Beatles Brunch

by Rob Benneian

It has been nearly 50 years since The Beatles first crooned Love Me Do, but patrons can still hear their classic tunes at a local pub while they chow down on some English-style grub.

The Manchester Pub is unique in Windsor’s downtown bar district. The English-themed pub opened in 2009 and since then has been attracting patrons looking for a change of pace from the dance floor. Competition in the bar business can be a challenge and owners and managers are constantly trying to improve the customer experience.

The Manchester has a weekly schedule of events including open mic nights, karaoke and live entertainment. However, attracting guests on a Sunday morning remained problematic until manager Jamie Greer came up with a solution.

“We were looking for something new to do on Sundays and we noticed over the past few years there’s been a real shortage of breakfast buffets in the downtown core,” Greer said.

But how did Greer and his crew decide on a Beatles-themed brunch?

“The Beatles are probably one of the most universally recognized bands in history. They’re the biggest selling and they cross such a demographic. People from four years old to 90 (years old) seem to appreciate The Beatles’ music.”

Greer said he intends for the Beatles Brunch, which costs $13.99 for adults and $6.99 for children under 10 years old, to become a weekly staple in The Manchester’s lineup. The first brunch, held Oct. 14, attracted between 40 and 50 customers. Maria Cioppa, who said she began listening to The Beatles “years and years ago” while in university, came to The Manchester for the second brunch Oct. 21.

“I was in (Las) Vegas in the spring and went to see The Beatles show there, the Cirque du Soleil, and when I saw this in the paper, I was intrigued because it was just a fabulous experience,” Cioppa said. “I like food and music, so this sounds good.”

Some members of Greer’s staff got into the spirit of the event by wearing Beatles’ attire.  Brad Labonte, 23, was sporting a t-shirt emblazoned with the likeness of Ringo, Paul, John and George. He has worked at The Manchester for two years.

“I love this idea,” Labonte said. “It’s something to get younger people in here during the morning and getting the older crowd that are up early Sunday. It gets more people in here.”