The Boathouse Kitsilano space won't be vacant long.
The restaurant's impending closure was announced earlier this year, and Vancouver's own Hawksworth Restaurant Services was quick to jump on taking over the space.
The City of Vancouver plans to award a contract to Hawksworth with a term of 10 years initially that could be extended to 20 years. A city committee approved staff to negotiate with Hawksworth at a July 9, 2025 meeting.
"The current operation is in need of significant capital investment, revitalized branding and facilities and improved concession services to enhance its appeal and attract a broader customer base," reads a staff report on the Kitsilano beach restaurant space from the meeting.
"The objective is to transform the space into a destination-style restaurant that offers a high-quality brunch, lunch, dinner and private dining experiences, complemented by concession services."
Other restaurant groups also expressed interest in the space, including Aquilini Restaurants (aka Toptable Group) and Tap and Barrel Group.
"The evaluation team concluded that the proposal submitted by Hawksworth Restaurant Services Inc. met the City’s requirements as outlined in the RFP and provided the best overall value to the City," reads the report.
It's not expected that the restaurant will cost the city anything.
Hawksworth is behind the well-known restaurant of the same name in the Rosewood Hotel Georgia. Named for and led by chef/owner David Hawksworth, the restaurant group also includes the hotel's more casual Bel Café and Coal Harbour's Nightingale.
In 2022, Cactus Club co-founder Richard Jaffray (who had departed Cactus) became a key investor in Hawksworth Restaurant Group under the banner of his LFG Growth Partners.
One initial expansion project was thought to be a Hawksworth project (potentially Nightingale) at the site of the former Yaletown Distillery. No official announcement has been made.
LFG also owns Vancouver's Nook, Oddfish, and Radish restaurants, as well as Shelter and the Shed in Tofino. In Toronto, they have The Chase restaurants, which includes its forthcoming The Frederick restaurant.
Details about plans for Hawksworth at the former Boathouse in Kits have not been revealed, though the chef told the Vancouver Sun the new venture will be an extension of the existing portfolio: "This project gives us a chance to build on the success of our existing brands — Hawksworth, Nightingale, and Bel Café — while creating something that reflects the laid-back, creative spirit of the Kitsilano neighbourhood."
The Boathouse in Kitsilano will close permanently on September 21. That same day, the U.S.-owned chain will also close its White Rock location. Expiring leases are the reasons for both closures.
V.I.A. reached out to a representative for Hawksworth and share any additional information provided.
🍽 Find more delicious Metro Vancouver food and drink video stories by following V.I.A's Forking Awesome on TikTok and Instagram, and signing up for our Forking Awesome newsletter 📬 delivered fresh to your inbox every Thursday.
