‘Just about showtime’ for Irish pub coming to Crystal Beach

Robert Van Ryswyck
February 22, 2024 at 9:45 PM

The Fenians are back to take over Bertie Township, but this time with pints instead of muskets.

The Wee Fenian Pub just announced that it has received its final building permit and will be opening soon. This is the latest business venture from local Realtor and Crystal Beach entrepreneur Phil Smith, who helped build support for the Wee Fenian through his sister pub, South Coast Cookhouse.

Smith also found commercial success in recent years with the launch of Hotel Philco, a boutique hotel with themed rooms on Derby Road.

Located just down the street from South Coast, the Wee Fenian can be found at 226 Cambridge Road East. The incoming pub is keeping “a little old with the new” by reusing the chairs from the closed Barnea House tavern on Courtwright Street.

In just over two and a half months, the Wee Fenian has amassed a strong online presence with more than 800 followers on Facebook who are eagerly awaiting Irish pub food and entertainment.

“Céad míle fáilte,” wrote one Facebook user, which is Gaelic for “a hundred thousand welcomes.”

The pub originally hoped to be open for Saint Patrick’s Day, but their most recent announcement, “It’s just about showtime”, suggests that the timeline may have changed.