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British-inspired pub Elephant & Castle has officially opened its doors in Calgary, taking up residence in the Beltline’s historic site of the former Rose & Crown.
Described as a “classic British pub experience,” Elephant & Castle promises traditional British pub fare, an elevated nightlife experience and top-tier soccer (football) match broadcasts.
“Calgary has such a vibrant soccer community, and at Elephant & Castle we want to continue to nurture that by hosting avid fans as they cheer on their favourite teams,” said Elephant & Castle brand leader Marla Tice in a statement.
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“We aim to become the ‘home of soccer’ here in the city, a place where people can come together and share in the love of the game.”
The pub will broadcast matches from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and the Canadian Premier League, as well as the new Canadian women’s professional league, the Northern Super League.
As part of the authentic British pub experience, Elephant & Castle promises a wide selection of local and import beer and classic pub fare. Additionally, on weekends the pub will offer a traditional Sunday Roast.
According to its website, Elephant & Castle promises the “irreplaceable charm of a quality British pub.”
“We strive to uphold the long-standing British tradition of comfort and warm hospitality each time you step into the pub,” encouraging patrons to “get your Brit on.”
Located at 1503 4th St. S.W., Elephant & Castle is operated by Franworks, a North American restaurant group started in Calgary in 2000.
Building’s haunted history
The home of Elephant & Castle, also known as Davidson House, was built in 1908 by David and Dora Davidson. According to the Beltline Heritage Group, the couple lived there until their deaths in 1921 and 1930 respectively, and their funerals were hosted in the home, as was popular at the time.
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Following Dora’s death, a family member lived in the house for five years before selling to a funeral home. Park Memorial and McInnis & Holloway operated out of the house between 1935 and 1986, when it was turned into the Rose and Crown.
Because of its spooky past, stories of the building being haunted — including sightings and strange, inexplicable occurrences — has been part of what makes the location mysterious and enticing.
In addition to the myriad people whose bodies ended up at the funeral homes, the ghost of a little boy who is said to have died in the house was one of the most frequently heard and seen in the establishment when it was Rose & Crown, inspiring dozens of ghost tours to make a stop at the pub over the decades.
The Rose & Crown closed its doors in 2022 after almost 37 years in business.
— With files from Postmedia
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