More Waterloo pubs

Turn left out of Waterloo railway station on the Merseyrail Northern Line and in less than five minutes you will reach two pubs that are in the Good Beer Guide.

The Queens Picture House

The Queens Picture House, 47-49 South Road, is a Wetherspoons pub converted from a furniture shop, but the name reflects the fact that the site was originally a cinema. It is decorated in a bright modern style with a single bar and an enclosed outdoor drinking area to the rear. Like all Wetherspoons pubs, it has TV screens with the sound off, and free WiFi. It has good disability access with a ramp at the front and suitable toilet facilities. 

There are photographs and information about local history and people of the area, such as shipbuilding and the aviator Henry Melly who flew from Waterloo. There are pictures of the Anthony Gormley statues and information about the captain of the Titanic who lived locally. 

The real ales that were on were: Ruddles Best; Greene King Abbot; Sharp's Doom Bar; Bateman's Gold; Roosters Wild Mule; Coach House Postlethwaites; Brecon Red Beacons; and Old Rosie cider. There is something there for most beer tastes. Phone: 0151 949 2070. 

The Old Bank

Nearby is the Old Bank at 43 South Road. It's an attractive building externally, but the inside is quite a contrast to the sober exterior: it is very much a music orientated venue with music posters and memorabilia all around. They have music on six nights: Tuesday Karaoke; Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday are acoustic nights; and live bands on Friday and Saturday. Monday is described as their chill-out night. 

The only beer on when we visited was Liverpool Organic Brewery Liverpool Pale Ale, along with Lilley's Lemon and Ginger Cider. They explained they had had an extremely busy weekend (our visit was on a Monday) and that there were normally four ales on, such as Allgates and Slaters: indeed there were usually 3 or 4 on my previous visits. 

They show live football and other major sporting events; there is a beer garden and a function room upstairs. This pub also has free WiFi. Contact number: 0151-928 7020.

I wrote about the Volunteer Canteen in Waterloo here.

This is part of a series of articles that I am writing for the CAMRA column in our local paper, the Southport Visiter. Previous reviews are here.