Last weekend Elephant and Castle Pub and Restaurant officially opened a Halifax location (5171 George) with a rockin’ performance by The Hopping Penguins, a reggae/ska/rock band that has roots in Halifax and plays across Canada. The “British pub and restaurant concept” chain has over 20 restaurants across North America, but the Halifax locale has individual character.
“Sure it’s a franchise, but we’re lucky enough to be situated in a building created in 1904,” says owner Peter Baylis, also front man of the Hopping Penguins. “We’ve brought out all of the building’s old world elegance in the decor.”
The restaurant scene is old hat to Baylis and his wife Jennifer Haplin, who co-own the Halifax Elephant and Castle franchise, as the duo worked as bar manager and restaurant manager over at the Press Gang (5218 Prince) before deciding to take on ownership roles.
“We tried to buy the Press Gang but that didn’t happen so when this opportunity came along we took it.” Hop on over for a pint of beer or a feed of traditional English fare.
This article appears in Oct 9-15, 2008.
Best English style pub in Halifax and area.
Good music by Bruce Mckinnon and owner Peter Baylis.
Set in a beautiful historical building, right in the heart of downtown Halifax . Excellent service, good bar prices, good food, good friendly atmosphere, great meeting place for friends, family, business associates. Not too old fashioned but a good place to go if you don’t want a young rowdy crowd in your face. A place where casual meets office. Show up in your jeans, your suit, even in a ball gown for that matter. Everyone is treated like an old friend at the E & C. Enjoy!