Dublin Castle Neighbourhood Grill red Bilawey hopes that guests walking in the door at Dublin Castle will feel a little bit like they’ve arrived in their own cozy living room – however, this living room has bigger tv’s, a bustling kitchen, a bar serving numerous draft beers and a great selection of wines and spirits.
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The pub boasts 270 degree views of the Fraser River that include vistas of Mt. Baker and a vast mountain range to the east. The 8’ high windows throughout the interior of the Castle allow for these views even from the inside interior. Complete with oak finishes, a large mahogany bar and original wood floor from the 40’s, the decor of the Castle makes you feel “right at home”. “The interaction with the guest is paramount – the relationships that we build are very important,” says Bilawey. “We want this to be a first-choice destination – and so far, it’s become that.” This unique bar/grill was opened just three years ago in the unquestionably unique former B.C. Penitentiary guard building in the Brewery District neighbourhood of Sapperton. “It’s not always easy the first time to find the castle,” notes Bilawey with a laugh. “But it’s in a great location. We’re in the middle of everywhere and nowhere” – noting that the Castle is only minutes from both Hwy. #1 and the Patullo Bridge. Bilawey should know – he’s lived and worked in a few international locales to compare it to. In the last 20 years, he’s owned 14 pubs across the globe: Victoria, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, to name a few. He also managed the food service teams at Olympic Park
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serving 40,000 people per day during the Whistler Olympics. A Red Seal chef himself, he says “That gives me an advantage, I think, over my competitors because I have the knowledge in creating the menus, finding great kitchen staff – it makes a difference.” What really sets us apart are the special events we’ve hosted throughout the years. “Producing” these events are very time consuming and takes a great level of “out of the box” thinking to make it happen. Our annual golf tournament gets 144 golfers each year complete with bus rides, huge breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets and a massive awards party after. Our annual birthday bashes have included a pig AND lamb on a spit, a Mexican themed patio party and a huge BBQ buffet for 800 people. St. Paddies Day is like no other with over 1,200 people coming through the doors and Irish Dancers performing eight times a day. Mother’s Day sees over 350 covers each year and our Super Bowl Bash has people in the parking lot ready to go at 8 am. With 80 seats inside, and up to 120 on the patio, they’re able to provide the space for plenty of customers – or for private events, like weddings. “Who doesn’t want to get married in a castle,” he smiles, as he’s hosted both the nuptials and receptions to over two dozen groups over the past three years. At the end of the day, he says business success in this industry comes down to three key factors: “It’s always great food, great value, and great service. Easy to say, tough to execute. That’s what we focus on.”
PHOTO: Fred Bilawey with Dublic Castle servers: Anna, Megan, Violet, Mariel, Jenna and Erica.
“The interaction with the guest is paramount – the relationships that we build are very important.”
Dublin Castle Neighbourhood Grill 101-319 Governors Court New Westminster, BC 604-544-5020 www.dublincastle.ca