Back to SearchThe Boathouse, Kitchener’s iconic restaurant and live music venue, officially reopened this morning with a grand opening ceremony at 11 a.m. The beloved destination has been a feature of Victoria Park for decades and has been completely renovated by Walkinshaw Holdings, a group of local entrepreneurs who leased the City of Kitchener-owned building in 2022.
"For myself and so many in our community, The Boathouse has always been a beloved and iconic gathering space in the heart of our city, and few things have generated the level of excitement that today's opening has for Kitchener residents and lovers of live music everywhere," said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. "The transformation of this space, including the addition of what is now the largest waterfront patio in our Region, are incredible and I can’t help but be excited by the possibilities for The Boathouse's future. I can’t wait to see visitors from near and far come together, enjoy the patio, taste some great local food and drinks, and of course, discover the incredible local musical talent in our community!”
At the grand opening celebration, the updated space was unveiled to the community. The expanded, cantilevered outdoor patio is the star of the show, offering unmatched views of Victoria Park lake. Inside, the dining room has been completely renovated with cozy black and gold finishes paired with warm wood and punctuated by colourful depictions of iconic Kitchener scenes. It all connects seamlessly to the outdoors with a wall of windows that will open to the patio and views of Victoria Park in the warmer months.
“We are beyond excited to welcome people back to The Boathouse,” said James Barr, Owner, Walkinshaw Holdings. “Our team has put so much work into making this an exciting, fun space, and we really think folks will love it!”
The relaunched Boathouse will focus on supporting the community in more ways than one. The menu will focus on sourcing locally as much as possible, creating a culinary experience that draws from the flavours of our region. The Boathouse stage will showcase local artists all year round, drawing on the depth of talent in the area. Walkinshaw Holdings will also establish a local arts fund and form a Community Advisory Committee to ensure the programming remains inclusive and diverse.
“I’m excited to experience local talent in all its forms at The Boathouse, from the delicious food featuring local ingredients to drinks from local producers to the entertainment from many of our city’s incredible artists,” said Ward 9 Councillor Debbie Chapman. “The Boathouse has always been an important feature of our downtown and I couldn’t be more thrilled to see it showcasing even more of the wonderful features of our whole community.”
The Boathouse will be open year-round at 57 Jubilee Drive in the heart of Victoria Park in Kitchener. To stay up to date on everything happening at The Boathouse, visit BoathouseDTK.com.
For more information, contact:
Shawn Falcao
Manager, Corporate Communications
City of Kitchener
shawn.falcao@kitchener.ca
James Barr
Owner
Walkinshaw Holdings
dockside@boathousedtk.com
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