PUB SERVES UP OLD FASHIONED WARMTH

COURTNEY EALES visits venue that's NOT big on social media accounts

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Landlord Robert Maher in The Albion pub

WALK through the doors of a good local pub and you'll be greeted with the chatter of people sharing stories over drinks, the gentle clink of glasses and the sound of slot machines. You will feel the unmistakable warmth of a pub that has welcomed generations before you.

Unfortunately, community pubs are a dying breed and continue to fade from our streets at a staggering rate. Once at the heart of local life, many have struggled to keep their doors open, meaning the character and social connection offered by old haunts has been lost forever.

Fortunately, some of the pubs on our doorstep have refused to be consigned to the history books and continue to welcome customers old and new. One such pub is The Albion, on the corner of Hawthorne Road in Bootle which is run by landlord Robert Maher, 61, who grew up in the area.

Robert previously managed The Pacific pub on Linacre Road and The Cabbage Hall in Anfield. Robert and his late wife Karen took over The Albion on July 12 2006 from previous managers Les and Eileen Henderson.

After being at the helm of the pub for nearly 20 years, Robert now knows it better than anyone.

He describes the pub as a "proper community pub" and one that is "full of regulars". He told the ECHO: "The Albion is not a destination pub, everybody knows everybody. It's traditional, inside it's old-fashioned, original wood, it has not been modernised to be like the modern trendy type pubs."

Speaking about what makes the pub different from others in the area, particularly in the city centre, Robert spoke about the role of The Albion in the local community.

"Keeping a strong community, that's basically what makes the pub. We have many parties a year for the kids and fortunately I have seen kids come to the parties from when they were like six or seven, and now they are actually regulars in the pub."