The Bootle-based brewery Colbier is set to open its first pub, Common Time, on Queens Drive near Childwall Fiveways next month. Launched by Mike Corbett and Vik Williams in 2024, Colbier has quickly become a go-to for craft beer drinkers and was named the UK's 'Best new independent brewery' at the SIBA Business Awards in 2025.
Why Childwall Fiveways?
Mike, 33, told the ECHO the decision to open in a residential area was deliberate: "There's a bit of a loneliness [issue] at the moment, and with the world going the way it is and people getting more isolated, you want to move away from that."
He added: "We just want to make a place that people know they can go to, and if they don't have anybody to hang out with that day or week, they can find somebody in our pub."
Mike said it was especially important to open in the heart of a residential area like Childwall: "It's really just about the community around our area as well. People can come here from wherever, but if we created a place in town, you'd have to commute most of the time. People obviously do live in town, but we want to make a place that is up the road from your house. You can just wander down, have a few pints, and walk home again."
Community support and Crowdfunder
To build community buy-in before the pub opens, Mike and Vik have launched a Crowdfunder to raise extra funds. Mike said: "We can do a bit more with the pub if we get the funding."
Perks for investors include a £60 bar tab for £50 and the opportunity to brew a beer with the team at the Bootle brewery. Mike added: "It is to get people involved with the pub before we actually open, because if you contribute towards the Crowdfunder, you're already a part of the Common Ground community."
Obstacles along the way
Getting to this point has not been without struggles. Mike said: "There have been a lot of obstacles. There's a few surprise things in the new pub. The electrics had to be completely redone, which we didn't think would be an issue before we moved in."
He noted: "There's just been a few little surprises like that, which apart from the cost of doing the pub, is also extra time as well that you don't really budget for." The pub is expected to open next month, with the Crowdfunder available for donations.
