There are a few ironclad Toronto traditions when an unseasonably warm day occurs in winter or early spring, and one this city could always count on is that The Black Bull Tavern’s patio would open as soon as possible.
“It’s funny, I was talking to Rob Taylor (the bar’s previous owner) about that when we were getting the keys last week, and I think it was about 14 or 15 degrees, and he said, ‘see those tables, we’d have people seated out there,’ and I said, well, we’ll keep that tradition alive,” said Mitch MacDougall, director of operations for the Score Pub Group.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
MacDougall and his company bought the Black Bull from the Taylor family, who decided to sell after long-time owner Bobby Taylor passed away last August. The plan is to rename the bar, Score on Queen, with plenty of nods to the former bar’s long history and most importantly, the beloved patio isn’t going anywhere.
An archival photo of the Black Bull Tavern. The new owners plan to keep it as a pub.
Black Bull Tavern
“The building is very old. It’s been a long time since there have been any substantial upgrades, so we are giving it a bit of a glow up on the inside and same with the patio,” said MacDougall. “We’re really excited. We know we have we have big shoes to fill taking over this space, but we want to keep it local, keep it a pub and keep the patio lively. And we hope, optimistically, to have it open by late summer 2024.”
MacDougall says they are going concentrate on the first floor, while the upper floors, which is currently unused office space, will remain that way for the time being. The Black Bull is a designated heritage building, constructed in 1838, and is considered an example of Second Empire architecture, according to Architecture Conservancy Ontario’s database of heritage buildings.
The previous owners of the Black Bull Tavern thanked its longtime patrons in a Facebook post in late March when it suddenly announced they would be closing the doors to the beloved pub in just a few days, noting it was an “end of an era.”
“It has been a place that’s evolved with the community, once serving pints to vibrant punk rockers and biker gangs to now, the neighbouring office workers and condo dwellers,” the post said.
“We are happy so many of you found your life partners at the bar. We know all of you have colourful memories to remember your time here.”
As for former staff, MacDougall says anyone who was previously employed by The Black Bull will be offered front of the line access to interviews when the hiring process begins.
The new Score on Queen will be the third bar owned by the group, which started with Score on Davie in Vancouver, and then expanded with Score on King, at King Street East and Church Street in Toronto. The pubs are sports bars that are known for their varieties of Caesars, which can come with a burger, chicken wings or an entire meal stacked on top.
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation