Introduction

An authentic British pub in the heart of downtown Orillia

Announcements

Coming Soon

About Us

Owners/Operators

Simon MacRae       Ben Kersley      Darcy MacDonell 

Darcy owned and operated FARMHOUSE tavern, a highly regarded farm-to-table restaurant in Toronto for 8 years. He jokes that his "last good paying job" was as General Manager of Charles Khabouth's La Societe in Yorkville in 2012. Darcy was GM at Oliver Bonacini Cafe Grill in Blue Mountain for 3 years prior to opening the Oakville location. He was also responsible for the wine program of the concept's four locations. Darcy got his start in Toronto restaurants at Jump Café & Bar, and Biff’s Bistro – with Oliver Bonacini Hospitality.

Simon arrived in Canada in Spring 2018 and worked as General Manager of The Chase before developing BlueBlood Steakhouse at Casa Loma into Toronto's top Steakhouse. Prior to that he was in the UK, with London’s Hawksmoor Group of restaurants. In 2010 he worked at Bocca di Lupo, opening Gelupo as GM: two of the London's finest Italian eateries. In 2020, he opened The Common Stove with Darcy, in 2021 winning the Chamber of Commerce’s Rebuilding Orillia Award.

Originally from the UK, Ben studied culinary at Humber college, and in Taiwan. After completing studies he went back to the UK to gain further training through Hilton Hotels. Ben helped open ETM Group’s restaurant the Botanist and went on to travel for a few years staging along the way. After arriving back in Toronto Ben worked at FARMHOUSE tavern where he met Darcy. Ben later moved north  to be closer to family and settle. In 2021 Ben was selected as one of KLM medias ‘Top 30 Under 30’ Hospitality Professional nationally ~ while working with The Common Stove. Now a partner in the business, Chef is proud to bring an authentic British pub to Orillia