I’ve been shooting weddings in Southport for many years and love photographing weddings in the town. As the years have passed, many venues have moved in and out of popularity and new venues have come along. Many of the venues in Southport are Traditional hotel function room type venues. Recently the Ramada Plaza and Vincent Hotel have opened and taken a share of the market but the Prince of Wales Hotel, Royal Clifton Hotel and Scarisbrick Hotel remain popular choices as does the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre (Previously the Floral Hall).
The one venue that stands out from these is the Tithe Barn at Meols Hall. Located in Churchtown opposite St. Cuthbert’s Church and the Hesketh Arms. Meols Hall is set in acres of beautiful gardens and lawns. Weddings take place in the Tithe Barn. Meols hall is, in my opinion one of the best wedding venues in Southport
Meols Hall dates back to the late 12th century, when the manor was granted to Robert de Coudray of Penwortham. The manor has since passed down through marriage and inheritance, and in the 16th century became part of the property of a branch of the Heskeths of Rufford. Much of the old house was demolished in the mid 18th century, reducing the building to its mid 17th century core and a wing dating from c. 1695. Meols Hall was subsequently used as a farmhouse, until the family of Charles Hesketh took residence in 1919. Modest additions were made to the house in 1938, but the main reconstruction work was carried out between 1960-64 by Roger Fleetwood-Hesketh to his own design. This included the three storeyed red brick east front built in the style of Francis Smith of Warwick, and used stonework from Lathom House, rescued as it was about to be dumped in a disused Liverpool dock.
There are several churches in Southport which provide good photography opportunities. I can’t mention them all here. The largest of note is Emmanuel Church on Cambridge road. Not far from here is St. Cuthbert’s which has the advantage of being across the road from Meols Hall and within short walking distance to the Botanic Gardens.
As far as bride and groom portraits go there is limited room in the town centre for this barring very urban type shots. Many brides will choose to have a car take them to one of the two main parks, Hesketh Park or the Botanic Gardens. I have shot portraits in both of these parks and both are very good locations. I’ve also shot portraits on the pier, under the pier, on the sea wall, next to the marine lake and in the kings gardens opposite the Royal Clifton Hotel on the Promenade.
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