The Next Time You're Pub-Hopping in Saskatoon...

I spent the weekend in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  Had I realized at the time that I would write about it, I would have known to take some photographs. Instead, I will see what I can find and try to give you a feel for some pub-hopping adventures if, like us, you find yourself unexpectedly heading for a weekend in this beautiful and history-laden city.

Ironically, for this segment, Saskatoon was originally settled by a Temperance colony from Ontario in 1881.  The Temperance values stemmed from the belief that alcohol was the root of societal ills and therefore the original settlement was alcohol-free.  Although the area was previously populated, as most of Canada was, it was not until 1890 that it was incorporated as a village. The city now boasts a population of more than 239,000 and its English roots are apparent.  



Photo Courtesy of www.winstonpub.ca



Our first stop was at Winston's English Pub in the Senator Hotel.  Winston's is a gorgeous room featuring heavy woodwork and brick.  On a Friday night, the place was hopping.  We were lucky enough to find a small table with four wing backed chairs.  The atmosphere was much more modern than the character and the blaring music was less enjoyable than a pub din would have been.  The service was great though and the menu was varied.  Unfortunately it took one of us two orders to find something in stock but the tap was flowing and my Heineken arrived first. 

The next day we headed across the river to Broadway.  We were welcomed first at The Hose and Hydrant, a converted fire station.  I say "welcomed" because a patron actually drew our attention to it.  We had parked just outside of it but hadn't noticed it might be a pub because it still looks exactly like a fire station.  We entered into the expansive room and headed up the grand stairway to the second floor which led out to a large and beautifully finished patio with seating for over 50 comfortably.  Here we tried our first 'brewed in Saskatoon' selection, Original 16.  Canadian pale, it was extremely tasty in the warm sunshine. The service was impeccable here as we were treated to a hospitable description of local beers for the newly arrived.



Photo courtesy of www.midwestgroup.ca


We made another stop that afternoon at the Yard and Flagon.  Again we enjoyed great service, this time in a small but charming pub.  The room was long and narrow but we were lucky enough to get a window seat facing Broadway.  The local brew was again the top pick and we were able to avoid the sudden torrential downpour outside. 

Later that night, our first stop was Lydias.  Again in a converted building that was once a warehouse, the exterior is more appealing than the main level interior.  With a long bar and very little seating, it lacked the charm of the other places we had been.  Of course, that could have been intensified by the extremely poor service offered by the bartender.  While we asked again about the local offerings, we were told haphazardly about our choices and eventually to "just pick a F-ing drink".  Welcoming was not the order of the evening.  There was a live band as well but the place didn't offer much in the way of excitement and we left quickly, heading back to the Hose and Hydrant which was now fully staffed with bouncers and absolutely packed with seemingly satisfied and good-natured patrons.

The third floor was for dancing and as that's what our plan was for the night, we headed up and were stifled by the heat.  The first thing to note about our drinks here was that they definitely contained alcohol.  Maybe it's because I hardly ever partake in shooters any more, but even the roaming shooter tray had alcohol in it and that is something I certainly haven't found in Alberta.  The music was dance-mix-techno and loud but my sister wasn't enjoying the myriad.  The dancefloor was so crowded and without a side bar to place our things, we couldn't stray from our stool piled with jackets and purses.  
We took a breather downstairs to decide where we should go next and the girl with the shooter tray provided fabulous assistance.  We told her what we were looking for and her suggestion was Jax downtown.  It sounded perfect so we thanked her by buying some impressive shots and hailed a cab.

Jax was only a couple of blocks from the Hilton Garden Inn so it seemed like the perfect spot to end our evening.  Security was tight and we had to "stand on the X and look into the camera" but it was a spacious club with a large dancefloor and a slightly tropical theme, and they were playing an old-school mix of music in which you were able to enjoy a single song in its entirety.  We were able to dance the rest of the night away among an eclectic mix of clientele.

Of course being out on a weekend usually assures patrons of a lively ensemble wherever you go, there was something in particular that stood out about our adventures in Saskatoon.  Appreciatively, there are beautiful women everywhere so if that's something you want to see, I highly suggest you make the trip.  To be fair, the women could appear more beautiful simply because I didn't see any men at the same level of attractiveness.  In Alberta, it seems to me that you might see a random pairing of beauty and the below average, but in Saskatoon it appeared to be the norm. 

If you are a woman in your thirties, below average height and on the prowl, there appears to be a few Irishmen in the area who are looking for some more options, but otherwise I don't think this would be the place for you as there is extraordinary competition for attention and I'm not sure if the successful beauty would be happy with the lot. If you are not single but looking for an evening of fun with some girlfriends without the worry of being constantly bombarded with unwanted male attention, as I said, the competition is stiff so you can get by without it easily enough. If you are looking for a place with some rich history, great beer and pleasant atmosphere, this is a highly recommended destination.