The Atlantic Trap and Gill: A new location
but the same great down-home atmosphere
 GINGER TCHIDA (second from left) general manager of the Atlantic Trap and Gill with her husband Don and baby Ayden. Chanelle Armitage, a server at the pub is shown on the far left.
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By CATHOLINE BUTLER
VANCOUVER – The Atlantic Trap and Gill has moved from its popular Davie Street location to their brand new home at 118 Robson Street at the corner of Beattie, right across from BC Place Stadium.
Recently, I dropped in to visit the new establishment and it’s hard to miss their distinctive logo with the pint glass of suds and the cod fish on the corner of Robson and Beattie Street.
I was surprised at the spacious parking lot right in front of their building, along with a large patio area. It was a beautiful sunny day and many patrons were enjoying lunch and refreshments on the patio.
It looks like this was a great move for the Atlantic Trap and Gill, since they are surrounded by office and apartment buildings and continuous walk-by traffic on Robson Street.
Inside there is a roomy airy feel with picnic style tables and benches, a stage for entertainment, flags of the Atlantic provinces along with signs for Moosehead and Alexander Keith beers. The room has a real down-home atmosphere with Celtic music in the background.
General manager Ginger Tchida transferred from the Calgary location to take over operations in Vancouver along with her husband Don and their little son Ayden.
I spoke with Ginger about some of their up-coming events and entertainment.
She said, ‘‘This is a great location. We have the same atmosphere as the old Trap if not better. It’s really a lot of fun.
“All our entertainment is East Coast Celtic style. Sometimes the band may throw in a Johnny Cash or other type of music but it’s just to have fun with it for the customers.
“Our entertainment is on Thursday and Saturday nights, but we will be changing that come August to Friday and Saturday night. Some of the groups that have played here are Murphy’s Lagh, Whiskey Dicks, and Three Row Barley, to name a few.
“On Wednesdays, we’re going to do an East Coast Celtic unplugged session – kind of like a ‘kitchen party’ – where the musicians will all sit around one of the picnic tables and play their instruments and sing.”
As one might expect from the name Trap and Gill, there are several fish dishes on the menu as well as some unique East Coast specialties.
“We have cod fish and chips on the menu,” said Ginger, “and our catch of the day varies from day to day.
“Thursday is mussel night and we’re planning a lobster fest party, probably toward the end of May or early June. Our lobster is flown in fresh from the East Coast.
“We also serve a Halifax donair, which consists of spicy ground beef, tomatoes, onions and a sweet cream sauce. Another East Coast specialty is the ‘Brothers deep fried pepperoni’. Of course, we also have burgers and pizza.”
Ginger said the Atlantic Trap and Gill plans to take full advantage of the large parking lot out front this summer. She said, “We have a lot of events planned for our parking lot.
“Some of these include street hockey, and a patio launch party featuring a sand castle competition. We’re also planning beach volley ball tournaments with the guys and gals in their bikinis and the music playing.
“We’re also planning a big Canada Day party with the day dedicated to the family. There will be entertainment for the whole family during the day and in the evening we will roll into truck-style partying with more of the East Coast flavour.”
Written on a blackboard was a notice that read: The Trap and Gill babysits husbands during the day. This was a new one on me, so I asked Ginger to fill me in.
She laughed and said, “The staff came up with that one. Women can drop off their husbands here for the day, knowing they’ll be safe. They can pick them up again in the evening.”
Hey, I’ll bet a lot of women could go for that idea!
The Atlantic Trap and Gill is a happening fun place, all sprinkled with that unique East Coast humour. For more information, call (604) 688-5840.
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