The Londoner in McKinney is becoming Churchill's British Restaurant and Pub

Only thing changing is the name and owner

By Brandi Hart
McKinneyUpdate.com editor
Created at 6:40 p.m. on July 7, 2009

The exterior of The Londoner restaurant and pub at the northeast corner of Louisiana Street and Tennessee Street may appear somewhat different as the sign that reads "Churchill's" displaying the new name of the restaurant.

However, once you open the door nothing has changed on The Londoner's interior as the photos and cartoons of British royaly, bands and British pub memorabilia, the bar and the menu are still entact.

In fact, the only thing that's changed is the name of the place and the owners. Former owner Barry Tate has sold The Londoner and the building it is housed in and former Londoner manager Marie Briton now co-owns Churchill's along with Erin Elwood. The change occurred on June 12 and Tate is now focusing on building a new Londoner in Frisco, near Pizza Hut Park along Main Street, and is also managing the Londoner in Uptown in Dallas, Briton said.

"I'm hoping that Barry will be here at the grand opening in coming months and I want to build upon what he started," Briton said. "That's what I want to get across to people is that what Barry created will not go away. It will be the same beer, the same menu, the same friends, and me," Briton added.

"We're keeping all the old favorites on the menu, such as fish and chips, shepherd's pie, curry, Tikka masala, British bangers, which is sausage, and burgers," Briton said.

Briton has worked as the general manger of The Londoner for the last three years.

The array of tunes by English and Irish rock bands that fill the jukebox at The Londoner, such as The Clash, David Bowie, The Pogues, U2, The Who, Oasis, Queen, Van Morrison, Erasure, and to The Smiths, to the American godfathers of punk The Ramones can still be found safe and sound in their home on the second floor of The Londoner.

The exterior of Churchill's will, however, experience a makeover. The first floor exterior will be painted a dark greenish black and the seond story exterior will remain brick, Briton said. She is also seeking to obtain a license to have Churchill's to no longer have a private club status with the Texas Alcohololic Beverage Commission. She would instead like Churchill's to simply be able to have half of its revenue be comprised from food sales and half to be comprised from alcohol sales, she said.

Briton is also applying with the city to have outdoor, enclosed patio seating where patrons can drink alcoholic beverages that will be similar to Spoons and La Misha.

The hours are not changing for Churchill's, but Briton and Elwood are adding breakfast hours and food to the menu on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. until noon. The breakfast menu includes migas, omelettes, ham, eggs, and other items.

Over the years the building where Churchill's is located has been Kam's Chinese Restaurant, in the late 1980s and 1990s, a steak house and other served the community in other ways throughout the buildings long history.

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