Gahan House Opens Beer Garden In Uptown Saint John
SAINT JOHN — A local brewpub is filling a vacant square in uptown Saint John with a new beer garden this summer.
Gahan House Port City has been chosen by the city to operate a beer garden in Loyalist Plaza, located by Market Square.
In March, the city put out a request for proposals from possible vendors to occupy the space that has been left largely unoccupied during the year. Before Covid-19, it was typically the home of a small outdoor market geared towards cruise ship passengers.
When applications opened, Gahan Port City general manager Ben Tsang saw an opportunity.
“Our vision of the space was turning the circle part of Loyal Plaza into a beer garden, where it could be a community feeling,” says Tsang.
“We think it’s a great way to bring the community back together, bring some life back to uptown especially during this Covid stuff and it’s a nice win for the city. They’ve been great to work with and really advancing the project. I think it will be great for the community.”
The beer garden will be open daily from 12 p.m. to sunset (between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.), weather depending. It will serve both Gahan beers and other local craft beers and ciders.
“They will be on a rotating basis so every time you come hopefully there will be something new in the fridge that you can enjoy,” says Tsang. “There will different beers and ciders all summer.”
The beer garden is expected to be open all summer through the end of September. Tsang hopes the garden helps attract both locals and Atlantic tourists to the uptown.
“I think, especially this year, we’re all fighting for the local tourists, even now that the [Atlantic Bubble] is open,” he says. “But we want to make sure that Saint John is one of those destinations and I think having a beer garden with all the restaurants that are already here and all the other breweries that are already here, we think that just adds to our city and I think it will just make people come and visit.”