Orange is the New Beer Garden: GPub keeps downcity energetic and lively

GPub in Providence is known for their casual eats and nightlife vibes on weekends. Their refined version of pub food served alongside signature cocktails and a slew of craft beer made them a go to spot for nights out in PVD. The ongoing pandemic has made going out options few and far between, but GPub has found a way to safely cater to guests with a brand new outdoor beer garden. With winter approaching, preparations such as heaters, complimentary blankets and low-cost sweatshirts will ensure that the only thing that will be cold at the beer garden is the beer. 

I spoke with Mary Kate Byrne, VP of marketing for GPub, about the new concept. During their fall reopening, Byrne says GPub knew they had to come up with a way to accommodate guests who were increasingly more comfortable with outdoor dining. “Luckily Orange Street is the perfect location for a larger outdoor footprint.” she says. The pub has always had a focus on craft beer, and this has provided the perfect opportunity to fine tune the draft list. “Our craft beer list is really interesting and unique right now. We’ve developed it with the intention of having a lot of options to rotate frequently so we can continue to bring in new items,” says Byrne. 

“We have a lot of great local beer on tap and in cans including Whalers, Shaidzon, Grey Sail, Proclamation, Foolproof and Ragged Island. We also have High Limb Hard Cider for cider fans local to Massachusetts. In addition to these local beers, we’re hoping to introduce our guests to some great craft beer that might be tougher to find around here, like Whole Hog Pumpkin out of Wisconsin, Finch Tacocat from Chicago, Abita Purple Haze from Louisiana and Bell’s Two Hearted from Kalamazoo, among others,” says Byrne. “Our hope is that we can introduce craft beer lovers to something new while still providing their local favorites.”

In regard to the upcoming winter season, G Pub is fully embracing the “BYOB” (Bring Your Own Blanket) concept, and then some. In addition to their fully COVID-compliant indoor seating, G Pub plans to keep outdoor patrons comfortable with complimentary blankets, courtesy of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, newly installed heaters, live entertainment and of course, great beer. G Pub sweatshirts will also be available at cost, simply so guests have yet another convenient option to stay cozy. 

COVID guidelines have left many of us yearning for normalcy. A meal outside the house has been a huge rarity for some, and with varying levels of comfort, people are in need of a place they can go let loose but also feel safe. “We knew that it was important to respond to this attitude by providing downtown Providence with a comfortable restaurant experience outside through the fall. Being able to bring some life back to downtown is critical right now. Downtown’s success typically relies on the help of business commuters, cultural events and the theaters, and conventions, all things that have been dramatically impacted by COVID-19. We hope that adapting GPub to meet our guests’ current needs will help to add energy and foot traffic to all of downtown,” Byrne adds. 

A Halloween night event is in the works with limited occupancy. G Pub will offer live music, a costume contest and a free drink with any food order if you come in costume. Plans for more live events will continue through the fall and can be found on the G Pub website providencegpub.com/special-events