A look at Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms was one of the few tea rooms scattered around the small town of Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island, Canada during the 20th century. This news article will explain and explore some of the history regarding Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms. Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms was also known as Milton's Old Spain Restaurant.


What was The Horse and Sulky Club became Milton’s Old Spain Tea Rooms. Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms was located in a 3-story building that had long served the Bell family in providing hospitality to the public. The front of the building looks more like a house. The downstairs had a sign which read “Milton's Old Spain Restaurant” on one side and the other sign which read “Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms”. It was Myron Bell's father, Milton Bell, and mother, Rita Bell, that started the tradition. (Ref: https://www.facebook.com/VintageCharlottetown/photos/a.751943401558135.1073741837.355081987910947/751943514891457)

During the Prohibition Era from the 1920s and 1930s, you could order coffee a certain way and get a shot of rum in it. The coffee would have a shot of rum inside. They served cherry drinks that were eventually stopped because of liquor in them.

In the 1960s after Milton Bells’s passing, his son Myron took over Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms to help out his mother. Myron carried on the tradition after Milton's death. After Myron's death the family renamed the operation after their father and expanded the upstairs facilities. But Myron didn’t get too far from under the wing. His mother kept a very close eye on things as there wouldn’t be a day go by she wasn’t at the restaurant. (Ref: https://web.archive.org/web/20190323191251/https://www.buzzon.com/index.php/news-articles/columnists/50-sprague-andrew/690-end-of-a-legacy)

In Myron opened The Granada upstairs the early 60s. In 1969, Myron hired a football player from Ottawa to work the door. This guy had moved to Prince Edward Island to play with the Panthers and he needed a bit of extra cash. The next owner was Gerry MacDonald. He was married to Myron’s daughter Karen. As a tribute to his late father-in-law, MacDonald had the bar and restaurant renamed to Myron’s. However Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms continued operating.


Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms was a very busy place during the mid-90s as the tea room was full to capacity all the time. It became apparent to Gerry MacDonald that the bar was busy enough to justify an expansion. The timing couldn’t have been better because the Zeller’s next door had shut down. Thousands of square feet were sitting unused, right next door to the busiest bar in town. So in 1995 Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms expanded into the first floor of Zeller’s. The new addition included pool tables, a dance floor, and a stage. No longer was Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms just a restaurant and bar. The expansions continued throughout the 90s. Eventually Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms would grow into the second floor and basement of Zeller’s. (Ref: https://web.archive.org/web/20190323191251/https://www.buzzon.com/index.php/news-articles/columnists/50-sprague-andrew/690-end-of-a-legacy)

In a single addition MacDonald turned it into the premiere concert venue in Charlottetown. And for the next 10 years hundreds of rock, blues, and hip hop acts would grace its stage. Some of the more well-known included Wide Mouth Mason, Kim Mitchell, Big Sugar, Burton Cummings, Mick Taylor, Jeff Healey, Dan Hill and Great Big Sea. And it wasn’t just a place for the big hitters, many Island musicians called that stage home—guys like Tim MacPherson, Donnie Bowers, Ritchie Bulger, Joey Kitson, Paul MacAusland and Marvin Birt. Over the last few years Maritime stalwarts like Slowcoaster and The Jimmy Swift Band kept the crowds coming in. Many of those customers wouldn’t have been there otherwise.

By 2001, Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms and Milton's Old Spain Restaurant were one of the biggest bars in eastern Canada. (Ref: The Buzz, End of a Legacy I’m Reminiscing Out Here, Andrew Sprague)


Competition from other bars and tea rooms in the area were somewhat a related part of the changes that would eventually lead to the collapse of Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms. As Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms grew, so did its competition. The market was much more spread out when club liquor prices began dropping. As club liquor dropped through the floor, Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms lost too much of its share in that market.

Charlottetown Sheriff’s Office had seized the liquor from Myron’s and Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms on orders from Revenue Canada. Rumours had been circulating for months that the place was in trouble. The bar itself was not nearly as busy as in its hey-day in the mid 90s, and it seemed the place was barely holding on. (Ref: The Buzz, End of a Legacy I’m Reminiscing Out Here, Andrew Sprague)


Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms continued to serve food and drink under a variety of owners until closing in October 2014. (Ref: https://www.facebook.com/VintageCharlottetown/photos/a.751943401558135.1073741837.355081987910947/751943461558129/)

The tea room closed in October 2014 when Chef Gordon Bailey decided to move back to Manitoba. That is why he closed the restaurant in October 2014. The last restaurant to operate in the building was called Lot 30. The tea room had been sitting vacant and unused by 2015. (Ref: https://www.facebook.com/VintageCharlottetown/photos/a.751943401558135/751943514891457/?comment_id=929133537172453&reply_comment_id=929156337170173)

Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms is now home to the Hopyard Beer Bar and Restaurant. Hopyard continues to operate at this location.


Milton's Old Spain Tea Rooms was located at 151 Kent Street, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. The postal address was 151 Kent St, Charlottetown, PE C1A 1N5, Canada.