Taste The Beautiful Game — BC Style
The world's biggest tournament. BC's best venues. Your moment to shine.
Taste the Beautiful Game — BC Style gives restaurant and venue owners everything they need to host epic World Cup 2026™ watch parties, from the first whistle to the final pour.
Everything you need to host an unforgettable watch party. From kickoff setup to final whistle, this guide walks you through creating the kind of atmosphere that keeps fans coming back.
Bring the beautiful game to the table. These customizable templates make it easy to craft a match-day menu that feels special without slowing down your kitchen during peak service.
Your go-to guide for spreading the word. From social media posts to in-venue signage, these ready-made tools help you fill seats and build buzz around every match day, BC style.
Taste the Beautiful Game — BC Style
is a BCRFA project in partnership with the
Government of British Columbia
CASE STUDY
When Shaughnessy Restaurant faced losing its lease despite strong community support and post-pandemic recovery, the BCRFA stepped in. We brought a critical industry voice to City Council, highlighting the cultural and emotional significance of the restaurant. Our advocacy helped overturn the Parks Board’s recommendation, securing the lease for the long-standing operators and preserving a valued local institution.
Saving Shaughnessy: A Fight to Preserve a Local Legend
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After decades as a beloved part of Vancouver’s culinary and community landscape, Shaughnessy Restaurant was suddenly at risk of losing its lease.
The Parks Board initiated a re-tendering process, opening the space to new bids, despite Shaughnessy's strong pandemic recovery and long-standing local support.
With only two proposals submitted, one from the restaurant’s current operators and one from a new group, Parks staff recommended a shift to the new operator. The selection process focused heavily on technical, financial, and environmental criteria, ignoring the emotional and cultural importance of the business to the community.
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The BCRFA stepped in. Our President & CEO, Ian Tostenson, attended the Vancouver City Council meeting where the lease decision was being reviewed.
Ian delivered two key points:
Risk of Transition: In the current economic climate, changing operators at a long-established restaurant carries significant risk; financial failure is more likely than success.
The Missing Piece: The City’s evaluation missed an essential factor, the emotional and community value of the restaurant. Numbers matter, but so does legacy.
Ian’s remarks brought a much-needed human and industry-centered perspective to the conversation.
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City Council ultimately rejected the Parks Board’s recommendation to award the lease to the new operator. Several councillors referenced Ian’s comments directly during the discussion, reinforcing the power and influence of the BCRFA’s advocacy.
Thanks to our involvement, the current owners of Shaughnessy Restaurant were able to retain their lease and continue serving their community.
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This case illustrates the real-world impact of industry advocacy. It’s not just about policy; it’s about protecting businesses that matter.
Shaughnessy Restaurant isn’t just a business; it’s a community institution.
The BCRFA ensured that decision-makers understood that emotional and cultural value must be considered alongside financial metrics.
Without our intervention, a successful, legacy business might have been forced to shut down.
"Ian, thank you so much. Your voice carried a lot of weight. Several councillors quoted you. We are lucky to have your support."
Chris Chatten, Shaughnessy Restaurant
CASE STUDY
Fighting for Fairness: Standing with an Icon
When a Vancouver restaurant was hit with a surprise $25,000 upgrade requirement during a minor kitchen change, the BCRFA stepped in and reached out to our contacts in the municipal office. By challenging the decision and reinforcing existing agreements, we helped avoid an unnecessary financial burden, ensuring fair, common-sense application of regulations.
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A well-known Vancouver restaurant faced an unexpected and costly requirement during a minor kitchen sink modification. Metro Vancouver informed the operator that they would need to install a new grease interceptor, an upgrade that would cost approximately $25,000.
The request appeared excessive, especially given the scale of the kitchen change, and risked setting an unreasonable precedent for others in the industry.
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The BCRFA stepped in to advocate on behalf of the restaurant. Metro Vancouver initially justified the requirement by characterizing the business as a large chain with the resources to absorb the cost.
We challenged that assumption, pointing out that even established restaurants operate on thin margins, and that financial capacity should not dictate regulatory enforcement.
More importantly, we reminded Metro Vancouver of the existing agreement: grease interceptors are only required in the case of a substantial kitchen upgrade or when an existing interceptor is proven to be inefficient. Neither condition applied in this case.
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Following our advocacy, Metro Vancouver reversed its decision.
Rather than requiring a costly new installation, the restaurant was only asked to ensure the regular maintenance of its current grease management system.
The business avoided an unnecessary financial burden, and no broader regulatory precedent was set.
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This case highlights the importance of fair, proportionate regulation, especially in an industry where even minor, unexpected costs can have serious financial consequences.
It also demonstrates the BCRFA’s role in holding regulatory bodies accountable to existing agreements and advocating for solutions that are both practical and equitable.