Mike McPartland (left) and Shawn Verner (right), co-owners of Cask & Kettle. Image: Facebook.
The popular uptown restaurant Cask & Kettle Irish Gastropub will expand to Rothesay’s Clark Road this spring.
Co-owner Shawn Verner says that he and his partner Mike McPartland have been planning a second location in the Kennebecasis Valley for years.
“We had been talking about this before the pandemic started,” said Verner. “I’m from the Valley, I’ve lived here for 46 years. So it’s always been a little dream of mine to have another one out a little closer to my home.”
When the pandemic hit, Verner and McPartland put their plans on hold, but in December, they decided to move forward with their plans, despite the risk.
“Mike and I were just sitting at our pub looking at each other and just said, ‘Are we gonna do this?’ and then we just went, ‘Alright, let’s go for it’,” said Verner.
The new location will be located at 47 Clark Road, directly across from Java Moose.
“There are lots of people in the Valley like myself who tend to stay there at night,” said Verner. “There aren’t as many choices as there are in town.”
Verner is excited to bring staples from their Saint John location into the Valley, like their signature nachos, fried chicken tacos, shepherd’s pie and Irish poutine. He’s also excited to bring in new menu items to the location.
“[The menu] will be almost the same. We’ll probably have a few different things that give it its own identity, but all of our favourites and bestsellers will be on there.”
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Verner also says he looks forward to giving his staff the opportunity to work at both locations and keep them working full-time year-round.
“In the restaurant industry, it’s seasonal in the sense that in the late fall and winter, it slows down, and staff’s shifts get cut down. But with this option, people will be able to work at both,” said Verner. “So everybody should be able to work full time all year round.”
Cask and Kettle opened its doors in Saint John in 2016. Verner says he hopes the Rothesay location will open in early-to-mid-May.
“We do this because we like to provide a good experience and a good atmosphere and to see people enjoy it,” said Verner. “We’re really excited to become a part of the restaurant and small business community out there.”
Liam Floyd is a reporter for Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
