The once famous Jamaican Little Pub restaurant and bar re-opens amid reflection of Joe Issa support – Keith Foote
The once famous Little Pub restaurant and bar on Main Street in Ocho Rios, St. Ann on Jamaica’s north coast tourism belt, which was destroyed by a fire in 2002, re-opens amid reflection of the support given by Chairman of Cool Corp and philanthropist, Joe Issa, says former owner, Keith Foote, in a release to North Coast Times.“I am grateful to my family and the support of Joey, for being able to re-open Little Pub again. Everyone who knows me will know that I had a passion for Little Pub back in the days, and that I was traumatised when a fire destroyed it in 2002.“It was then that Joey assisted, especially after losing my entire business by the fire, following the loss of substantial sums as a result of a loan taken four years earlier that went bad, due to the financial crisis,” says Foote.
Noting that his family aside, Issa’s assistance was “second to none” during the 12-year search for a perfect place to re-locate Little Pub, Foote says, “It was not easy finding a suitable location, a spot where a lot of visitors can frequent and has space and privacy, and throughout my seemingly endless search Joey was in contact with me and encouraging me.”The Little Pub re-opened in August 2014 at the Island Village shopping and entertainment complex on Main Street in Ocho Rios, occupying two contiguous units stretching from the central stage to the pond and accommodating about 1,000 persons, according to Foote.The new location is strategically placed near Fisherman’s Beach, which is popular with tourists and locals alike. Also known as Columbus Foot Beach, its main draw “is that it is an authentic Jamaican fishing beach, lined with wooden shacks and lean-to structures serving fresh-from-the-ocean seafood dishes in an authentic, rustic environment,”
according to Jamaica Travel and Culture.com, at http://www. jamaica travelandculture.com/destinations/st_ann/ocho_rios/Columbus-foot-beach.html
Little Pub is also a ‘stone throw’ from the Ocho Rios cruise ship pier where some 30 per cent of the islands cruise ship passengers disembark. Its newly refurbished terminal has further improved its attractiveness to passengers.
In addition, the Island Village is home to the popular Margaritaville entertainment venue, the fourth and largest in Jamaica, from which Foote expects some customers will flow into Little Pub as, according to the Margaritaville Ocho Rios website, at http://www.margaritavillecaribbean.com/welcome_ochorios.html, the centre “has proven to be a hit with locals, cruise ship passengers and resort guests.” It was formally christened in February 2002, by franchise owner, billionaire Jimmy Buffett himself, when he and his band staged a beachside concert there, just steps away from the cruise ship pier.
Commenting on the future of the once famous restaurant and bar, Foote says, “We’ve re-opened three months now and we are getting great reviews, we’re like a new kid on the block, I’m humble and want suggestions, a lot of people know me and expectations are high but I have Joey, who I can call upon at anytime for assistance.”
In a Jamaica Observer article on the newly opened Little Pub published on September 24, 2014 at http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Ochi-s-Little-Pub-reopens, Foote says, “We don’t just focus on the tourists only. We plan to hold parties, weddings, corporate receptions and cater to general passersby in Ocho Rios.”And in reference to Little Pub’s close proximity to Margaritaville in Island Village, Foot says “Little Pub will also cater to the entire family rather than adults only thus avoiding direct competition with Margaritaville.” Noting that the Jimmy Buffett-led venue doesn’t have karaoke or jazz and blues, Foote says “Margaritaville is seen as a club, but the Little Pub is broader. The teenagers can come…the mothers and fathers can come.”According to Foote, Little Pub customers can feast on a variety of dishes, such as jerk pork or chicken, sautéed snapper, grilled kingfish, or fresh lobster. He says the restaurant also offers pub-fare favourites, including burgers and an assortment of desserts.While Foote’s Little Pub is still new and is not yet ranked, Joe Issa’s Bamboo Blu restaurant on Beach Road in Mammee Bay Estate next to RIU hotel holds top place for its exceptional ambience, food and service, making it the number one of 80 restaurants in Ocho Rios.Bamboo Blu was also the recipient ofTrip Advisor’s 2013 and 2014 Certificate of Excellence, as published on Trip Advisor’s website at http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g147312-d2369967-Reviews-Bamboo_Blu-Ocho_Rios_Saint_Ann_Parish_Jamaica.html.
“I’m confident that soon enough, as the reviews get better and better Little Pub will regain its pride and place among the top restaurants in Ocho Rios and Jamaica and we are working towards that,” Foote says.
