Johnnie Fox’s Irish Snug: Discover the Charm of this Traditional Little Pub
 PAUL ROBERTS owner of the Johnnie Fox’s Irish Snug. |
 GIBSON GUITAR tour bus that will be parked at The Bourbon. |
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
VANCOUVER – Johnnie Fox’s Irish Snug is just what the name implies: a comfortable snug that fits like a shoe. It’s a long room with the bar and stools as you go in the door and towards the back area there are snug booths.
Located on Granville Street near Nelson, Johnnie’s is noted for its good food, well-poured pints, and great hospitality.
Owner Paul Roberts has several irons in the fire. Along with Johnnie Fox’s he also owns and manages the Bourbon Hotel, known as The Bourbon, and he is also a musician.
He spoke to The Celtic Connection recently about preparations he is making for the Olympics at both locations.
“I think, it will be business as usual,” he said. “Once people have had a chance to look around, I think they will discover the charm of this traditional little pub and it will sell itself, plus we pour a good pint of Guinness. I believe that business will be just like St. Patrick’s day, with lineups at the door.”
Paul plans to take care of his regulars saying, “we’re going to give out passes to our regular customers to make sure that they can get in, but we will need to charge a cover to keep some control.
“With Irish House just across the street and the line-ups that they will have, people may have a look around and discover Johnnie Fox’s.”
Recently Johnnie Fox’s started a Sunday evening session with a musician named Elowegen who plays traditional Irish music.
Paul said, “That’s just been growing and growing. In fact, this past Sunday was more like a Saturday. It was just gangbusters in here.”
Speaking about his plans for The Bourbon, he said, “we have quite a heavy-duty schedule going with live bands and I have just finished up a deal with Gibson guitars.
“We have a showroom that will feature vintage and new Gibson guitars which will be open every day from noon to 6 PM, with some of their artists coming in to sign autographs during the Olympics.”
Gibsons will also have their big tour bus in town, which has a Little Richards piano and vintage guitars painted on its side. It has a fully functional recording studio inside.
“The bus will be right up against the wall at The Bourbon,” said Paul. “It’s an attraction that people will see around town but its home will be at The Bourbon.”
The Bourbon itself has quite a checkered history. The building opened in 1893 as the Manitoba Hotel and was built to accommodate loggers.
The interior consists of old growth fir with big columns. Logged on the North Shore, the wood was floated across the Burrard Inlet for construction.
Loggers and hotel residents finally got a watering hole to stagger downstairs to when it opened its doors as the Manitoba Pub in 1936. Ladies and escorts through one entrance and single men another.
In 1977, the pub’s name was changed to 50 Bourbon Street and in the mid-eighties it became a strip bar. Later, the name was changed to the Hildon.
A few years ago, Roberts took the room over and it went back to being known as The Bourbon and is steadily gaining a reputation as one of the live-music venues in the city.
Paul Roberts likes playing music and says that he plays for fun. Even so, his band has just put out their own CD that has received good reviews.
They play in venues around the city and also at The Bourbon. The music they play is rock n’ roll with a lighter edge. Two of the musicians that Paul gigs with and are also well known in Celtic circles: Paddy Mahony of Mahony and Sons Irish Restaurant and his brother Gerard Mahony of the Delta Lion Pub.
Johnnie Fox’s Irish Snug is located at 1033 Granville Street in Vancouver. For more information, call (604) 685-4946. The Bourbon is located at 50 Cordova Street W. in Gastown. For more information, call (604) 684-4214.
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