Inns, whose other venues in Liverpool include the Aigburth Arms and the Queens Arms, located next to Aintree Racecourse, the home of the Grand National.

For more information follow the Grapes on Instagram.

What are your thoughts on this news topic? Email our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:- Mastodon, Facebook, or X (formally known as Twitter). Please do let us know as we love to hear your views....

 
      
 
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