The Burgundy Lion, an English pub in hostile territory by Killa

A Burgundy Lion standing on the street.

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The best thing about gentrification is that you’re probably on the winning side of the process, cause if you weren’t, then reading this site is probably toped in your "to-do" list by items like "Find new apartment" or "Change address for welfare check".

Jokes aside, gentrification isn’t that cool at all, but that’s exactly what’s happening around the Atwater Market, and in general in the area around the Lachine Canal in the South-West of Montreal.

And the Burgundy Lion (2496 Notre Dame W.) is part of this movement, but more on that latter.

The Burgundy Lion is well-designed, authentic-looking English pub on Notre-Dame and Charlevoix, in a corner that only a few years ago featured a greasy dinner as the most alternative spot on a street covered with antiquary dealers.

There really is a genuine English feel to the pub, topped by a painting of the Queen behind a glass, such that drunken pub-ers can draw obscenities with a marker attached nearby. I won’t be describing the most popular scribbling, I leave that to your imagination.

For the die-hards who still haven’t given up one of the last remaining little pleasures in life, smoking, there is a sort of outside room, with 4 walls but no roof. Very practical for providing a smoking "area" while being respectful of the law.

Music is usually excellent, with different DJs playing records that you’ll have a hard time hearing anywhere else in town, especially in a place of such size and caliber.

Food is also served, but yours truly has not tried it yet.

What’s interesting about the Burgundy Lion is that it’s part of a movement changing the South-West faster than Ben Johnson on steroids. On the other side of Notre-Dame street are 3 small restaurant-boutiques, where a breakfast in a small old-wooden-floor room will set you back your lunch money for the whole week. Right next is the renovated Corona Theater, a landmark of early 20th century Montreal. A few art boutiques dot the street and a designer’s furniture store sells hanging chairs and brightly colored modern carpets.

And all these places swarm with young people, the new breed of locals, with tight jeans but seemingly un-tight wallets.

But the greasy dinner on the street corner facing the Burgundy Lion is starting to look more and more out of place.

Good thing or not, the neighborhood is definitely breathing a new life, a much needed jolt to the area. Hopefully it won’t become the new Plateau Mont-Royal.

Voice your opinion of the Burgundy Lion here.

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It's your turn now. So speak-up.

aDPSPmcKGEbArTeNSh

I went to the University of Vermont. Montreal was a great place to party for the weekend but I don't know about 5 days. There are a lot of great clubs, lots of cgolele age people, relaxed prostitution laws. Crossing the border with drugs is really difficult. Since 9-11 most cars are searched and at the crossing in Vermont there is always a drug sniffing dog and a 1 in 5 chance of being pulled over.It's not a cheap place to go but I always had fun!!

Written by Ryckiel on 2013-03-22.

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