The Boot Bar & Grill

By Scott Stephenson

The iconic Blyth Inn has become part of local history - according to its website, Blyth’s most hospitable hot spot first opened its doors in 1877! Over the many years that have since passed, the charming locale on the corner of Queen and Dinsley Streets has accumulated quite a few footwear themed nicknames: The Blue Boot, The Rubber Boot, and, of course, The Boot. 

 

But this summer, the Blyth Inn is going to shake things up a little and make some history by opening a brand new location in Seaforth. The Blyth Inn’s manager, Angela Cullen, was kind enough to take a few minutes out of a busy dinner rush to sit on the back patio and debrief The Citizen on how the new place is shaping up.

 

The idea to expand started when current Blyth Inn owners Heera Gill and Jas Sadhra saw that the space that formerly housed The Hub on Seaforth’s Main Street was for sale. They went straight to Cullen and asked if she was interested in running a second place for them, and she was. “Seaforth needed something,” she remarked. “And The Boot has a really good reputation, and in the last while we’ve gotten busier, and we could totally handle it.” Right now, they’re in the painting phase of the preparation process.

 

In the three years that she’s been ruling the restaurant roost, Cullen has learned all the little tricks and details that make Blyth’s favourite bar such a unique and charming destination, and she’s finally ready to help bring that same magic to a shiny new spot, and a whole new community. For her, a great bar is all about having great staff. “We’re a team, and we have a friendly atmosphere, and a good location. And amazing customers! We couldn’t do it without our customers - they’re the best!”
The customers seem to appreciate Cullen just as much as she appreciates them - ever since the new location was announced, people have been concerned that she’s abandoning the old Blyth crowd. But it’s good news for both towns - Cullen will be splitting her time between the two businesses!

 

This is going to be Cullen’s first time opening a restaurant, but she’s confident that it’s going to be great. “I’m taking it in stride, and trying not to cry too much,” she joked. All of The Boot’s most popular menu items will be coming along to the new place, but there’s also going to be a few Seaforth-specific specials. “They’re things we wanted to do in Blyth but haven’t been able to. And there’s going to be a lot of the same faces in terms of staff, too. And hopefully the same vibe - we’ve got a real grassroots vibe at the ‘Mama Boot’, as we call it, and we want the ‘Baby Boot’ to be the same.” 164 Main St. S., Seaforth