A BARBER in Merseyside is whetting his customers’ appetite for real ale while he gives them a wet shave.

Frankie Gallagher and his wife, Sue, have moved their barbers shop into new premises – to a 19th-century Wirral pub.

And to celebrate the venture they’re serving Gallagher’s Half Cut real ale.

Mr Gallagher said: “We’ve stolen the deli queuing system off the supermarkets, so our customers take a ticket and then can have a pint as they wait.

“We had two barber shops before this, but we always wanted to open a pub, so when this one became available we were able to bring the two things together.

“It took three to four years, but we’ve been able to get this freehold.”

The pub on Chester Street, Woodside, formerly known as the Dispensary, boasts plenty of original features.

“The building dates from 1826, so it’s fantastic inside.

“We knew when we walked in that we could put a barbers shop in there. We wanted something with real character, and we found it.

“We can go back as far as 1826 with the history – in 1826 it was called The Hamlet and it would have been full of all the dock workers and the men from the sail ships.

“We’ve found old pictures of the pub, when it was directly opposite the old steam train line that used to go from Woodside to London.”

These days, rather than setting sail, drinkers are getting in a lather before Mr Gallagher gets to work with the razor.

“What has really taken off at the moment are the wedding packages, last weekend we had three in,” he said.

“The majority of customers from the Priory, the police and the office workers have moved with us.”