“Within five minutes, you’ll be talking to people you’ve never met before”
Rob and Susan Ash with grandson Noah from the Four Ashes in Waterloo(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
On Crosby Road North in Waterloo, The Four Ashes is more than just a pub – it’s a family affair. The name comes straight from the Ash family themselves: husband and wife Rob and Susan, and their children Catherine and Gerard.
“Noah is actually a fifth Ash,” Rob laughs, nodding to his lively two-year-old grandson darting between tables. Catherine chips in: “Yeah, The Four Ashes came about before Noah was a thing.” The pub opened its doors in March 2017, the result of what Catherine jokingly calls her dad’s “mid-life crisis.”
Rob explained: “We had a bar in the house, and it just got bigger, and bigger, and bigger… then the chance came up to open a pub. I thought, ‘Why not?’ I’ve always liked real ale, so I opened a real ale pub.”
Having worked in customer service “for 4000 years,” Rob had no background in the pub trade, admitting: “I just picked it up as I went along. YouTube was great.”
What he did have, however, was a passion for good beer and people. That’s clear to see today as he banters with customers, pint in hand.
The pub has become known for its warm, welcoming atmosphere and strong community spirit. Customers have helped raise more than £10,600 for Liverpool-based children’s cancer support charity CHICS since the pub opened.
The Four Ashes in Waterloo(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Speaking about his regulars, Rob proudly said: “They’re brilliant, absolutely brilliant.”
The Ashes keep their bar interesting by sourcing beers from across the UK, from local breweries to casks all the way from Cornwall and Scotland.
There’s always a mix on tap – a traditional bitter, a dark ale, and a range of pales. One standout is Noah’s IPA, named after the youngest Ash.
Competition in Waterloo’s real ale scene doesn’t faze Rob, though he admits the cost of living crisis has made things tougher.
The Four Ashes(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
He said: “People have less money to go out, and young people aren’t drinking the way they used to. Covid meant a lot of them never really learned how to go out and socialise.”
Despite challenges, Rob said: “I still love it here. It’s great.”
For anyone walking through the doors for the first time, Rob sums The Four Ashes up simply: “Small, friendly, quality beer. Within five minutes, you’ll be talking to people you’ve never met before. It’s great, it really is.”