The Publican House Bar & Grill in downtown Peterborough is closed for renovations.
kawarthaNOW learned on Sunday (July 20) that employees at the restaurant had been notified they were on temporary layoff as of the end of the day.
Publican House was acquired in May by One Eyed Jack, a Canadian-owned group of restaurant and pub locations in Ontario.
kawarthaNOW reached out on Sunday to Sajanthan “TK” Selvarajah, manager of One Eyed Jack’s Peterborough location on Lansdowne Street, about the company’s plans for the restaurant.
Selvarajah said “a lot of work” is needed on the building, and that it would remain closed for a month or “maybe more.” He noted that employees were made aware that One Eyed Jack was planning renovations when the company took over ownership of the restaurant.
He added that employees are being laid off for “the time being,” although when asked he said he wasn’t sure if all employees would be recalled when the restaurant reopens.
As for what changes One Eyed Jack is planning for the restaurant, Selvarajah said the menu might change “a bit.” An announcement posted Monday on Publican House’s social media states “We’re crafting something new for you to experience.”
Both the Publican House brewery and retail store, located beside the restaurant, will remain open during the renovations.
Marty Laskaris, Mike Laskaris, Matt Philips, and Rick Coit opened the Publican House premium craft micro-brewery at the corner of Charlotte and Rubidge streets in 2009, launching a retail store right beside the brewery in January 2015.
After opening the retail store, Publican House purchased the former Peterborough Arms on the other side of the brewery, with the intention of renovating the building. Two years later, in August 2017, Publican House Restaurant and Taphouse opened. The restaurant was later renamed Publican House Brew Pub and then Publican House Bar & Grill.
Along with Marty and Mike Laskaris and Brooke Dickey, Katie Watt was a partner in the venture as well as being the front-of-house manager, with her husband Brad Watt as executive chef.
The Watts eventually left the restaurant, with Katie becoming planning manager at Central Smith Creamery and Brad teaming up with chef Becca Kemp and butcher Jacob Hunter to open the Bridgenorth Butcher Block in March 2025.
