FAMILIES can enjoy something very special with a free Victorian Clothes Pop-Up Display in Southport this weekend. 

This event, organised by Sunday Best Vintage Clothing, takes place at Wayfarers Arcade on Lord Street in Southport town centre PR8 1NY between 10am and 4pm this Saturday, 19 September 2026. 

It is part of the annual Southport Heritage Open Days Festival, which sees events taking place across the town between 11 September and 20 September 2026. 

Admission is free, pre-booking is not required. 

Join Sunday Best Vintage Clothing and friends to learn all about Southport's history through clothing.

Sunday Best Vintage Clothing is a supplier of fine traditional gentleman's and ladies clothing and accoutrements, which has become a popular sight at fairs across the UK over the past 30 years. 

In June this year they hosted a vintage fashion show, raising £13,007 for Queenscourt Hospice. 

Sunday Best Vintage Clothing owner Mark Regan said:- “After lots of planning, I’m pleased to announce I’ll be helping out with this year's Heritage Open Days Festival here in my home town of Southport. Heritage Open Days happens every year and is England’s biggest festival of history and culture. Held every September, it gives people free access to hidden places and historic sites that are normally closed, along with talks, displays and family friendly events. Type it into Google, it’ll bring up a whole host of places in your town, and it’s absolutely brilliant! I’ve visited loads over the years. I’ll be in the amazing setting that is Wayfarers Arcade. It’s a magnificent Victorian shopping arcade built in 1898, the glass dome ceiling and ornate ironwork are beautiful. I’ll be setting up a display of Victorian garments from the 1890s, a selection of clothes from old Southport shops, and a large display of hosiery and undergarments from the 1940s (new old stock) from an old Southport shop."

Mark continued:- “Good friend Jacob Gary will hopefully be joining me with a fascinating display on the history of Southport Fire Brigade. Ginificent Theatre Company will be coming along dressed in original garments used in their annual stage production of A Christmas Carol. Ginificent is an independent theatre, media and film company based in Southport. If you’re free, please come along. It’s part of a Victorian themed day in the Arcade to highlight our gorgeous Victorian town. And if you’re able, come along in Victorian dress! It’s a free event - all the Heritage Open Days events are. All ages are more than welcome. There’s loads to do in Southport, make it a day out or an overnight stay. A huge thanks to Southport Heritage Open days Co-ordinator Heather Cook for organising this event.”

And there are some pleasant surprises coming this weekend. 

Mark Regan said:- “Starting to get bits together ready for Saturday for a display on old Southport shops at Southport Heritage Open Days in Wayfarers Arcade. There are very few old shop printed items still about, they were disposable so these are all rare survivors. There’s always a few Marshall & Snelgrove boxes around, usually hat boxes. I was given this old paper bag years ago by a friend, it’s worthless but I’ve never seen one before with the Southport branch on. And then by pure luck, these two hat boxes turned last week, just in time! I haven’t had any time to research the shops, but if anyone remembers them, please get in touch. This is just a very small part of what will be a large display of clothes, dresses and other items of local interest.”