Pig's Ear Tavern Approaching Final Stages Before Reopening In September

After closing six years ago, The Pig’s Ear Tavern is in the homestretch to open next month with new owners Ashley Holmes and Steve Robertson at the helm.

Co-owners Ashley Holmes (left) and Steve Robertson (right) outside the tavern with a new replicated sign with the same logo that was installed two weeks ago. The bricks are hand-painted to resemble the rustic look from years prior. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Trent alumni owners purchased the tavern in January and are putting the finishing touches to get the bar open for September.

The tavern is finishing up the bar’s construction, the washrooms and the windows and completing the liquor license process.

Both business partners want to keep the Pig’s Ear look and feel the same when they reopen the beloved tavern scheduled for next month.

“That's our intention is to keep it the same because what's The Pig's Ear is,” explained Holmes. “It’s more of a feeling than a place. Everyone that talks about it has all these memories about having really great times and that's what we want when people walk through the doors is to have it feel the same.”

“All of the upgrades we've done except for a couple would be transparent,” added Robertson. “People are going to walk in and they're going to feel as though it is the exact same spot that they last walked in, six to seven years ago.”

There are a few quality-of-life changes being made that both owners feel patrons will welcome when the bar reopens. This includes updated washrooms, the introduction of air conditioning and an expansion of drink options.

“Having more ciders, non-alcoholic drinks perhaps. It's not just going to be a beer hall that it was 15-20 years ago,” explained Robertson. “We need to keep up with the times in that respect and still keep the charm of the business.”

Both owners admitted that they cannot replicate the renowned legacy of former owners Lylie Ryder and John Punter. The new guard has received Ryder and Punter’s blessing as the former will forge a new chapter for the Pig’s Ear.

“The Pig's Ear is more than us,” said Holmes “We just get to be the ones that bring it back so it's not really about us opening any bar, we are opening this because of what it was and what we want it to be. The legend of the Pig's Ear is more than anything that Steve and I can do to it.”

“We can't really hope to fill the shoes of John and Lylie. They brought such personality to the institution that it's not something we're going to be able to replace,'“ said Robertson. “We have to bring our own personalities, specifically Ashley who is going to be running the bar. John and Lylie are after the fact, 'passing the torch’ and are very supportive of us doing this. They want to remotely be a part of what this is going to become.”

A grand opening date has yet to be announced for The Pig’s Ear.

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Closing Time: The Pig's Ear Tavern Has Been Sold

Well it's official. The iconic Pig's Ear Tavern in Peterborough has been sold and is closing for good. The Piggy posted the news to their Facebook page on Friday (the 13th).

"The closing date is scheduled for April 22nd, 2017," co-owner Lylie Ryder says on Facebook. "The final count down has begun...100 DAYS."

Owners John Punter and Lylie are retiring. The Pig's Ear Tavern (fondly known as "The Piggy") on Brock Street is one of Peterborough's oldest pubs, opening originally as the St. Maurice Saloon in 1865 (after subsequent name changes, it became the Pig's Ear in the mid-Seventies).

The Piggy celebrated its 150th anniversary in Fall 2015.

This watering hole in downtown Peterborough is the place where generations of great memories (and epic hangovers) were made.

If you're coming home to Ptbo for a visit or live in town, make sure to drop by for a Labatt 50 or tray in the next few months before it's closing.

Official music video for "Home For A Rest" by Spirit Of The West. Available on the album "Spirituality 1983-2008: The Consummate Compendium": http://smarturl.it/SOTW-Spirituality Official website: http://www.sotw.ca

Music video by Semisonic performing Closing Time. (C) 1999 Geffen Records

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