On March 20th, 1925, The Dominion Hotel at 92 Water Street in Gastown, paid the sum of $750 ($19,785 in 2025 dollars) to the Liquor Control Board in Victoria and was issued British Columbia
Beer License #1. That first beer license granted the Dominion Hotel the right to “purchase beer from a Vendor and to sell by the glass or open bottle to persons for consumption on the premises,” but games, dancing, and women weren’t permitted in 1925.
Today, Vancouver’s oldest pub, The Lamplighter at The Dominion Hotel is getting ready to celebrate 100 years of hospitality with a party featuring East Van guitar rockers Black Pontiac. Thankfully, games and dancing are now strongly encouraged and the Dominion Hotel long ago closed the gender gap by becoming the first Vancouver pub to admit women.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held from 3pm-5pm with Mayor Ken Sim and other local
dignitaries expected to attend with the Anniversary Party to begin at 6pm. Tickets for Black
Pontiac available online now with DJ Krisp Kutz to follow.
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