ABOUT US

Southport Flower Show is one of the most spectacular and inspirational events for anyone interested in the latest ideas and designs for homes, gardens and lifestyle.

Now established as the country's largest independent Flower Show, it is unpretentious and continues to focus on the family market with plenty of attractions for children.

Regarded as part of Southport's heritage, this is a Flower Show that continues to uphold the very best traditions, whilst at the same time moving with the times attracting up to 80,000 visitors to the event over four days.

Set in the 34 acre Victoria Park, visitors can expect to see spectacular show gardens, water features and 1 million beautiful blooms. It's the ideal opportunity to chat to gardening celebrities, browse the arts & crafts and sample the best produce in the fine foods marquee, with cookery demonstrations by celebrity chefs.

For the family there is live music, arena entertainment and plenty for the youngsters including the new Kidz Kr8, a marquee dedicated to educate children about our environment, healthy eating, physical developmental and outdoor fun.

It's a great day out for the whole family! Children under 16 are free when accompanied by a paying adult.

The History

Hailed 'the garden by the sea', Southport's jewel in the crown has always been its annual flower show, which has a long and proud history of displaying the finest horticulture in the north.

Southport Flower Show, the largest independent flower show in the country, had its seeds sown in 1924. Originally staged by the local council, the show was privatised in 1986 and continues to flourish under the management of the Southport Flower Show company.

The brainchild of Alderman, Charles Aveling, the first show was blessed with glorious sunshine and the Lord Mayor of Liverpool exclaimed, "Happy is the flower show on which the sun shines!"

It attracted over 40,000 visitors and was hailed 'Southport's Great Show'. As well as masses of vivid, fragrant blooms, the show contained elaborate table decorations, vegetables and fruit, and the 'horse leaping event' was a great hit. The show provided a great boost for Southport in terms of publicity, prestige and image and became a permanent fixture each August at Victoria Park.

By the outbreak of World War II, the show had blossomed into the largest flower show in the world but was suspended during the war years while gardeners concentrated their green fingers on the 'Dig for Victory' war effort.

The shows recommenced in 1947 and have gone from strength to strength, at times enjoying royal patronage. The Queen Mother was the patroness from 1935 to 1952 and Lady Pilkington was also a patron for a number of years.

Celebrities from showbusiness, horticultural and sporting worlds have opened the show, including Frank Bruno, Thora Hird, Rolf Harris and Alan Titchmarsh. The highest attendance was in 1961 when 131,000 people visited the show. However, in 1986, show organisers Sefton Borough Council, decided they could no longer afford to stage it.

A group of local businesses and gardeners came to the rescue by forming the Southport Flower Show Company. Within five years attendances topped 100,000 and the Show's future was given extra security when Sefton Council granted the Company a 60-year lease on the 34-acre show site in 1994 for a token rent of one bouquet, which is presented each year to the mayor/mayoress of Sefton on the first day of the show.

Since then, the Company has invested millions of pounds in renovations and maintenance of Victoria Park.

Special thanks go to Dennis Hudson who supplied information on the history of the Show.