A polarizing pub in Prince George will now be allowed to serve liquor one hour later.
The Cowboy Ranch on Queensway, which is divided into a restaurant portion and a pub portion, is now allowed to have the restaurant side serve alcohol until 1:00am on Fridays and Saturday, similar to the pub.
“What it, basically, is going to do is it’s going to have a restaurant and pub combine to be sort of a cabaret,” says Councillor Brian Skakun.
Skakun, along with multiple members of the public who live near the establishment, voiced their concerns regarding the later drinking hours. Notable concerns from the community include parking on the street and Cowboy Ranch being too noisy as it is.
“I think they’re all legitimate concerns when you’re dealing with liquor and public liquor policy,” explains Owner Brock Gable.
“We’re not going to be a nightclub, we have no intention of being a cabaret.”
The previous owners held the facility to a poor standard, insists Gable, who took over ownership in 2013.
“The way it was run in the past many years ago, it seems to have a bit of a dark cloud over it and I’m trying to prove them all wrong,” he says.
“I’m determined to turn it into a nice neighbourhood pub.”
Councillor Skakun ended up being the only councillor to vote against the motion, however, other councillors did voice their reservations.
Skakun says there was one main reason he chose to go against the pack.
“Our liquor policies, the way I understand them, say a club of this magnitude belongs in the downtown,” he explains.
“It’s not a matter of me being opposed or in favour of the increase, it’s a matter of the location and where it should be.”
The final vote was 6-1 in favour of the later time.
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