‘Now is the winter of our discontent’ could well be the sentiment of some who remember The Shakespeare in its prime.

Other locals though may say good riddance as the demolition contractors moved on site this afternoon as these exclusive QLocal pictures show.

Housing developer Sovini is behind plans to knock down the derelict Scarisbrick New Road pub; the Victorian building has been boarded up since it last closed in 2013 and now lies in an increasingly poor condition, with smashed windows and crumbling brickwork.

The pub used to be known as W.D. Sutton in honour of Southport’s founder, but reverted to its former name The Shakespeare in 2007.

In 2013, it was re-launched as an arts venue, with the function room transformed into a theatre studio.

However, with subsequent landlords unable to make a success of the venue and four years of disuse, it's following other historic pubs to face demolition.

Originally Posted by rogerblaxall

‘Now is the winter of our discontent’ could well be the sentiment of some who remember The Shakespeare in its prime.

Other locals though may say good riddance as the demolition contractors moved on site this afternoon as these exclusive QLocal pictures show.

Housing developer Sovini is behind plans to knock down the derelict Scarisbrick New Road pub; the Victorian building has been boarded up since it last closed in 2013 and now lies in an increasingly poor condition, with smashed windows and crumbling brickwork.

The pub used to be known as W.D. Sutton in honour of Southport’s founder, but reverted to its former name The Shakespeare in 2007.

In 2013, it was re-launched as an arts venue, with the function room transformed into a theatre studio.

However, with subsequent landlords unable to make a success of the venue and four years of disuse, it's following other historic pubs to face demolition.

It is so sad when lack of investment from the Breweries leads to historic and well built properties such as these being pulled down. In fact, a cavalier attitude to historic buildings has led to the disappearance of many of them. Such buildings with superior architecture, long lasting materials and a high standard of building trades people will never be built like these again.The losses have been regretted by many as ugly cheap buildings are produced to replace outstanding establishments, and this will continue to be the case for a long time into the future.

There is a quite a lot of property's being redeveloped along Scarisbrick new rd. All at one time. Even the property with Errol the die hard land .grabbing squatter is being redeveloped along with another 5 houses on same rd. All good as it's the access to southport. Takes a way the derelict in decline town look

The Shakespeare used to have a very good Bowling Green.

Such a shame these facilities are disappearing.

Pubs close for reason only. Lack of trade, so if people don't use them they lose them.

Originally Posted by pedoja

The Shakespeare used to have a very good Bowling Green.

As did the Park, the Blundell, the Imperial, the Blowick, all of which I had the pleasure of visiting and/or playing on back in the day. Unfortunately they now lie buried beneath housing stock.

Last green to go was at the London...... How long before developers zero in on towns few remaining pub greens?

Time changes all things unfortunately... The cost of Business Rates (expecially in Southport for such a large property), gas and elec plus the high trade cost of beer will inevitably close all 'pubs' of thi type, there time is done thanks to extortianate cost of tarde and ridiculously small margins compared to fixed costs..........

Originally Posted by dexie

Pubs close for reason only. Lack of trade, so if people don't use them they lose them.

Mainly down to greedy breweries charging astronomical prices for ale resulting in the landlords having to charge rediculous prices for a pint making the punters go elsewer for a drink. Shame really as a lot of decent pubs are disappearing.

Originally Posted by GRUMPY-1

Mainly down to greedy breweries charging astronomical prices for ale resulting in the landlords having to charge rediculous prices for a pint making the punters go elsewer for a drink. Shame really as a lot of decent pubs are disappearing.

Yes it is! Weatherspoons can sell a pint for £2 when others are charging £3.50 for the same pint. I know that Weatherspoons buying system is vastly different from most chains but it shows it is possible to make money without fleecing the drinkers (I say drinkers as someone who uses the pub for it's intended purpose not as a burger bar/kids playground)

I totally understand that 'times change' and modern lifestyles don't support a lot of 'pubs per area'.

But it is heart-breaking to see such architecture/brick and stonework, slate work etc etc disappearing.

Why can't the planners do something bloody useful for a change and insist more developers refurbish or redeveloped the towns landmarks by insisting wherever possible old facades are maintained at least.

It worked for the development of the old 'Promenade' Hospital.

I can't see that the additional cost of knitting old to new can be so much more expensive than the saving in materials of retaining the old façade.

Originally Posted by roughjustice

I totally understand that 'times change' and modern lifestyles don't support a lot of 'pubs per area'.

But it is heart-breaking to see such architecture/brick and stonework, slate work etc etc disappearing.

Why can't the planners do something bloody useful for a change and insist more developers refurbish or redeveloped the towns landmarks by insisting wherever possible old facades are maintained at least.

It worked for the development of the old 'Promenade' Hospital.

I can't see that the additional cost of knitting old to new can be so much more expensive than the saving in materials of retaining the old façade.

True but the Shake is hardly anything particularly special.

Well Done Sovini more houses/flats more jobs for local!! people. giz a job

Originally Posted by GRUMPY-1

Mainly down to greedy breweries charging astronomical prices for ale resulting in the landlords having to charge rediculous prices for a pint making the punters go elsewer for a drink. Shame really as a lot of decent pubs are disappearing.

It's not so much the breweries, it's the 'pubcos' who bought up the freeholds on pub chains like Whitbread, then fleece some poor tenant with extortionate rent, leading to extortionate prices.

The pubcos aren't breweries, they are property speculators. I'm sure that breweries will sell their beers to other pubs at the same price as they sell to Wetherspoons, who allow their managers to buy local beers - you can get Formby Brewery ales in the Willow Grove in Lord Street. The difference is in the overhead - Wetherspoons own the freeholds, so there's no rent.

Back on topic, Wetherspoons are to be commended for 'recycling' a lot of old high street buildings like former banks, building societies and even cinemas. We went in a new Wetherspoons in Edinburgh recently which used to be the original Victorian ticket hall at Waverley Station. I believe the Sir Henry Segrave in Southport used to be a car showroom.