The smell of fish and chips lingers in the air, bolshy seagulls squawk over flyaway bits of batter, and the jingle of arcade machines and shrieks of excited children riding a carousel can be heard all around.
Have I somehow wandered back into my 90s childhood? No, it's present day, and I'm (sadly) an adult - but a visit to Southport certainly stirs up plenty of nostalgia and joy.
Southport is a spacious seaside town in Merseyside, just a short train ride away from Liverpool's booming city centre. My colleagues often joke about my love of Southport, branding it cheesy - but when did a bit of cheesiness ever hurt anyone?
