Mount Pleasant Vintage has spent the last several years pushing Vancouver’s hospitality scene forward. introducing better nightlife, unique daytime programming, and a space where guests can move, socialize, and enjoy themselves the way people do in major cities around the world. As part of that growth, we’re applying to amend our license from a dual license to a full liquor-primary license. The dual-license system was originally part of a small pilot program, and while it helped us get started, it now creates challenges that hold us back. During the day guests must remain seated, at night they can stand, and the city treats us as two separate businesses even though we operate as one. That means two business license fees: approximately $3,000 for Food Primary and $4,000 for Liquor Primary — simply to run the same venue.
WHY Mount Pleasant Vintage Is Applying for a License amendment
Beyond the operational inconsistencies, this system also restricts our ability to compete fairly with other venues. While many bars across Vancouver now have full liquor-primary licenses with expanded, modernized hours, we lose valuable time in the evenings because our dual license limits when we can open and how late we can operate. In the nightlife world, even an hour matters — guests naturally choose venues that can stay open later, and being held to earlier hours puts us at a disadvantage. On top of that, offering daytime events like our Sunday disco, pop-ups, or private buyouts requires applying for Special Event Permits that can cost up to $1,000 per event. For a neighbourhood bar that hosts regular programming, those costs add up quickly and limit the events we can offer the community.
A full liquor-primary license allows us to eliminate these contradictions, operate with the same standards as other modern venues, and keep shaping the kind of nightlife and daytime culture people want in this city. We’ve already supported licensing improvements in Vancouver — our owner has worked directly with council members and spoken at City Hall, contributing to the successful vote that extended liquor-primary hours citywide. Now we’re simply asking for equality: one license, one business, consistent rules, and the ability to continue offering safe, responsible, community-focused events without unnecessary hurdles. If you enjoy what MPV brings to the city, your support genuinely matters.
Below is a ready-to-send email guests can copy/paste:
To: liquor.comments@vancouver.ca
Subject: Support for Mount Pleasant Vintage – Liquor-Primary License Amendment
Email Body:
Hello City of Vancouver Licensing Team,
I’m writing to express my support for Mount Pleasant Vintage’s application to amend their license from a dual license to a full liquor-primary license. This change would allow them to operate consistently, offer community events without unnecessary restrictions, and contribute to the continued growth of Vancouver’s nightlife and cultural landscape.
Mount Pleasant Vintage has demonstrated responsible operations and provides valuable programming for the city. A liquor-primary license would help them continue offering the daytime and nighttime events that many of us enjoy.
Thank you for considering this request,
[Your Name]
from the bottom of our hearts, thank you!
- THe mount pleasant vintage & provisions team