Downtown McKinney’s British pub, The Londoner, is now Churchill’s

by Angie Bado of of McKinneyNews.net

Churchill's

Walk around the downtown square in McKinney and one thing is obvious, change is in the works. Some businesses are shutting down, while new ventures are opening their doors.

One business that is in major transition is Churchill's, formerly The Londoner. Witness the fresh black accent pain on the front of the building and the renovations that are going inside and it is clear that Churchill's is getting a facelift!

The business, formerly owned by Barry Tate, is now owned by Marie Briton and Erin Elwood, who bring a wealth of restaurant and bar experience to the table. Experience is one thing, but their passion for the business is evident. Both spend long hours working on the job and both are eager to discuss their new venture.

Briton and Elwood worked together for more than a year while Tate owned The Londoner. When he decided to sell the business, the women began to discuss the feasibility of purchasing the business together. The more they discussed the idea, the more they liked it, until they finally decided to make owning Churchill's a reality. "We made the decision and, who knows, said Briton, with a hint of mischief, it may be the birth of an empire."

"We compliment each other. Marie has the restaurant experience and since she grew up in England (Sunderland), she knows if the food is authentic," Elwood commented. Briton added that Elwood "has the bar/pub experience and is a great bartender."

The new owners have decided to keep the British theme and improve upon it. "Don't fix what's not broken," declared Briton. There is a definite "Cheers" type atmosphere in the upstairs bar area. Regulars, as well as those who stop in occasionally to see what's up, mingle at the bar, and play darts or pool. All are welcomed warmly by Briton, Elwood, and the staff.

"We're going to take what fundamentally works and build on it." Elwood added. "We have a fun, family friendly atmosphere and we want to keep that feeling."

So what changes, other than the name of the pub, have been made so far? Elwood and Briton have begun renovations on the downstairs, including the restrooms. Ruth Lopez, who is a student at Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts Dallas, has been brought in to tweak some of the recipes, add some new creations to the menu, and improve the presentation of the food.

Lopez's hand on the menu is already evident. The batter on the fish (fish and chips) is lighter and crispier and the "chips" are now homemade fries. There is a new fresh salad on the menu featuring a house made pineapple salad dressing. "I dream about food," Lopez volunteered. "I'm always thinking about new (food) ideas."

According to Lopez, cooking with passion is important; however, "as a chef, the most important aspect of running a successful restaurant is consistency in the quality of the food."

The recent addition of breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays is another change at Churchill's. Briton said the croissant and lox and the breakfast migas, a tangle of eggs, potatoes, and sausage in a tortilla, are very popular.

Major renovations on the kitchen area are soon to come, during which time patrons may choose from brown-bag lunch selections and other easy-to-put-together menu items such as the cheese plate.

Briton relayed a story of getting recent a phone call from former owner Tate, who happened to be driving by. The conversation went like this: Tate: It looks great out there. Briton: I know. Thanks. Tate: I want it back!

What would Elwood and Briton wish for if they could each be granted a wish? "That the remodeling was (already) done, and that more people would know about us (Churchill's) and come downtown," was the universal answer. If passion and determination are any indication of what these two women can achieve, their wishes are certain to come true, sooner than later.