CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Music fans and late-night partiers in Charlottetown will have extra time to get groovy this week.
Some bars in the city are staying open until 4 a.m. for the East Coast Music Association awards. Charlottetown is hosting the region's top music awards, May 1-5, and the city is letting bars stay open two hours later than their regular time.
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Hunter’s Ale House will be one of them, staying open late on May 2-4, said Jamie Juniper, general manager at Hunter’s, in a May 1 SaltWire interview.
“We have live music from 6 p.m.-4 a.m. So, there’ll be music from supper time right til the wee hours of the morning.”
The kitchen at Hunter’s will stay open until 3 a.m. John Brown Richmond Street Grille will also stay open until 4 a.m., while The Factory Downtown will play it by ear, Juniper said.
“We have live music from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. So, there’ll be music from supper time right til the wee hours of the morning.” – Jamie Juniper, Hunter’s Ale House GM
In the past, Hunter’s has stayed open 24-7 for special events, but it wasn’t worth the extra effort, he said.
“There was a few people that didn’t need to be out anymore coming for breakfast and things like that. So, I think it was more of a headache than anything else.”
This year, staff and management will have staggered hours to meet the late demand.
To have extended hours, bars had to apply for a permit from the P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission. There was no fee, Juniper said.
“You’ve just got to ask.”
Police chief
On Feb. 21, Police Chief Brad MacConnell told a committee the city has allowed later bar hours in the past, and the department supports the initiative this year.
“Not only police, but fire and others were consulted on this, and we have advised the liquor commission that we have no issues.”
Coun. Kevin Ramsay, who chairs the protective and emergency services committee, asked about any past issues reported by residents or businesses.
MacConnell said he knew of none that were directly related to extended hours.
At a glance
Following are the bars with extended hours May 2-4
- The Factory Downtown
- Charlottetown Beer Garden
- John Brown Richmond Street Grille
- Hunter’s Ale House
SaltWire also asked Juniper whether he was concerned about potential rowdiness.
“I’m sure there’ll be a few people that don’t need to keep going after 2 (a.m.), but you know, we’ll weed them out,” Juniper said with a laugh.
Logan MacLean is a municipal reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. He can be reached by email at logan.macLean@theguardian.pe.ca and followed on X @loganmaclean94.
