Mayor hopeful about brew pub following gov’t move

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This article was published 20/05/2011 (5443 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Proposed amendments to Manitoba’s Liquor Control Act could pave the way for Brandon’s former downtown fire hall to play home to a brew pub, Mayor Shari Decter Hirst says.

As part of a four-pillar strategy to promote new hospitality opportunities, the province has proposed changes to the act, not the least of which would allow the setup of brew pubs with off-sale and sale through Manitoba Liquor Control Commission stores and provide incentives for such ventures.

During last fall’s mayoral race, Decter Hirst campaigned hard on the idea of turning the then-recently vacated No.1 Firehall on Princess Avenue into a micro-brewery, incorporating Brandon’s agriculture sector and tourism, business and culinary arts graduates.

With legislative stumbling blocks for such ventures set to be removed, the mayor says the future now looks bright for a brew pub to set up shop in the Wheat City.

"A brew pub is a great idea and I’d personally love it in the fire hall," she said. "But, communities can have more that one brew pub, so I look forward to all of the great beers that an agricultural community like Brandon can produce."

In her first meeting with Premier Greg Selinger following her election last fall, Decter Hirst mentioned the legislative limitations surrounding business ventures like brew pubs and said she’s happy to see the province has listened and is recommending the removal of such restrictions.

If the amendment is passed in the legislature, Decter Hirst said she would like to see the city begin discussions with Assiniboine Community College to make a brew pub happen.

"Because of the culinary arts program, I think it would be phenomenal to offer a brewmaster program as one of those elements. It’s a rare program in Canada and it would be a wonderful learning opportunity for the students to actually be making the beer and could also be managing the front of the house as well through the hospitality program," she said, adding the proposed incentives will also perk the interest of private enterprise that could also play a role in such a development.

Decter Hirst said she’s also encouraged that Brandon will be in the running for one of the five urban locations where the province is proposing to pilot limited-selection MLCC Liquor Mart boutiques, with a focus on Manitoban and Canadian products.

"I know when I’m travelling, I pick up my grocery supply of steak, the bag salad and the nice Cabernet Sauvignon and then head off to the cottage," she said. "So rather than making two stops, you can make one stop."

Up to 10 such pilot locations are being proposed by the province across Manitoba, and will be determined through a government-issued call for proposals.

Another proposed amendment in the Act would provide for a voluntary "Bring Your Own Wine" service in restaurants.

Jason Rowley, general manager with Remington’s Seafood and Steakhouse in The Town Centre, says they already provide such a service for a $15 per bottle corkage fee.

While Rowley doesn’t think the initiative is a bad one, he’s hopeful the province also lays out standards for a corkage fee to ensure a level playing field.

"I’m really hoping that MLCC will just regulate a standard corkage fee," he said. "If they just said, ‘Yeah, bring your own wine, but no matter where you are, it’s a $20 corkage fee’ or something like that, then at least we’re not fighting with each other. If they put a set fee, it would be a lot easier for everybody."

In announcing its proposed four-pillar hospitality strategy yesterday, the province is also suggesting the sale of coolers and ciders at select retail beer vendors, the optional expansion of service hours for socials, charity fundraisers and weddings from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. and the introduction of standardized Sunday hours of 2 a.m. for cabarets and beverage rooms and 2:30 a.m.

As well, there would be authorization of exceptions to reflect unique hospitality opportunities that do not fall under the current 11 classes of licence by amending the Food to Liquor Regulation.

For a full list of proposed amendments to the Liquor Control Act click here.