STRATFORD, P.E.I. — Jeff Sinnott says a second Hunter’s Ale House opening late next month at the Fox Meadow Golf Course is another dining option for Stratford residents and not just for golfers.
“It’s a restaurant for everybody,” said Sinnott. “It’s Hunter’s at the Fox. It’s a smaller version of what we do here.”
Sinnott is the director of operations with Red Island Hospitality Group Inc., which owns Hunter's, The Factory Downtown, John Brown Richmond Street Grill and the Charlottetown Beer Garden.
He said the decision to open up for the season at the end of March, which is about six weeks earlier than the golf course usually opens, is timed to coincide with this year’s Burger Love campaign. Burger Love runs April 1-30.
“We’re using Burger Love as a launching pad for our season,” he said on Tuesday.
“In their four current locations, they have great service and great food and are well-known. We really figured that’s what Stratford needs."
-Cory Gray
Sinnott said Fox Meadow approached him in December with the idea of opening up in Stratford. At first, he said he wasn’t sure about the idea because the summer is a busy time for his restaurants. But the more he thought about the idea, the more he realized that it was a good opportunity to add a restaurant in Stratford.
Plus, Fox Meadow on Kinlock Road is a beautiful venue with great views of the Charlottetown Harbour, he said.
The plan is to have similar offerings to the Charlottetown Hunter’s, such as trivia, acoustic bands, wing night and half-price appetizer nights. He said the menu will also combine entrées from Hunter’s and John Brown.
Sinnott said most of the staff who worked in the dining and lounge areas last year at Fox Meadow have already agreed to come back for the season.
“I’ll have to hire a few people, but not as much as I would have thought,” he said. “We’re very lucky because they know the customers and the layout.”
Cory Gray, president of the Gray Group, which owns Fox Meadow, said the new Hunter’s is replacing The Fox Den and taking over the restaurant, banquet area and the food and beverage cart on the golf course.
“In their four current locations, they have great service and great food and are well-known. We really figured that’s what Stratford needs,” said Gray.