Community Corner
A Queen, a Saint and a Wedding: Celebrating with England in the East Bay
England takes the spotlight with a very Royal Wedding next week, but the celebrations start Saturday with St. George's Day. Jump across the pond without leaving the East Bay.
England will step into the spotlight on April 29 as the world shares the excitement of a Royal Wedding. But the merriment begins this week, and the East Bay is welcome to join the revelry.
Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 85th birthday on April 21 and continues her reign as the oldest monarch in English history so raise a glass (or cup of tea) in her honor.
On Saturday, April 23, make merry at the pub for St. George's Day. This feast day in honor of the patron saint of England was once a festival to rival Christmas. Alas, St. George’s Day now passes generally unnoticed in England, barely causing a ripple in the collective beer mug. There is no public holiday, and culturally, England’s green neighbor to the west, St. Patrick, has long overshadowed St. George. But this is the year of the Royal Wedding, and no excuses are needed to celebrate.
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We searched across the East Bay for the various hubs of Englishness (aka pubs) where a good pie and pint could be found for St. George’s Day and a little piece of England would be served for the Royal Wedding.
Commonwealth Cafe and Public House
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2282 Telegraph Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
Hours: 9am to 10:30pm.
Serving traditional English fare, such as "Bangers and Mash," "Shepherd's Pie" and "Beanz & Toast," along with a variety of hearty ales, the Commonwealth is a modern incarnation of the faithful English pub. There are no specific events or specials planned for St. George's Day, but it's the thought that counts.
"We usually have that British vibe going anyway," said owner Ross Adair, who hails from Glasgow, Scotland.
Breakfast begins at 9am with Heinz Baked Beans on toast or a Devonshire cream scone. For lunch or dinner, the "Ploughman's Platter" will take you to the green plains of English countryside, while the "Fish & Chip Butty" will bring you home to English comfort food. Beware: stray to the French onion soup or Scotch egg and you may be accused of treachery.
On St. George’s Day, the match of the day is Chelsea versus West Ham, with kick-off at 9:30am.
Englander Sports Pub
101 Parrott Street
San Leandro, CA 94577
Hours: 11am to Midnight
This place may feel more like an American sports bar than a quaint English pub with the SF Giants and the Oakland A's playing on St. George's Day, along with the large selection of American beer and food. But the menu still boasts a few English staples. Look for the steak and ale pie and fish and chips among the burgers, BBQ and Mexican food. A "shandy lager" (known in England simply as a "shandy") is always a refreshing addition to a daytime pub meal.
The Englander opens at 11am, which means missing the morning soccer game and a traditional brunch, but stays open for late night revelers until midnight.
The Crown
331 Hartz Avenue
Danville, CA 94566
Hours: 11:30am to 1:30am
Happy hour here from 3pm to 6pm means $3.50 pints of draft beer. On Saturday, Shepherd's Pie will be on special for $7.50. Next weekend, The Crown will be showing live coverage of the Royal Wedding (which starts at 3am for the thoroughly dedicated) from 11:30am until close at 10pm, and serving tea and scones.
Redcoats Pub
336 Saint Mary Street
Pleasanton, CA 94566
Hours: 11:30am to 1am
Two words: curry chips. This popular English chip-shop item (known as "chips with curry sauce") is the perfect blend of comfortable and the flavorful. Try a thirst-quenching Blackthorn Cider or a creamy Boddington's. Beware of the "Snake Bite," a favorite with England's college-aged revelers. It's bite is stronger than its bark. The beers come in the larger imperial pint size too.
For the wedding, Redcoats will be hosting a traditional English garden party, with strawberry cream tea and fresh scones, trifle and sherry. Make reservations to ensure your spot. Re-runs of the wedding will be shown all day.
The English Rose
163 West Neal Street
Pleasanton, CA 94566
www.theenglishrose-pleasanton.com
It's a Royal Tea Party! On Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30, the store will celebrate the Royal Wedding with a lovely Royal Tea time. Sparkling Tea will be served to toast the new Royal Couple. Cost is $28 per guest.
Kensington Circus
389 Colusa Avenue
Kensington, CA 94707
Hours: 5pm to 10pm
Complete with a playground for the kids (hence the "Circus"), this "local" is as good an English pub as any across the pond. From the beer to the food and back again. Save yourself though for the "Sticky Toffee Pudding," which tastes as good as it sounds.
Cheers!
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