Canton Landmark Adds Second Location In Fenwick

Canton Landmark Adds Second Location In Fenwick
Canton

FENWICK ISLAND – A new addition to the beach community, Claddagh on the Shore, is busy bringing a fresh new look to the community this summer season and is looking forward to being the new place to be for all sporting events throughout the year.

Formerly the House of Welsh, Claddagh on the Shore located on Coastal Hwy. in Fenwick Island took over the space in March. After a major renovation, the restaurant opened its second location on June 29 just in time to offer the local community a new place to watch soccer’s World Cup.

The family owned and operated Claddagh Pub in Baltimore was opened in 1995 by husband and wife, Dennis and Vivian Clarke, and their son Michael Clarke. What started out as a small 30-seat pub has expanded to stretch across three properties, including a court yard to offer indoor and outdoor seating.

“It has been a lot of hard work but very good for our family,” Vivian Clarke said. “We have always looked for a second location. This area was something that we looked at for a long time. We love the area and we love the beach. When this place became available, we came down and looked at it and decided we can move Claddagh to the shore.”

Claddagh Pub in Baltimore carries bold traditional characteristics between the wood and stone work. Compared to that pub, Claddagh on the Shore is a breath of fresh air.

Guests enter into a cool blue lobby where they can choose to sit in over 300 seats between the large horse shoe shaped bar with dining or a separate dining room perfect for quiet family seating. Windows are often open when weather allows to welcome the ocean breeze.

“If you’re at the beach, you want to be outside as much as you can be,” Vivian Clarke said.

While Claddagh on the Shore focuses on its new beach location, the restaurant’s traditional wooden features remain prominent in the bar area as well as with three original fireplaces. One of the fireplaces is located in the “Golfers Room” that provides a large family-style table available for large parties.

As guests enter Claddagh on the Shore, which stands for “Friendship-Loyalty-Love”, traditional Irish phrases are there to greet them, such as “Cead Mile Failte”, meaning 100,000 welcomes.

“I think that says it’s all,” Vivian Clarke said. “We are very welcoming.”

Claddagh has brought its infamous soccer bar to the beach community that also offers the perfect location to view all sports events.

“I am looking forward to the fall. I really think we are going to do well here,” Vivian Clarke said. “We are a soccer family, and the World Cup was very good for us in both locations, as well as with the Orioles, and I feel we will do well with the Ravens. We are Baltimore.”

Although Claddagh on the Shore is part of the Clarke family’s Irish heritage, it offers American cuisine focused on the Eastern Shore.

The starters, Hot Maryland Crab Dip, Crab Toast and steamed shrimp prepared “Baltimore style” with Old Bay and onions are popular menu items. Additionally, many other dishes like the Classic Reuben, Prime Rib and Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes are featured.

Happy hour at Claddagh on the Shore is daily from 2-6 p.m. offering half prices bottles of wine, $5 sangrias and crushes, $2.50 domestic bottles, $3 rails and a new happy hour food menu. Also, Bloody Mary’s and mimosas are $4 on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Weekly live entertainment can be found at Claddagh on the Shore. For more information visit its Facebook page.

“The response from the local community has been great, very positive,” Vivian Clarke said.