Publican House Brewery
300 Charlotte St, Peterborough, ON K9J 2V5
Sunday-Thursday 11am-11pm
Friday-Saturday 10am-11pm
Accepts Reservations
We came on a Sunday around 1:15pm
Pub-Feel, Small Seating Area, Family Friendly, Small Groups, Other Alcoholic Drinks Available
Publican House, on the corner of Charlotte Street and Rubidge Street
Atmosphere
Fernanda: Publican House has a restaurant-feel to it. Yes, they make their own beer, but it appears that the main focus is the restaurant because of the layout. It's family friendly. There are board games to play. There are two sides of the brewery. One is a bar, where you would just get a drink and some snacks, quick dishes. That's at the front of the establishment. And farther back is the restaurant, which is more of a sit-down place to have a meal with family and/or friends. They also display a big wood oven for pizza.
Scott: Upon entry, you're greeted by fermenters, which remind you that this pub is actually a brewery. This will be your last reminder of this fact—at least, overtly, anyway. Inside, the rooms are surprisingly small, despite the grand façade, but they're nonetheless comfortable. There's a rustic feel to the décor of Publican House, and it feels like a bit of a countryside throwback within. Due to the size, you're probably best with smaller groups or pairs.
Food and Service
The Cuban Wood-Fired Pizza
Fernanda: Their menu is mainly your typical bar food: burgers, sandwiches, poutine. They highlight their wood-fired pizzas. We tried one (The Cuban) and the pizza was good. If I lived in the neighbourhood, I could see myself coming by to get a pizza for myself, and have a nice cold beer with it, either inside or on their patio. The service was very friendly. Even though there were quite a few people, the server made sure to stick around and have a short conversation with us, and to answer the questions we had. The service was quick and felt welcoming.
Scott: The brunch menu offers a variety of pub-style foods, but not quite as many as the regular menu does. I'd like to come back outside of the brunch-period and try some of their other options (some of the food we saw delivered to other patrons looked pretty good). There are also daily specials listed on wall chalkboards. The crust on the pizza was really its best feature, with a good balance of fluffiness and crispiness. The server was friendly and came back a few times to check on us, although not so much as to be over-present. The atmosphere was warm and inviting.
Beer
(L-R) Publican Brut, Pub House Ale Kölsch, High Noon Wheat Beer, and
Square Nail Pale Ale
Fernanda: They have a moderate selection of brews. I was particularly impressed with the Publican Brut, which was refreshing, dry, and easy to drink, with small bubbles that were light, but which went a long way. Perfectly good on its own, or with almost any food. They also sell guest beers, wine, and cocktails.
Scott: With only a small selection of their beer menu made up of their own beers, Publican House goes for variety in their styles, and they do well to vary in flavours, as well. The Publican Brut was very nice, and could easily offer a light alternative to cider or sparkling wine. The Square Nail Pale Ale, which is floral and summery, with balanced malts and hops. I was surprised by just how many guest beers they offer, considering that this is a brewery, but you'll certainly have a lot of options if you aren't a fan of the house brews.
Overall
Big and impressive on the outside, Publican House is smally and cozy within, offering a welcoming atmosphere, rustic décor, friendly servers, and good food. Come for a drink at the bar or a meal in the restaurant, you can pretty much do it all here. Better for small groups than big ones due to smallish rooms inside, just a few guests can make the building start to feel packed and lively. Definitely a great place to come to regularly if you live in the area, and worth going in search of if you don't!
