Hog Penny Restaurant & Pub

Several decades ago, Tom Kershaw visited Bermuda's Hog Penny and was so inspired by it that he decided to open a similar establishment in Boston called the Bull & Finch Pub. In the early ‘80s the producers of a certain TV series were looking for a location for their set. They choose the Bull & Finch. The TV show? ‘Cheers’. The rest is history.

Established in 1957 and named after Bermuda’s hog money, this restaurant and pub is located right in the heart of Hamilton. If this was trendy London or New York it would be called a gastropub. It’s small and cosy and has a distinctly British atmosphere. In fact much of the furniture in the pub comes from old Watney’s pubs in England. Wood-panelled walls decorated with old farming implements, intimate nooks and crannies, and antique mirrors complete the effect.

For an appetiser you might like to try Mongolian BBQ Drumettes (6 crisp chicken drumettes in Mongolian BBQ sauce). English pub food such as Steak and Kidney Pie (beef and tender kidneys cooked in a rich red wine sauce in a short pastry case and served with French fries and mixed vegetables) and Bangers and Mash (Westover Farms local pork sausages grilled and served with mashed potatoes, fresh vegetables and onion gravy) feature heavily amongst the entrees. The Hog Penny also offers a range of Indian curries, house specialities such as Dark and Stormy Rockfish and various cuts of beef. In the desserts you will find the house speciality, Hog Penny Banana Fritters (dipped in a light batter, quickly fried and tossed in cinnamon sugar, then flambeed table side with Gosling’s Black Seal Rum).

After dinner the Hog Penny becomes a lively pub (although anybody who wants just a drink is welcome at anytime). During the summer months there’s nightly entertainment from around 22:00. The pub can get extremely crowded with a mixture of locals, expats and tourists. Getting served at the small bar appears to be a daunting task but is actually quicker than meets the eye. Beers on draft include British favourites Bass and McEwan’s.

Reader Reviews and Additional Information

Mike :

Every time we vacation in Bermuda we have dinner at Hog Penny. It's one of our favorites. We love the atmosphere, food, and service and the people there are really nice and laid back about everything. The dark wood decor is wonderful.

Gene :

The Hog Penny is the one pub that locals consistently rave about - food, drink, and ambiance - despite the fact that the crowd is usually is about half tourists. It's just a fun place.

Danny :

Hog Penny is, by far, the best place I have eaten in Bermuda. Great food, great prices, and excellent staff.

Jenny :

Great food and greater entertainment! Come down and catch Will Black's show at night. He rocks!

Joni :

I have been visiting the Hog Penny since the 70's. It's got a nice pub atmosphere and I have never been disappointed by the food. The entertainment can be fun also.

SP :

The seafood chowder here is excellent.

gt :

If you want to come here when the cruise ships are in I'd advise making a reservation. It gets very busy. You can always try the Barracuda Grill upstairs if you can't get a table. It's got the owners.