Winsted Pub comes out swingin'

WINSTED — This season there is a new place in town to get festive and celebrate the holidays with family, friends and neighbors.

The Swingin’ Parrott Pub, a bar/restaurant in the Ledgebrook Plaza along Route 44, opened its doors for the first time last Monday.

Since then, co-owner and manager Chris Parrott has spent much of his time tending bar and fine tuning his kitchen’s new menu.

“I felt that there wasn’t a good spot to go and have a burger and a beer,†Parrott told The Journal Monday as he set up for the day’s lunch service. “And now there is.â€

Parrott, 24, said he first began to think about opening a new bar/restaurant in January.

Parrott’s father, James Parrott, owned and operated Bleachers, a sports bar in Winsted where Billy Ray’s now sits, during much of the 1990s.

James Parrott took over the Pleasant Valley General Store after the Barkhamsted landmark’s previous owner closed its doors earlier this fall. The Parrott family re-opened the store last month.

“I always wanted to do it, to open my own place myself. And so I finally talked him into it,†Chris Parrott said with a laugh.

The father-and-son team began looking into possible locations for the pub this past spring. At first, they were primarily looking at loc-
ations in New Hartford, Parrott said, and at the old Waring Building along Route 44 in particular.

But after initial discussion about opening the new pub there fell through, the family widened its search. Eventually, in July, the two felt they found the perfect spot at the end of the busy Ledgebrook Plaza.

“It wasn’t always Winsted. But we’re here now. And I’m glad,†Parrott said, adding that the pub’s close proximity to Route 44 and Route 8 should also help make the Swingin’ Parrott a popular destination among area residents.

“People who work in the plaza have also already come down for lunch and dinner,†he said.

Last Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, the pub hosted a special party to celebrate its grand opening. Parrott said the bar was at capacity throughout most of the night.

“The place was mobbed. The party went better than I expected,†he said. “It was a good first week.â€

This week, Parrott said he has been focusing on the debut of his kitchen’s new menu. It features pub fare favorites — burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads, as well as appetizers and desserts — with each dish priced at less than $10.

“I felt that it’s important to have a simple menu, but then be really good at what you make,†he said, adding that “Parrott Wings†have been an early favorite.

The kitchen will also feature daily specials, such as fish and chips, pulled pork sandwiches and other items that may then find their way onto the pub’s evolving menu.

“We’ve already had some repeat customers, which is great,†he said. “We haven’t done that much advertising. So, things are spreading by word of mouth.â€

Music will also be an important part of the pub. Parrott said he intends to feature live bands on a regular basis. The first to perform at the bar will be the classic rock cover band Tirebiter on Dec. 11.

Parrott added that once things get a bit more settled in at the pub, he intends to add trivia and karaoke nights, as well.

“I just want people to come in and have a good time,†he said.

The Swingin’ Parrott is at 200 New Hartford Road in Winsted. The pub is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Monday to Tuesay from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. For more information, call 860-379-5534 or visit the pub’s page on Facebook.com.

Latest News

Tuning up two passions under one roof

The Webb Family in the workshop. From left: Phyllis, Dale, Ben and Josh Webb, and project manager Hannah Schiffer.

Natalia Zukerman

Magic Fluke Ukulele Shop and True Wheels Bicycle Shop are not only under the same roof in a beautiful solar powered building on Route 7 in Sheffield, but they are also both run by the Webb family, telling a tale of familial passion, innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability.

In the late ‘90s, Dale Webb was working in engineering and product design at a corporate job. “I took up instrument manufacturing as a fun challenge,” said Dale. After an exhibit at The National Association of Music Merchants in Anaheim, California, in 1999, The Magic Fluke company was born. “We were casting finger boards and gluing these things together in our basement in New Hartford and it just took off,” Dale explained. “It was really a wild ride, it kind of had a life of its own.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert Cray’s soulful blues coming to Infinity Hall

Robert Cray

Photo provided

Blues legend Robert Cray will be bringing his stinging, funky guitar and soulful singing to Infinity Hall Norfolk on Friday, March 29.

A five-time Grammy winner, Cray has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and earned The Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Performance. He has played with blues and rock icons including Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and many more.

Keep ReadingShow less