Bringing Britain into Cookstown
By Chris Simon

Photo by Chris Simon The Pub owners gathered with local dignitaries to official open the establishment Friday evening.

For a taste of Merry Ol' England, visit The Pub in Cookstown. At least that's what owners of the new establishment would like you to do. The three owners, Andy Wight, Mark Whitrod and Rory McGlade, have been living in Canada for the last few years. Each originally from Britain, they've brought the essence and atmosphere of a traditional English-style pub across the Atlantic Ocean, something they hope will lead to success in Cookstown.

Although they know the Canadian bar atmosphere is typically different than the pubs of the British Isles, there's plenty to like in the latter. It's a cozy setting, where families can meet over food and the older members can drink pints of their favourite brews, said Wight.

"We got three British men together," he said laughing, sitting at a table with his business partners as several patrons poured into the pub. "We're fortunate this place came available. (Cookstown) didn't have a community pub. What we saw growing up in England, whenever there's a natural disaster, you always went for the pub. All major decisions were made there, and that's what we're trying to create, something for the community.

"You can bring the kids in, their parents can have a drink. It's a Canadian pub with an English twist."

The pub, which is located in the Foodland Plaza on Highway 89, has a wide variety of food, ranging from Steak and Guinness Pie to pasta. Of course, there are also several different types of beer, said Whitrod.

"At the end of the day, you're still in a different country, and it's never going to be the same (as a pub in England), but we want people to feel like they want to come," he said. "The pub isn't all about beer, we've got quite the extensive menu; it's not just British food."