This story was updated on Feb. 28 at 3:09 p.m.
As a student-run service, Clark Hall Pub pours pints for community, not profit.
Rich in Turbo and tradition, Clark Hall Pub takes the title of Canada’s oldest student-run pub. More than a social student hub, involvement with Clark stands to offer students the opportunity to develop skills in management, business, and networking.
Under its operations portfolio, the Engineering Society (EngSoc) manages several services, with Clark being the second-largest behind The Tea Room. When the pub opened in 1971, it primarily hosted engineering students. After closing in 2007 due to financial discrepancies and concerns around the Pub’s liquor license, the pub re-opened in 2008 and began attracting students from all faculties.
Although Clark integrates students from all areas of campus, its status as an EngSoc service requires at least 50 per cent of its management team be EngSoc members. However, hiring remains open to non-engineering students. According to Lily Stock, Sci ’26, and EngSoc’s vice-president (operations), there are currently 30 staff working under four managers at Clark.
According to Stock, the Society doesn’t take profits from the pub. Instead, Clark pays a fee to EngSoc to recuperate incurred costs, she told The Journal in a statement. According to Sam Shaw, Sci ’25, and Clark’s business manager, she works alongside Stock to assess and ensure financial stability of the pub on a monthly basis.
“Prices are set to cover the costs of goods but not make significant profit,” Shaw wrote in a statement to The Journal.
“We create a budget each year that aims to keep costs low without losing money,” Stock said.
According to Shaw, financial setbacks at the pub—including a recently purchased new fridge—are primarily paid for using a contingency fund, which is filled using revenue from Clark’s events.
“We earn revenue from beverages, our most popular being Turbo, Clark merchandise, ticketed live music events, and sponsorships when companies sponsor ritual or events,” Shaw said.
Considering Clark’s preparedness in financial setbacks and consistency in hosting student-catered events such as Ritual every Friday, finances and clientele turnout at Clark stands strong.
“We have seen an increase [in business] since COVID-19 and with the increase in students,” Stock said.
Beyond engrained social traditions, Clark provides students opportunities to get involved with their operations and gain valuable professional experience for future endeavours after leaving Queen’s. Networking is widely regarded to be fundamental for success. Stock says Clark frequently hosts networking events across different industries.
Professional opportunities at Clark extend beyond jobs at EngSoc.
Established in 1936, Student Constables (StuCons) operate under the AMS and—among other roles—have a somewhat symbiotic working relationship with Clark Hall Pub.
“Anytime there’s an event at Clark, there’s always StuCons required there for security,” Noah Hill, StuCons head manager said in an interview with The Journal.
“We [StuCons] rely on them [Clark Hall Pub] as our number one client post-COVID and they rely on us so that they can conduct their business,” AMS Vice-President (Operations) Ayan Chowdury said in an interview with The Journal.
Beyond pouring pints and hosting beloved events, Clark’s business operations elicit economic impacts seen beyond Queen’s campus.
“Our biggest impact on a Kingston business is with Gino’s Pizza, from whom we order over 25 pizzas each week. During our patio events, we also outsource to other local businesses such as Kingston Party Rentals for outdoor furniture,” Shaw said.
Not only do building these relationships benefit the greater Kingston community, but strong business connections open doors for future collaborations and work to build the strength of both parties involved.
In the next five years, Shaw says Clark’s goals are to maintain accessibility, continue diligent accounting processes, and keep prices affordable for students. StuCons on the other hand, will be continuing their work with anti-racism training and honing their brand perception via surveys.
When asked about the financial numbers pertaining to the pub, including how much they earn a year, neither Shaw nor Stock answered due to confidentiality reasons.
Corrections
A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that students must be EngSoc members to work at Clark. The story has also been updated to include the proper graduation years of Stock and Shaw. Incorrect information appeared in the Feb. 28 issue of The Queen’s Journal.
The Journal regrets the error
Tags
Clark Hall, Clark Hall Pub, Engineering, EngSoc, StuCons
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.