The Flying Canoe Pub in the Westerly Hotel in Courtenay is pleased to announce the latest evolution in Comox Valley hospitality, the emergence of the Flying Canoe version 2.0, kicking off with a spectacular grand re-opening party Nov. 15 and free show from Vancouver DJ superstars, Legends of the Turn Table.
Like all technology, hospitality is a constantly morphing, ever-changing life-form, art form and way of life. As new I-Phones are released and new outlets open with high hopes or succumb to the economic challenges, the market is alive and in constant flux.
As it is with the Westerly with a new food and beverage director, David Branigan from Whistler and Whitehorse and all points W as in Westerly. Branigan spent over a decade with the Gibbons Hospitality Group in Whistler building the Longhorn Saloon into its pre-eminent position as B.C.’s top ski bar. He was GM of Shark Club Victoria and opened Goldstream Station in Langford before operating his own business, the Iristani Princess Cruise Ship, Kelowna’s Ultimate Voyage where he received his marine captaincy.
Captain Branigan sold that business and managed Black’s Pub before opening Doc Branigan’s Kitchen-Bar, having returned to Whistler for the Olympic experience.
Now at the helm of the hospitality arm of hotel operations, living in the same body as his alter-ego DJ DNA, Branigan along with executive chef Nick Keating and new hotel general manager David Rooper are repositioning the Flying Canoe from its ultra-premium placement into the heart of the mainstream market with the higher energy version 2.0. Between the raucous nightspot that was Gulliver’s before it and the excellent but restaurant-oriented, original version of the Flying Canoe West Coast Pub, the new Canoe
promises the same high quality food and beverage coupled with more sports programming, QB1 Interactive playmakers for NFL Football fans that also act as NTN Electronic Trivia playmakers.
A bold entertainment plan and aggressive daily drink specials on wine, beer, spirits and shooters, there is an event every night of the week.
From Live Music on Fridays to The Sweet Sound of Honey female DJ crew every Saturday night, Wild Wing Wednesday, Trivia Tuesday, karaoke with Milo on Sunday, Monday Night Football with QB1 prizing. Anela Kahiamoe and Friends live on Thursday. Every night there are great specials and something going on. There is action and energy, the dual heartbeats of a great public house along with fantastic craft brewed draught beer.
On top of weekly promotions, The Flying Canoe and its brother in Westerly hospitality, Chalk Billiards Lounge, feature special events with none more special than the re-opening party Nov. 15. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. after the invitation only private VIP function.
What patrons will experience on opening night is new food and beverage menus, a new oyster bar at the Forno station, a new entrance that allows guests easy access to side parking lots, a new sound system in Chalk and the Lobby Lounge, and a new attitude driven by a passion for providing the valley with a modern, high volume, high energy pub driven by sports and entertainment programming and cutting edge food and beverage offerings like the Lost Crafted Cocktail or Whistler’s top seller, Crown of Thorns.
Along with the Legends of the Turn Table, the free show includes Whistler icon Ace MacKay Smith, aka DJ Foxy Moron, Georgia Straight’s top DJ in Vancouver three years running, Vinyl Ritchie aka Scott Arkwell, and Squamish’s Dubstep Superstar Mat The Alien. With that talent dropping beats, this is Flying Canoe, version 2.
www.flyingcanoe.ca