Let’s discover the best family-friendly restaurants in Southport when dining with kids for breakfast, lunch or dinner…

The taste of family meals by the seaside is often associated with the nostalgic flavours of fish and chips and ice cream.

Of course, many family-friendly restaurants still offer this comforting food in Southport and seaside towns across the country and it is understandably a firm favourite. However, there are many exciting restaurants and bistros in Southport serving a wide variety of global cuisines if you are looking for something different from your Southport family dining experience.

Southport Market is a great place to start when dining with kids in the town. The market has been a fixture in Southport for over 100 years and is a fantastic foodie hub bursting with local produce and fresh ingredients.

The market space draws on the traditional feel of a Victorian seaside town, featuring a carousel-themed bar with colourful artwork on its walls to provide a unique and quirky dining experience for your family meal..

Diners can pick and choose what they want to eat from the different market traders - select a table, order, take a buzzer, then wait for your food to be made. Traders include Hector’s Mexicana dishing up traditional Mexican food with an American twist, the top quality steaks and hot sandwiches of Canadian food vendor, Down & Oot, and more. Affordable family dining can range from meals to coffees and cake, so there are plenty of options for everyone to tuck into.

If an American smokehouse is what you’re looking for, then Hickory’s offers fantastic family meals. Located on Folkestone Road in Kew on the outskirts of the town, the restaurant was born out of a US road trip and serves up the best in Stateside flavours with a packed menu throughout the day. Whether it’s fluffy pancakes or ranch-style eggs for brunch, the 16 hour smoked Texas Style Brisket to the Memphis Style Baby Back Ribs, the restaurant’s family meals achieve a well-judged balance of taste and health.

Dining with kids is made easy with a great selection of appetisers and mains, all doffing their cap to the big flavours of the US - think mac’n’cheese, burgers and southern fried chicken. With a large car park and outside dining area, there are some brilliant desserts, milkshakes and even a cinema room showing a collection of classics to keep the kids entertained throughout.

Located on Lord Street, Bistrot Pierre draws on French cuisine for inspiration with coffee, cake, cocktails and more. The seasonal menu reflects this influence with sea bass, boeuf bourguignon, and scallops all made using carefully sourced ingredients and artisan produce. It’s one of Southport’s more family-friendly restaurants with its children’s menu providing some fantastic dishes, including petit steak frites and fish fingers however your kids want them.

Independent restaurant Roberto’s Italian has been a mainstay of Southport’s foodie scene for the last 20 years. Owned by couple Roberto and Lesley Cinti, it is a bastion of authentic Italian dining and offers a warm welcome and delicious family friendly meals. Located on Ocean Plaza next to the seafront, it’s a perfect pit-stop for visitors either on their way to or returning from a trip to the cinema or bowling. Affordable family dining is part of Roberto’s charm, with main meals for kids priced at £5.50 with a great selection of pizzas and pastas for the little ones to get their teeth into. Ice cream is also an essential, with certain desserts coming complete with a toy.

Chocolate fans will love Chocolate Whirled, a business offering gifts, sweet treats and more. Run by husband and wife team Simon and Laura, the business specialises in unique, handmade chocolate items and individual chocolates suitable for any occasion. The on-site cafe sells a broad selection of sweet and savoury treats while there is also a workshop where families looking to design their own chocolate gifts can get involved.

Alongside these eateries, the Southport Food and Drink Festival (held every year) is a family-friendly event in the town’s calendar featuring some of the best street food stalls the UK has to offer. Held in Victoria Park, the weekend is free and sees families enjoying everything from gourmet burgers to churros. It underlines Southport’s reputation as a fantastic and often overlooked home for family-friendly food and drink, whatever your tastes or favourite flavours.