Northern Gems: The Wells Hotel Pub
I've said it once and I'll say it again: the Cariboo Region continues to surprise me.
Being from Southern BC, I'm ignorant enough to think that everything north of Kelowna is filled hunting lodges and Kenney Chesney concerts.
Today I will say something that my boyfriend rarely hears: I was wrong! As a result of being a gypsy on my weekends off, I have inadvertently stumbled across some genuine Northern Gems (yes yes, anyone from Prince George is screaming 'WE'RE NOT NORTH' but, for the purposes of a snappy title, 'Cariboo Regional District Gems' doesn't quite do the job).
No other establishment has challenged my ideas of the region quite like the Wells Hotel Pub does.
Firstly, if you're not sure if you've ever been through Wells, BC, trust me, you would remember if you have.
The tiny town between Quesnel and Barkerville boasts a booming population of 245 people and is an Aquarius-style oasis, filled with bright red, blue, and purple heritage houses which stand in stark contrast to the greens and browns of the thick wilderness flanking all sides of the town.
Wells wasn't always home to bush hippys and artists: the town first came to life in 1933 with the onslaught of the region's second gold rush (the first gold rush was the one that prompted the establishment of nearby historic Barkerville).
With the sudden flood of thirsty/hungry miners, local entrepreneur Paddy Macdonnell saw an opportunity. In 1934 he opened the doors to the Wells Hotel and Pub on Pooley Street in 'Uptown Wells' and soon, he had a monopoly on the market, being the only beer parlour in the town.
According to local folklore, Paddy, knowing that the miners would pay anything for a pint, decided to double to price from $0.05 to $0.10. As predicted, the miners continued to buy beer but they weren't happy about it and they showed their discontent by smashing their empty glasses in the fireplace after they finished their $0.10 beer. Eventually, after losing every single pint glass in the pub, Paddy folded and lowered the price once again.
Well, 83 years later, the pub remains -- sadly the $0.05 pint does not, however, what has replaced the cheap beer is just as good. The little old Wells Pub is now home to BC's largest privately owned Scotch Collection, with over 200 varieties and sold at a surprisingly reasonable price.
It is the type of title that, if bestowed upon a Vancouver bar, you just know that your scotch would be served by a hipster with a man bun with a 500% mark up on cost.
The Wells Hotel Pub stands in stark contrast to that image: it is unassumingly down to earth, reeking of it's gold town history and teeming with locals.
Take a step through the front doors, you're immediately surrounded in warmth and the smell of good whiskey. The walls around the bar itself are covered with tiny wood plaques, each signed by some of the hundreds of patrons who have been lucky enough to stumble upon this place.
Behind the bar, Wells local and bartender Birch greets you with a smile and is happy to offer any recommendations (he didn't even scoff at my request for a 'Beginner's Style Scotch'). Behind him is a modest selection of various spirits (gin, vodka, etc) and two fridges filled with a surprising number of local craft beers.
But the piece de resistance sits on every other conceivable surface of the bar - above the bar and on the wall is occupied by one of the 200+ scotches from the collection. From young, smooth 8 year scotch, all the way to 31 year old smokey sensations, the Wells Pub is a scotch lovers dream and a truly hidden Northern Gem.