You're homesick. You miss your mummy/daddykins/dog/significant other/catfish/weasel/antfarm. You…read moreneed some of that home cookin' to soothe your lonely soul, something traditional and warming and comforting. And while in this humid heatwave such thoughts might turn your stomach as much as they're turning mine, I'm thinking back to the cold winters of November when I visited Pudding and Pie in a chilly, wind-whipped Southport. It's worse on the coast, you know. Rumour has it that breeze is so sharp it can make your favourite jumper threadbare. True story. Look no further to solve those feelings than the very definition of stodge that is Pudding and Pie, a place where they do a mean fish finger sandwich (whether the fish were mean before they became fingers remains to be seen), a steak and ale pie that views your arteries as a personal challenge, Lancashire hot pot that could rival Betty's in the Rover's, soups designed to put hair on your chest when you're feeling infirm... all 100% home made. And if you've made the leap to the fat-is-flavour side of the river this far, you might as well finish yourself off with an equally cosy pud. Eccles cakes, or fly pies as my mother calls them (thanks, dear parent, for ruining a traditional north westerly baked treat), apple crumble so warm and juicy that Jim from American Pie would want to get a room with it, bread and butter pudding that ain't stingy on the bright yellow sticks of doom... it's all here, waiting to comfort you. The location is pretty delicious too; Wayfarers Arcade happens to be one of my favourite spots in Southport and the ornate architectural delight that it is blankets Pudding and Pie in even more loveliness. Plus it's super central, so once you've had your fill you can either walk off your heavy tummy by hitting the shops with aplomb or head straight to the beach for a lunch-burnin' sand hike. Either way, the staff are lovely and it makes a superb spot for a substantial lunch or naughty treat any time of the day... one I'd highly recommend.

A friend and I came here for Lunch. We got the Vegetarian Shepherd's pie and homestyle fish and…read morechips. The service was at Pudding and Pie is very good. The guy behind the counter was super nice and made a few jokes, the waitress was also very nice and accommodating. The food at Pudding and Pie was very filling and well priced. They even had free games and crayons to pass time. What a great place to just relax and have a good meal!

Rich's Ice Cream Coffee Shop and Gelataria is based along Southport's shopping boulevard. It…read moreprovides a welcome break after a long walk along the promeade because you can wind down in this lovely cafe whether it is to sip a mug of coffee, slurp on a luscious sundae or bite on a toasted sandwich. Most strikingly through their window, you'll easily see that their speciality is selling beautiful ice cream for your delights (at a cost)! However, you'll find a generous variety of flavours to make your mouth water. My favourite has to be Pistachio, which I found to be just as good as the one I had in Venice. Certainly worth the money if you enjoy it! As well as ice cream and hot drinks, they strangely combine their sweet business by offering a selection of savoury snacks, such as breakfast butties and soups with rolls. These dishes are are a bit pricey but when you consider it's prime location and fine dining experience, it is second to none. All this makes Rich's such a tempting place to visit and why not on a gorgeous day. "I scream, You scream, We All scream for ice cream!"

And now, back to an establishment that is a bit more traditional in Southport, Rich's Coffee Shop…read moreand Geleteria. Although, saying that, 'geleteria' does sound a bit exotic and unusual, doesn't it? It does sound more enticing than 'ice cream shop' though, so I can see why they'd use that instead. Rich's is primarily a nice little café at the quieter end of Lord Street which offers its customers a pleasant atmosphere in a reasonably-sized area that gives shoppers the chance to take the weight of their feet and have a hot drink and a sandwich or light snack. However, where Rich's really excels is in its range of desserts. As their sign says, Rich's sells ice cream in a variety of flavours and colours, meaning even the fussiest person could find a flavour to suit their tastes (I usually play safe and stick to chocolate myself, but each to their own). Their dessert menu also features a selection of homemade delicacies such as sundaes and huge chocolate éclairs which at three quid are pretty expensive but are definitely worth it, as my éclair-loving friend will testify.

Whenever my mother wanted me to feel special she brought me here. Now now, get that vision of an…read moreuptight, stressed and stingy with love mother out of your head, we're not talking any central matriarch from We Need to Talk About Kevin here, I was one spoilt rotten kid, with affection, and materialistically. It's amazing actually that I've turned out as well-adjusted and selfless as I have. *Chuckles to self, recalls all 'you're not the centre of the universe!' comments from significant others* Anyway, lunch in Southport meant one of several options. It meant The Gallery if my grandmother was around, as she had lofty aspirations. It meant Pippins, Coffee Bean or a department store if both parents or my father were present. It meant somewhere silly with the brunette where we'd forego nutritional value in favour of empty calories. But if it was just Mum and me, it'd be Nostalgia. The cutest, sweetest, kitschiest place on earth. It is just stunning. You're situated above all the shops on Lord Street so the view out of the windows is fantastic, if you ever get round to it after taking in the view indoors. The ornate high ceilinged tea room is divine, and it's perhaps not one to take the partner to, considering that all the warmly-welcoming and efficient waitresses wear traditional tea room outfits. Ooh, matron. Well it is Nostalgic after all... Old-fashioned is the order of the day here, and that extends to the menu. High teas, quaint sandwiches, cream scones, soups, light bites, traditional main meals, scrumptious desserts, and plenty of warm and cold beverages to choose from. The food is rich and tasty and feels like a treat. There's a function room on the second floor and the place has won countless awards for just how accomplished and friendly its staff are. Don't think the posh vibe makes it all formal, you couldn't find a more relaxed and lovely ambience. It's easy to miss - there's a narrow opening by the Early Learning Centre and the tea rooms are located above that, up a rather heavy climb of stairs. Still, it's certainly worth the exercise and it's an overall memorable experience, one you'll want to relive again and again. Come along and be ladies what lunch! Or men, I'm sure the frilly aprons will entice you too.

I've been coming here since before I can remember; in fact I practically grew up here. So many…read morememories of my visits to southport include this place; from afternoon teas to family functions. This place has not changed! If you want to feel lady like and transported to another era this is the place to go! However the food is not so good since the new owners have taken over. It's simple food and really I'm picking at straws. But if you are looking for a quick bite and delicious scones then head here. My visit today I had the tuna toastie - the toastie was okay, maybe a tad more mayo ( or something with tang?) and the salad was pretty lifeless (do it well or not at all I say!) but overall okay. Also had the Bakewell tart which was lovely. But nothing to write home about. 3 for food 4.5 for service and ambience 10 for childhood memories!

Mulberry's is a quaint little coffee shop-cum-bistro in Ainsdale village which, I think it is fair…read moreto say, would not be out of place nestled in a European city at the roadside, with elderly gentlemen sipping cups of tea as they watch the world go by. It offers a selection of hot and cold food to accompany the usual coffee, tea and other various cold drinks as well as an outdoor seating area which is regularly filled with people sitting there, despite the view not being quite as romantic as those in Paris or Rome. The food on offer is good, home cooking, including a lovely fried breakfast which, from experience, is perfect for getting rid of those pesky hangovers and is also available all day for the lazier people amongst us. There are other various hot meals available that change weekly so it is best to check when you are there for those. The desserts they offer are also highly recommended in these parts I'm told, making Mulberry's a place I'd recommend for a quick drink, snack or even a larger meal to fill your stomach.

For the best ice cream in the area with a vast array of flavours ... I HIGHLY recommend fredericks…read more They even have ice cream vans, are on the canal so you can have a lovely walk whilst enjoying a cone and I haven't had the hot food yet but it looks amazing. ... It's also on Deliveroo so you don't even have to leave the house to get amazing ice cream.

TL;DR - An ice cream legend, still going strong…read more I grew up in Chorley, and everyone there knows Frederick's Ice Cream. As you drive in on the A6 from the south you'll pass the distinctive sign, but if there's a hint of sun in the sky you'll know you're getting close because the road will be lined with cars and there will probably be a queue snaking down the road. Yes, parking is basically non-existent so either walk or pull up on the road side. The parlour itself is fairly small with seating for about 20 people inside, plus some more seating outside (but it's on a busy road so not too scenic!). However, if you go down the side of the business, the pathway goes down to the canalside where they have some additional seating, and you have access to the wonderful canalside walks of the Leeds Liverpool canal. The variety of flavours is huge... today Sparky had a scoop of pistachio and a scoop of cherry whilst I went for a double scoop of nutella and peanut. Delicious, hugely satisfying and great value for money. There are far more exotic flavours though - I was tempted by the Jammy Dodger, and most of the kids there seemed to be desperate for the bubblegum flavour which I think was the blue ice cream everyone seemed to be eating. Frederick's is a bit of a Chorley landmark and legend combined, still going strong and well worth a visit. Who would have thought the A6 through Chorley would have such a treasure?

Just wanted to say a massive thank you to Taylor's for making the most amazing cake for my wife's…read more50th last Sunday. I only called in on the Saturday, more in hope than expectation, but the Young lady that served us was so helpful. We picked up the cake on the Sunday morning.. and it was perfect! Everyone has since fed back to us that it was the best cake they ever tasted.. Thank you once again.. i'll never go anywhere else for cakes again!!!

I genuinely cannot recommend this bakery highly enough. The quality of the food is just amazing…read more(this accounts for the queues out of the door and into the street every lunch time). There is not one thing on the menu that doesn't make your mouth water. This is a bakery with a difference. Not only does it sell the most delicious cakes and pastries - but it also seels the cakes and pastries that other shops long ago stopped making! The range covers apple danish slices (my own personal favourite), to lemon meringue pie slices, carrot cake, chocolate muffins, malteser crunch cakes and their speciality Dickson Road cakes, invented 60 years ago for the daughter of the family. The savoury pies, pasties and sandwiches are all incredible. They use the absolute BEST ingredients and as somebody who will not eat meat products for fear of finding a bit of gristle, you should see me wolf down their sausage rolls and lamb hotpot! The hotpot is available in single portions, 6 person trays or 10 person trays and can be bought hot or taken home and oven baked. They also do incredible cakes (at short notice too!) for any event you can think of. Their home delivery party/buffet service has an extensive menu and is always delivered on time and with a happy, smiling face. Not only do they provide plastic cutlery free of charge but also paper tablecloths, napkins and even a binbag to clear up afterwards! It is also the cheapest bakers I have ever bought from - how they make a profit on some of the items I will never know. If you ever find yourself in Cleveleys, PLEASE try this bakery. Treat yourself to hotpot and toffee cake and you will never look back!