Vancouver's Oldest Pub

The Lamplighter's 100th Year Celebration Events

A storied piece of Vancouver history

Once the Dominion Hotel in 1899, its ground level Rubinowitz's department store was converted to The Lamplighter Public house in 1925 and received BC's first liquor license.

Centennial Brew

1925 Craft Pilsner

This crisp and sessionable old style pilsner brewed by our pals at P49 is a nod to 100 years of revelry and merriment at The Lamplighter. May there be 100 more.

From 1925 to 2025

History

The property itself has stood since 1899 when it was opened as The Dominion Hotel by Sven Sherdahl, a Swede who arrived in Vancouver via Kansas in 1890. The ground floor where Lamplighter still sits today was originally Rubinowitz's department store until 1925, shortly after public liquor prohibition was fully repealed, when it was turned into The Lamplighter Public House. It was named after John Clough, the lamplighter of Vancouver, who lit each gas lamp with his one arm before each night's revelry.

Historic Firsts

In 1925, The Lamplighter not only received the first beer parlour licence issued in the province after prohibition was repealed, but it was also the first speakeasy of its kind to serve alcohol to women in the area.

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