Close to a dozen organizations have already verbally expressed an interest in taking over the beer tent at the Royal St. John’s Regatta.

The St. John’s Kinsmen Club withdrew in a huff after the Regatta raised the concession price by ten per cent. The committee did so for all concession operators as well as the rowers. It was the first price increase in five years.

The operator bears the expense of the security fencing, the porta-potties, and the product.

Regatta president Chris Neary says their committee does not have the wherewithal to run the beer garden, so they are inviting non-profit groups to do so. A formal Request for Proposals has already gone out.

He says had the Kinsmen made a case that the fee increase was problematic, they would have worked around it but it amounts to about $400.
Regatta Day is Wednesday, August 7.