Located opposite the Colchester town green off state route 2 exit 18, Billy O'Brian's Pub and Restaurant is modeled after the English pubs of olde. It has four TVs and the proprietors will be hooking one of them up to a dish so they can pull in football, rugby, and Gaelic and Highland games. The menu has an English bent (Monday's special is bangers & beans with mash), but it also has one of the best steak sandwiches I've ever enjoyed, and it's all reasonably priced. It's a family atmosphere until 7 or 8 PM, and an older crowd after that. And there's no smoking in the restaurant at any time. The place is kind of small, though, and it could use a larger main TV. I hope it succeeds brilliantly and moves to a larger location. The gent I spoke with is Welsh, so I made sure to give him a nudge about the recent US-Wales friendly . I also told him I was going to mention his place to a few friends, so if you stop in, say you heard about it on BigSoccer! - HWM Note: This is not a shameless plug. I have no affiliation with, and receive no benefit from, this establishment.
Hmm...I'll have to check it out sometime. But all this no smoking in bars garbage makes a smoker mad.
I agree. To me, "eastern CT" would be Manchester, Windham, and UConn. Being in New London County places Colchester in the "southeast" region of the state.
The waitress I spoke with said they have a variety of teas, but I don't know if it's an English variety or your average American herbal tea assortment. She also said they have a tea time every Sunday afternoon from 2 til 6, with platters that have stuff like cucumber sandwiches, scones, Welsh cakes, pastries, and all the tea you can hold I you want to ask them directly, you can call them as 1-(860)-537-5755. Ask them to tell Bill (one of the proprietors) that you're a reference from "that soccer internet site". - HWM
New London County, absolutely it's Southeastern Connecticut. As is Griswold, where I reside. My wife works in Colchester. I'll have to make it a point to visit, perhaps tomorrow while I'm out running errands. Any chance you know what time they open?
They open at 11:00 AM, Chip. You gotta try their steak sandwich. CT route 2 exit 18, right off exit onto rte 16 east, to the town green. Left onto rte 85 north, and there it is on your left in Merchants Row. Geez, I told the guy (Bill) that I was recommending his place on this board, but in one day I've gotten inquiries from Enfield, Griswold, and freakin' Maine! If everybody tells him that I sent them there, I'll be eating (and drinking) free for life!
I know the area. My wife works the other direction when you reach the green and down 100 yards. I'll definitely tell him that he got a great plug on the chat boards. Perhaps I'll do lunch their tomorrow. I have a 10:15 vet appointment, after that I can check them out. Did you talk to him about organized viewing of Rev games?
Geez, Chip, I hope the vet appointment's for your pet and not for you ! He's connecting one of his four TVs to a dish, and if he's smart, he'll at least get expanded cable on the other three. If we can organize a viewing, I'm sure he'll accomodate us. Wanna talk some more? Look me up on AIM as "jlfiducia". I'm here 'til 2 AM M-Th, and 'til midnight on Sundays. - HWM
I used to have to do that. But now my small little town has the world's largest casino, so I just tell them to follow the huge ugly green beacon emerging from deep in the heart of the Connecticut woods.
just came back from billy obriens.....nice place, friendly folks. Cheese steak was good but not big enough, they also charged me like 2.50 for an ice tea! Looks like it would be a good place to watch a game,,,,,he said they were still working on the dish to get rugby and soccer games
RUGBY and Soccer? Guys, it's a Welsh pub. Can I get a 'Cymru am byth?' A shout out to the boys in the choir? A bit of Welsh Rabbit to soothe the hunger of a poor man, spent his whole life down pit? A nice hot cuppa to warm the hands during a stroll down the beach at Aberystwyth? Of course, you mentioned iced tea. That puts the whole thing off a bit, doesn't it?
Really? The steak sandwich was enough for me and my wife, and another guy who had one also said it was on the big side. Guess you must have been HONN-GRY. And did you get refills on the iced tea? Don't tell me you were that hungry but were happy with a single glass to drink. Let me know next time you go. I'd be glad to meet you there for a bite, especially if it's school season when I'm solo during the day. - HWM
Yes, I did go shortly after opening yesterday. I went to the vet, left one cat and took another with me. Had to pick up the one left behind later. After the vets I visited the wife at work to kill sometime until BOB opened. Nice clean place. I liked the decor, although despite having US, English, Irish, and Welsh flags they seemed to be notably missing the Scottish flag. Glad to see the flag of the Emerald Isle, as well as other related decorations, prominently displayed. The menu is relatively small (it is a small pub after all). BOB himself served me, consequently I had to settle for a beer (Killians on tap) since he doesn't do mixed drinks (his normal bar tender was temporarily away). I had the 1/2 pounder, which was a nicely grilled burger of a very appropriate size accompanied by chips (fries). I was pretty much the center of attention as there were few other customers in the (11-12) rainy morning. The prices were reasonable. I think I paid $11 (plus tip) for a good size burger, fries, and the beer. I must report that they certainly must work on the dish situation. While I was present the video fare was limited to "The View" and "Baywatch". Obviously I didn't spend much time watching the tele. I'll go back again. Too bad it's not a little closer to me. Next time I'll grab the wife from work and drag her along!
Its a haul for me living in enfield, but I would venture down there when the EPL starts back up for a saturday morning beer. I think there is a bar in hartford that shows the games on sat morning too....the Half door? something like that. We were the center of attention too,,,,,4 guys walking in wearing Camo fatigues...that kinda draws attention. No refils on the ice tea either,,,had water afterwards,,,,wanted a harps real bad but had the boys with me,,,,,what kinda super would I be if I drank in front of them!! LOL
Funny, I saw the Scottish flag clear as day, right there on the wall next to the other UK flags. If those shows get too close to each other, would we get a matter/antimatter explosion? Glad to see you enjoyed yourself enough to come back. It's pretty cool for such a small town to have that place and Harry's to choose from. - HWM
Oy!! Hold on there boyo,how does one from the valleys get to this establishment from New Haven and I-95? Do they have Brains S.A. on draught perhaps?
Metros fan, huh? Maybe I shouldn't tell him. From New Haven and points south, take I-91 to exit 25 (route 3 north) across the CT river to route 2 east, then follow the directions posted earlier. From east of New Haven, take I-95 north to I-395, get off at the first exit (exit 77), left onto route 85 north through Chesterfield and Salem and into Colchester. Once you arrive at the Colchester town green, it's on your left, just past the traffic light at route 16. Tell Bill that the internet guy sent you. As for what's on tap, their phone number's listed earlier in this thread. Give them a call! - HWM
HWM, You must be a co-owner, or at least have a job with this joint by now. If only the Revos had this kind of enthusiastic marketing. Ever think about doing marketing for the Revos? On second thought, forget about it. You're into soccer, and that automatically disqualifies you unless you swear loyality to the oblong. Now to some important stuff: does this place have Walker's Crisps, wine gums, Trebor's extra strong, Irn-bru, London Pride, MacEwan's Tartan and Caffrey's?
LOL! I knew when I saw your name that I'd enjoy what was to follow. No, I don't work for the place, or have a promotional deal with them. I just wanted to share the news because nobody ever mentions watching parties outside of the Greater Boston area, and yet I've seen several posters from CT on this forum. As to the menu and on-taps, you can always call them. And actually, I'm pushing the Revs too. I've convinced my company's recreation committee to subsidize group tix for SJ on 8/16. How does $6/seat grab you? And if it goes well, I'm told next year they'll sponsor a bus or three. - HWM