If you enjoy reading please consider “buying me a pint”, this will help to cover my hosting and image hosting and help to ensure further trips can go ahead!
BUY ME A PINT
A Journey Through Taps, Tales and Hidden Gems of Waterloo & Crosby
I started off around Waterloo, first popping into The Shipwreck – proper friendly, dead relaxed, and a cracking pint of Ice Queen from Ossett to get going. Then it was round to Always Sometimes, super chilled with great beer – went for Neptune’s Cask Club Luminosa. The Old Tap and Four Ashes kept things ticking nicely, both great spots, and I ended up at Trap & Hatch for a lovely juicy pale from DEYA. Then over to Crosby – The Coop was a standout, proper community feel and a boss Black IPA. Finished up with classic cosy pints at The Corner Post and The Volunteer Canteen.
Waterloo and Crosby sit along the Merseyside coast just north of Liverpool, sharing that classic seaside feel while each keeping its own character. Crosby has deep roots, dating right back to Viking times, and grew into a busy Victorian seaside spot once the railway arrived. Waterloo started out as part of Crosby Seabank and got its name after the Battle of Waterloo when a grand hotel opened there in 1816. Over time, both places grew side by side and eventually became part of Sefton – now known for coastal walks, relaxed pubs, and that laid-back local charm.
The Shipwreck
My first visit after meeting up with John from Bar-Trek was to The Shipwreck. The Shipwreck on South Road in Waterloo is a well-known local spot with a relaxed, friendly feel and a strong community vibe. It was previously known as Stamps Too and later The Waterpudlian, and has more recently changed name to The Shipwreck. It was named Liverpool CAMRA’s Pub of the Year in 2013 and was the first venue in the area to receive LocAle status in 2009. Today, it’s especially known for regular live music, most often from Thursday through the weekend. It’s the sort of place people wander into, stay longer than planned, and usually bump into someone they know.
Inside, The Shipwreck has that lived-in, no-nonsense pub feel. Teal walls, string lights, old photos and posters – nothing fancy, just dead cosy. The bar is long and black-tiled, with all the pumps lined up and shelves of bottles behind it. Seating is a proper mix: wooden tables, worn chairs and a big blue booth that looks like it’s seen some stories. There’s a little raised bit that doubles as a stage, facing tables where people sit with a drink, chat, or zone out. It’s the sort of place you can wander into and immediately feel like you belong.
A fantastic warm welcome in here and a selection of 3 cask ales on the bar to choose from, along with a selection of keg beers. I went with “Ice Queen” from Ossett Brewery. A delicious dry hopped Golden Pale Ale. Juicy and super tasty.
Always Sometimes
A short walk around the corner brought me to Always Sometimes . Always Sometimes opened in mid-2024 on Crosby Road North in Waterloo, just outside Liverpool. The bar took over a former retail shop unit at Cremona Corner, close to Waterloo Station, and marked the building’s first use as a licensed venue. From the outset, it positioned itself as a small, independent beer-focused bar rather than a traditional pub, with an emphasis on well-kept cask ale and a rotating craft selection. The business is run hands-on by its owners, and it has quickly built a loyal local following since opening through word of mouth rather than promotion.
Inside, it’s relaxed and friendly, with everything centred around the bar. The marble counter and row of taps make it easy to spot what you want next, and the fridges underneath are packed with cans you end up browsing without thinking. There are deep blue booths, soft pink chairs, and warm lighting that makes it feel cosy even on a quiet afternoon. Nothing about it tries too hard — a few quirky touches, like a rubber duck on the bar, just make it feel lived-in. It’s the sort of place where you sit down for one drink and stay much longer than planned.
On the bar a choice of 2 cask ales alongside a keg wall offering 8 keg lines to choose from. A well stocked can and bottle fridge offers even more choices next to the bar. I chose to go with “Cask Club Luminosa” from Neptune Brewery. A tasty, well balanced American Pale packed full of flavour.
The Old Tap
A walk down the road brought me into The Old Tap. Despite the name, The Old Tap isn’t old at all. It’s a modern micropub in Waterloo, north of Liverpool, that opened in June 2022. The space used to be a clothes shop, but it was turned into a cosy, one-room pub with a simple setup: usually a handful of well-kept cask ales, a couple of craft kegs, and some bottles and cans. There’s no food, no loud music, just good beer and chat, plus a few seats out front when the weather’s decent. It’s small, friendly, and well regarded locally, with CAMRA recognition. The “Tap” name is a nod to seafaring pubs, fitting for the area.
Inside, The Old Tap feels small, relaxed and a bit old-school, with worn wooden floors, dark little tables and a long blue button-backed bench that immediately catches your eye. Exposed brick and hanging hops give it a gently rustic edge, while wreaths and small handwritten signs add a personal touch. Black-and-white photos on teal walls make the place feel rooted in local history. There’s no TV, no noise competing for attention — just the soft hum of people talking. It’s the kind of place where you can slide into a corner, unwind, and feel like you’ve stumbled into a spot that’s intentionally simple.
Drinks wise on the bar a selection of 4 cask ales to choose from, alongside a number of keg choices. A well stocked fridge and shelves with a number of cans and bottles is available for further options. I went with “That Wildflower”, a collaboration between Courier Brewing Co and Glasshouse. A fantastic Session IPA hopped using El Dorado and Bru-1. Super tasty!
The Four Ashes
Back up the road to The Four Ashes. The Four Ashes is a family-run micropub in Waterloo, north of Liverpool, that opened in March 2017 as part of the UK micropub boom, which revived small, community-focused drinking spaces. Its name comes from the four family members who founded it, the Ashe family. From the start it championed real ale and cider, with a constantly changing selection from local and regional brewers, earning attention from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and local drinkers alike. Within a few years it became known on the local pub circuit for quality cask beers and its grassroots, independent spirit.
Inside, it feels relaxed and unfussy, with lots of wood, simple round tables and a mix of stools, chairs and a long cushioned bench. There are hanging plants, soft lighting and big windows that let in loads of daylight, so it never feels dark or cramped. The space has a lived-in warmth – scuffed wood, mismatched cushions and little personal touches dotted around. It’s small enough that people don’t stay strangers for long, but calm enough to tuck yourself into a corner and zone out. It feels like the kind of place you settle into without even meaning to.
Drinks wise a great selection of 5 cask ales in a range of styles, alongside a selection of keg options, and even more in the fridges behind the bar. “APA US Pale” from Blackedge Brewing Company was my beer choice. A fantastic American IPA hopped with Idaho 7, Mosaic & Chinook.
Trap & Hatch
Just around the corner is Trap & Hatch. Trap & Hatch opened in October 2016 on 135 South Road in Waterloo, Liverpool, taking over a standard high-street unit that’s part of a Victorian-era parade built as the area grew after the Liverpool–Southport railway arrived in the mid-1800s. Over the decades before Trap & Hatch, the space cycled through everyday commercial uses typical of South Road — small shops and services rather than anything landmark-worthy — reflecting the street’s role as a local hub where businesses regularly changed hands. When Trap & Hatch arrived in 2016, it simply became the newest chapter in a building that’s long been part of Waterloo’s commercial life.
Inside Trap & Hatch, it’s a compact, pared-back space that looks like a small unit reworked into a bar. The counter is chunky wood with exposed metal pipe taps, giving it an industrial feel, and the ceiling has corrugated panels that add to that rough-edged look. Furniture is simple: thick wooden tables paired with metal and leather chairs, all practical rather than decorative. Large front windows face the street, letting in a lot of daylight and making the room feel a bit bigger. Along one wall there’s a long bench seat and plain timber panelling, keeping things straightforward and unfussy overall.
A great selection on the bar featuring 2 cask ales and 7 keg lines, along with a selection of cans and bottles. I chose the cask ale from DEYA Brewing Company. “There’s A Thread Somewhere” was a fantastic juicy and smooth English Pale Ale.
The Coop
My next visit was to The Coop. The Coop at 84 College Road in Crosby is pretty new on the scene – it opened in October 2023, taking over what used to be a restaurant and turning it into a community-minded pub. Its name tips the hat to The Pigeon, a small local pub that came before it and helped spark Crosby’s interest in indie micro-style spots. Even though it hasn’t been around for long, it’s already made its mark. In 2025, it picked up Liverpool & District CAMRA Pub of the Year, which is a pretty big deal for somewhere that’s only been open a short while.
They’ve taken what used to be a restaurant and turned it into a relaxed pub-style space, swapping formal dining tables for small round ones and cosy seating. Bookshelves are built into parts of the room, filled with a mix of books that make it feel like somewhere you can slow down. Large front windows and a glass-fronted extension open the place up and let in loads of light, almost giving it an indoor-outdoor feel. From the street, it’s bright and welcoming, and the big sign proudly showing its Liverpool & Districts Pub of the Year makes it feel properly local and well-loved.
Drinks wise a great line up of 5 cask ales, along with a nice choice of keg options to select from. I went with a collaboration beer between Elusive Brewing and Brolly Brewing. “Midnight Cruiser” was a superb Black IPA, and super hoppy being hopped with Simcoe, Wai-Iti, Nelson Sauvin and Citra.
The Corner Post
Onto The Corner Post next. The Corner Post in Crosby, opened on 22 July 2015, but the building itself has a longer story. It once served the area as the local post office, which is exactly where the pub gets its name. The original post box is still out front, acting like a little reminder of what the place used to be. Rather than being demolished or turned into something completely different, the building was kept and given a new use, with old photos inside that help tell its past and how it once played a role in everyday local life.
Inside, it’s a snug, single-room space that feels more like a friendly local living room than a big bar. There are a few small tables and stools dotted around, with comfy bench seating under the windows. Shelves display books, photos and other bits and pieces, while a large mural along one wall adds a modern touch. A corridor towards the toilets is lined with framed memorabilia, giving the place extra character. It’s compact and cosy, so when it’s busy it feels lively and full of chatter, with conversation filling the space.
4 cask ales are available on the bar to choose from, along with a number of keg choices. “Holly” from Abbeydale Brewery was my choice of beer. A delicious citrusy English Pale Ale hopped with Nelson Sauvin, Willamette and Cascade, giving some fantastic flavours.
The Volunteer Canteen
Managed an extra visit to The Volunteer Canteen. The Volunteer Canteen sits on East Street in Waterloo, Merseyside, and started life as a house back in the 1820s. It didn’t become a pub until around 1871, and the name “Volunteer” came later, tied to local volunteer soldiers who used a nearby hall for training during the Boer War. They’d grab a drink here, and the name stuck. Since then, it’s quietly sailed through history – world wars, dry spells, and changing trends – without fuss. It’s just always been the spot people drift back to, the kind of place where you can imagine generations swapping gossip over a pint.
Inside, it’s got that proper old-school pub vibe – warm, a bit dim, and instantly cosy. The bar’s all dark wood and shiny brass pumps, the sort of place where you lean in for a chat rather than rush your drink. Through the doorway, the main room opens up with red bench seating and little round tables, so everyone ends up close enough to swap stories whether they meant to or not. There’s a bookshelf, old local photos on the walls, and a fireplace that gives the room a soft glow. It basically feels like a comfy living room that just happens to serve pints.
On the bar a choice of 3 cask ales, alongside a selection of keg options. “It’s Never One” from Small World Beers was my choice. A lovely light golden and hoppy Pale Ale, well balanced and easy drinking.
Micropub Adventures 