Grafton Street Pub & Crown Alley

by Jeannine Gage 

Liam Fitzpatrick’s was a favorite hangout at Colonial TownPark in Lake Mary for years. An Irish-themed pub, it offered good food and a large selection of cocktails. But when the larger Applebee’s location across the street became available, the owners and management of Liam Fitzpatrick’s saw a golden opportunity to reimagine their identity.

“We wanted to become North Orlando’s premier destination for libations, draughts, and wines,” says Dominick Coloni, the longtime general manager. “We saw an opportunity, very close by, to be able to take what we loved about Liam’s and build a new establishment that we can grow with.”

So they moved the entire operation across the street to Park Place at Heathrow and did an overhaul of their offerings and branding.

The new establishment is called Grafton Street Pub & Crown Alley, offering its customers two distinct experiences in one location. Grafton Street Pub, the main bar and restaurant, is similar to Liam Fitzpatrick’s and features a family-friendly atmosphere with an extensive menu of pub food and a full bar with draft and craft beers, wine, and mixed drinks. Crown Alley is a craft cocktail bar that’s separate from the pub’s main dining room, and customers enter through a distinctive red phone booth. 

“It’s really special,” says Dominick. “It’s elevated and has a big city feel.”

A complimentary champagne toast is offered daily at 5:30 p.m. The delectable array of cocktail choices will change seasonally. 

Crown Alley, which has the vibe of a speakeasy lounge, is also the perfect place for private events and can seat up to 100 guests. 

“You will get the same great, friendly service as you do out front,” says Dominick, “but with this amazing room all to yourself.”

Grafton Street Pub features specialty drinks such as a blackberry whiskey sour and the Amoxicillin (amusingly named after the antibiotic), which is made with mezcal, honey ginger, and fresh lime juice.

 The food menu has a few traditional Irish pub offerings such as fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and Guinness steak stew, as well as decidedly non-Irish dishes like beef carpaccio, wings, and a Florida grouper sandwich. Daniel Sautter, who was Liam Fitzpatrick’s head chef, remains at the helm in the kitchen, bringing continuity to Grafton Street Pub & Crown Alley.

“Everything is made fresh,” says Dominick. “We have many familiar favorites that we have reengineered.”

The weekend brunch menu includes a smoked salmon bagel, lobster Gruyère omelet, and French toast charcuterie board that serves two to three people and features French toast with strawberries, bananas, Nutella, blueberry preserves, cinnamon whipped butter, and maple syrup.

Specialty drinks such as Pimm’s Cup and paloma are featured on the brunch menu, as are the very popular bottomless mimosas with assorted juices.

The 6,000-square-foot Grafton Street Pub and Crown Alley can seat up to 250 guests, and there is also a large outdoor seating area.

Dominick says the rebranding and move from the previous location was a big undertaking, but one that was totally worth the effort.

“To be able to offer two experiences in one location,” he says, “and more importantly, to have the ability to keep up with trends and give the community exactly what they want is just amazing.”

Grafton Street Pub & Crown Alley is located at 7055 County Road 46A in Lake Mary. Grafton Street Pub is open seven days a week, and Crown Alley is open Tuesday through Saturday. Hours vary, so visit GraftonStreetLakeMary.com for details.