CRAFT Beer Market in English Bay will officially open its doors on March 22, with 260 seats, including a 60-seat heated, year-round patio with a retractable roof.
The popular spot — which has a busy location in the Olympic Village — took over the space formerly occupied by The Boathouse restaurant, which closed in October 2018. The Boathouse in Horseshoe Bay also closed in 2016, but there are still locations operating in White Rock, New West, Richmond and Port Moody.
The new CRAFT Beer Market will have 120 beers on tap, including 20 feature taps highlighting local breweries and exclusives. The location will also include a “CRAFT Bottle Shop” — a takeaway concept featuring local craft beers, wine and pre-made cocktails.
Photos: New CRAFT Beer Market English Bay
The opening of CRAFT is one of B.C.’s biggest restaurant openings of the year, providing a needed boost to the hospitality industry struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve truly been looking forward to having CRAFT in the neighbourhood,” says Stephen Regan, executive director of the West End BIA. “The last year has been hard on businesses in the area. CRAFT stands to be a great addition to the West End business community, and an anchor for the English Bay area.”
The Calgary-based CRAFT Beer Market has locations across Canada in Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton, Kelowna and Calgary. The English Bay location will be the company’s second restaurant in Vancouver.
“We are excited to be a part of this unique and vibrant community, and look forward to being a part of the fabric of this neighbourhood,” says PJ L’Heureux, CRAFT Beer Market president and founder. “The opening of our newest location comes at a time when we’re very optimistic about the future of the restaurant and hospitality industry in Vancouver.
