Summary:
Recorded on May 27, 2021 – Jamieson Kerr elevates the British pub scene as owner of Queen & Beaver Public House, also known as the mecca for football (soccer) fans in Toronto. He now shares his energy with The Q&B Pie Co., focussing on savoury pies in a variety of delicious flavours.
Time Stamps:
- Intro – 0:01
- Covid – 6:04
- Business – 13:43
- Personal – 33:35
- City – 42:34
- Rapid Fire – 55:26
- Conclusion – 57:37
- End – 1:02:12
Show Description:
Born in Canada, Jamieson moved to the UK with his family at an early age. He always knew he wanted to be in the restaurant business and he now brings that British influence to The Queen & Beaver Public House, downtown Toronto.
He shares with us his first job experience in the hospitality business, as a Bellhop, at fifteen at the Whites Hotel in London. That eventually led to him studying Hospitality & Tourism Management at Ryerson before he was presented with an opportunity to move back to the UK to work in the wine industry.
In 1995 he came back to Toronto and realized that Toronto needed a wine bar. He opened his first business, Crush Wine bar on King St West. He had just under fifty investors in his first venture! It was a success, until he sold it to a hotel from Niagara-On-The-Lake.
Soon after he realized that Toronto was lacking a good pub to watch Football (soccer). Being a massive football fan himself, The Queen & Beaver opened on Elm Street near the Eaton Centre and soon became a mecca for Football fans. The Queen & Beaver is one of the few authentic pubs that serve proper English fare.
Being in the downtown core made it virtually impossible for the Queen & Beaver to operate during Covid, so Jamieson created The Q&B Pie Co., making both traditional British pies alongside new varieties such as the Cheeseburger Pie and the Butternut Squash Pie.
Jamieson has seen the opportunity in this time and has used the downtime to completely renovate his pub with the help and support of his landlord.
He is greatly influenced by his father, nicknamed “Super Al” because of his love of life. His father is a food and wine fanatic and a very positive person. He taught him to work hard and enjoy life. The secret is in striking a balance between the two. Jamieson wears his heart on his sleeve and he works hard, with humility and it shows.
One of his biggest obstacles is Social Media. He envies those who do it well “while deep down I despise it”, he says. He can’t wait to just open the bar and get back to serving his customers.
When hiring people he seeks people with a sparkle in their eyes and people who are genuine. “You can’t really be trained how to make people feel great”. He is happy to train people and feels, “You have to be empathetic. It’s all the value added that you can bring, to make that experience so much better.”
He loves and lives in Cabbagetown and calls The House on Parliament his local pub.
Alongside good traditional English pub food and pies, Jamieson has successfully combined his passion for football, and his expertise for wine. To that we say ‘Cheers!’
Website: queenandbeaverpub.ca, qbpieco.ca
Follow On Instagram: @qbpub, @qbpieco
Other Links to Share: Charities: Sick Kids Hospital – sickkids.ca, CAMH – camh.ca
