Chapter 1. The Magical Meat Boutique in Camden Town, LONDON.

   After returning from the 2nd World War, my Grand-father William Barnard (Bill) bought the corner shop at 86, Plender Street in Camden Town, LONDON. Both his son’s - my father (Will) and my Uncle John and my Grand-mother Mabel worked in the shop, and it was called “Barnard Butchers”. He was well known for his local generosity of giving away free meat to pensioners and larger portions than post-war rations would allow and giving away boxes of chocolates at Christmas time.  He was also known for his many quirky slogans and sayings that he’d whitewash daily on the shop window. In the late 1950’s it had the sub-name of “The Meat Boutique and Rump Steak Emporium”. In 1963 my father took more of a reign and re-branded it as the “Magical Meat Boutique”. The inside was painted in psychedelic colours, they had music from the Rolling Stones and Beatles playing and it became quite famous for its uniqueness. My dad’s best school friend worked for Apple Publishing (Beatles label) as a graphic designer. He saw my dad’s sign from ’1963 and used the idea of curved font with the rainbow below and stars above for the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour. In 1967 just before the movie and soundtrack came out, my father changed the sign to a colouful landscape (see in photo’s). From around the age of 6 years old I’d spend my Saturdays and school holidays helping at the shop, learning the art of sausage making and cutting. When I left school, I decided I’d find my own career path and give my father the freedom to retire, although I still helped at Christmas times and whenever needed. Eventually my father retired in early 2004 and sold the shop, so we came on a family vacation to Florida which started the next chapter of the Magical Meat Boutique! 

  In 2004 I brought my parents over on a road-trip. They’d never been to the USA before. We flew into Sanford. Drove down the East coast into the Keys. Back up the West coast and I’d looked on-line for somewhere to stay for our last night that was close to Sanford. I found the Lakeside Inn. It sounded nice, Mount Dora I’d never heard of but it was known as the antiques capital of Florida and both my folks loved antiques. We checked in and went out to have a great dinner at the Gables where we sat on the front patio. My mum declared it had been the holiday of a lifetime, but she loved Mount Dora from what she’d seen of it and could have easily spent the whole fortnight there. Next morning, we walked town before heading off and mum looked in the estate agents and said that if she won the lottery, she’d love to buy a vacation home there for the children and grandchildren.  We got back to England and 6 months later my mother passed away. Her and Dad were separated with their own homes. Best of friends but liked their own space and she left her home to my two sisters and me to sell. When I got my share of the estate I decided to fly over and buy that holiday home that mum had wanted. I used to come over as often as I could and got to make many friends. If any longer than two weeks I’d get a hankering for a bacon butty and decent pint and one day after selling my house in the UK, decided to give up building restaurants and pubs for others and come over and open my own British Pub. I signed the lease on the old Chew-Chew Express building on W.3rd Ave (an old launderette and now home to The Salted Fry) and met my wife – Kate (who’s had a life-long career in hospitality management), whilst building it out. After 6 years we’d outgrown the property and as 322 N Alexander was available, decided to try and make it work there. The fact it was the only place my mum dined in Mount Dora makes it rather special as well as the one-night dining there 16 years ago that became life changing for me. Her family were Scottish (McKenzie’s) hence our Scottish themed “McKenzie” dining room. My dad’s family are butchers going back to the 1500’s with Irish heritage and being London born myself, we embrace all aspects of the cultures and foods of the British Isles. We started our outside bar catering in 2015 and as well as many of Mount Dora’s events and shows at the community Building, we’ve branched out to become regulars at Longwood’s festivals and have also more recently Apopka and Lake Eola. I believe we bring in some slightly unusual but tasty import Ales and drinks from across the ocean, that folks won’t see elsewhere or find in the stores, and maintain keeping our pricing regular and competitive, all served with a friendly smile. 😊