Gaming enthusiasts and book lovers in the region have an exciting new destination to explore as a dedicated independent hub for all things fantasy officially opens its doors.
The Hobby Post has now opened in Southport town centre, offering a new world for fans of fantasy games and literature such as Warhammer, Dungeons & Dragons and more.
The Hobby Post has opened at 10-12 Post Office Avenue, next door to Southport Bijou Cinema.
It is owned by Grace Thompson, aged 25, who opened it as her first business after feeling there was a real need for it in Southport.
Eventually, this new retail and community space for hobbyists will occupy three floors of the building, providing a massive multi-level experience for the local gaming community.
The first element, the shop, opened on the ground floor on Wednesday, 17th June 2026.
There you will find Warhammer games, associated paints, journals, and a range of fantasy literature such as The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien; Throne of Glass and House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas; The Troy series by David Gemmell; The Way Of Kings, Words of Radiance and The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson; and more.
Grace is enjoying being back in Southport after her time living in London and studying at university.
She said:
“I’m so pleased to be open!
“We have had so many lovely comments from people who have been in.
“I just felt we really needed somewhere like this in Southport.
“I wanted it to be a place that was really accessible, affordable, friendly, and welcoming, a real community space.”
The location provides a great opportunity for collaborative events with neighbouring independent ventures in the cultural quarter.
Grace added:
“It’s brilliant to be next to Southport Bijou Cinema, hopefully there may be things like book clubs or movie nights we can do together with them.
“We’re so glad everyone has been loving the books we stock, and our collection is growing all the time, with a new order arriving next week!
“If there’s anything you’d like to see on the shelves, let us know!
“That goes the same for the games we have here, too.
“At the moment we have Warhammer, but we are adaptable, and it’s all about what people are interested in.”
The Hobby Post Southport Plans Multi-Storey Expansion
While the ground-floor retail shop is already welcoming customers, the ambitious young business owner is moving quickly to develop the remaining levels of the town centre property.
The upper floors are being transformed into dedicated interactive zones where players can socialise, build, and test out their strategic gaming skills.
Grace explained:
“On the first floor, I want to develop it into an area where people can buy their models, take them upstairs and then paint them.
“We will have Warhammer and gaming tables there, plus a painting station.
“The second floor, when it’s complete, will host Dungeons & Dragons rooms.
“We are trying to get those completed as soon as we can.
“We’ll have a booking system here and online where you’ll be able to book time with us; it will be a very fun and sociable thing to come and do.”
Local Graduate Returns Home to Launch First Business
The launch marks a proud homecoming for the entrepreneur, who decided to bring her passion back to Merseyside after completing her academic studies in the capital.
Her commitment to the area highlights the growing appeal of the town centre for independent traders looking to build community-focused spaces.
Grace said:
“I was born and bred in Southport, and have been here my whole life, except for when I was living and studying in central London.
“While I was in London I missed Southport! I love this town. It has so much going for it.”
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