“You’d would never know that you were in a resort in the heart of the Caribbean,” marvelled a colleague while sipping a beer at The Drunken Duck in Exuma. But’s that precisely the point.
“There’s no need to cross the Atlantic anymore for a taste of Merry Olde England,” Sandals says of the pubs at many of its resorts in the Caribbean, including this one at its Emerald Bay resort on Grand Exuma.
Indeed, over drinks in the establishment one night recently, Bahamas tourism exec Emmett Saunders, mused, “It’s just like (Sandals chairman) Butch (Stewart) to disassemble an actual pub in Britain and put it back together here.”
But it’s not just the bricks and bar stools that make the pub. Adhering to the philosophy that a pub is a gathering place, the Duck exudes a casual, yet vibrant atmosphere and all the best pub trimmings, like darts and pool tables. Understated TVs might be showing a game, but the focus is on friends, both new and old.
And don’t discount that everything is free – at least within the context of being in an all-inclusive resort. A fully stocked bar – which one may belly up to – is supported by a menu featuring such pub grub classics as Fish & Chips, Shepherd’s Pie and Bangers & Mash (plus less thematic fare like burgers, wraps and wings).
Alas, there is also one advantage a Sandals pub has over even its best counterpart in Old Blighty: the sun is usually shining and there’s a pool and a beach beckoning only a few steps away. (“Pub Crawl” is an ongoing series in which we reveal some of our favourite public houses, both at home and abroad – and, in the spirit of the establishment, invite you to share with us yours. Send suggestions to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com. Cheers!)
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