12/08/2026
A Statement from Connolly’s Irish Pub & Catherine’s Bar
It is with enormous sadness that we announce that Connolly’s Irish Pub and Catherine’s Bar will be closing permanently from Monday 31st August.
When we opened our doors in May 2024, we did so with huge hopes and dreams for the future. We invested heavily, worked incredibly hard and put everything we had into bringing the building back to life and creating a warm, welcoming community pub that Southport could enjoy once again.
Over the last two and a half years, we have dramatically improved the building and poured an enormous amount of time, money, energy and love into Connolly’s. We genuinely believed we were building something that could have a long and successful future.
Unfortunately, despite our very best efforts, the business has never fully recovered from the impact of the Sefton Council roadwork regeneration scheme around King Street and Market Street.
Being forced to close for approximately six months during the works had an obvious and devastating impact on our business. Nevertheless, we remained optimistic. We held on because we believed that once the regeneration was completed, footfall would return, the area would recover and Connolly’s would finally have the opportunity to thrive.
Sadly, that simply hasn’t materialised.
Midweek footfall in this part of town is now almost non-existent, and the reality is that a pub of this size cannot survive on weekend trade alone.
We are also facing significant issues with the building which require substantial investment to resolve. With trade at its current level following the regeneration, the funds simply aren't available to carry out those works. We have reached the heartbreaking point where continuing is no longer financially viable.
We therefore have no choice but to close our doors.
This decision has not been made lightly. Connolly’s means far more to us than bricks, mortar and a business. We have lived and breathed this place, and saying goodbye to a pub we have fought so hard for is genuinely a dagger in all our hearts.
One thing we are incredibly pleased to be able to say is that none of our staff will lose their jobs as a result of the closure. Our team have been relocated to another site. They have stood beside us through some incredibly difficult times, and making sure they were looked after was extremely important to us.
Most importantly, we want to say thank you.
Thank you to every single customer who walked back through our doors when we reopened. Thank you to those who came for a pint, a Sunday dinner, the football, the karaoke, the live music, a party in Catherine’s or simply a chat at the bar. Thank you to all the entertainers that have put smiles on our customers faces.
Your support gave Connolly’s another 12 months when, without you, we may not have had them.
For that, we will be forever grateful.
We have made friendships and memories here that will stay with us long after the doors close. There have been some fantastic nights, plenty of laughter and moments we will never forget.
We desperately wanted this story to have a different ending, but sometimes hard work, determination and love simply aren't enough to overcome the circumstances around you.
Connolly’s will be missed more than we can put into words.
Before we close the doors for the final time, we would absolutely love the chance to say goodbye properly.
Please come and join us for one last weekend at Connolly’s, from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th August. ☘️💚
Come and have one last drink with us, raise a glass to Connolly’s and help us celebrate all the memories we’ve made together over the last two and a half years.
We want our final weekend to be filled with the things Connolly’s has always been about — friends, familiar faces, laughter, music and good times.
It may be the end of Connolly’s, but we’d love to go out the way we came in — together.
So please come and raise one final glass with us. 🍻
Friday 28th – Sunday 30th August�One last weekend. One last drink. One last Connolly’s. 💚☘️
From all of us at Connolly’s Irish Pub & Catherine’s Bar, thank you for supporting us, believing in us and being part of our journey.
We gave it everything we had. 💚
With love and heartfelt thanks,
The Connolly’s & Catherine’s Team
