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WCCO Viewers' Choice For Best Happy Hour In Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - Patio season is upon us, and there's nothing like grabbing a drink and a bite with friends and family after work. WCCO's Natalie Nyhus reached out to our viewers to find the best happy hour in Minnesota. Your votes sent her to a Minneapolis institution: Brit's Pub.

The "happy hour" is a very American thing. It's that magical time of day after work, but before dinner, where folks unwind and share a pint and a bite. But according to you, the best place to partake is at a decidedly English establishment: Brit's Pub and Eatery.

"Brit's is an institution in downtown Minneapolis," said General Manager Shane Higgins. "We've been here since 1990."

That's 25 years of the things they're best known for, pints and patios.

"Started off as a small pub and over the years we've grown to the left, to the right, out front, up above, out back," Higgins said. "You name it, we've grown that way."

You know, the word pub is a little misleading in this case.

"Capacity is pretty big for a pub. It's 1,700 people," said Higgins.

There are a total of five bars to get your happy on.

"Nobody feels out of place," said Higgins. "Stock brokers hanging with a soccer mom."

Or you can head outside to any of their three outdoor patios.

"It's like an oasis downtown with the green and the plants and flowers all around," said Higgins.

One foot inside the door and you're transported across the pond.

"We try to be very traditional," Higgins said. "Everything we do, we always think, 'Would that work in a British pub?'"

Certainly the way they pour the beer works. They do it just like the Brits.

"They are 20 ounce pints," Higgins said. "It's the British pint, the imperial pint as we like to say. It's a bit more bang for your buck."

But leave your British pounds at home! For happy hour, $4.50 will get you a pint. That includes American tax.

"It's mainly built around those draft beers we are known for," Higgins said. "We have a great array of draft beers from the U.K., Europe and they're complemented by some really good local craft beers. Every one of those is on the happy hour."

Pair a pint with a classic U.K. food like chips and gravy or Scotch eggs. That's a happy hour, indeed.

But if doing the British thing isn't your cup of tea, that's okay, too.

"We won't be stuffing Britain down your throat," Higgins said. "You can lie back and enjoy the sunshine and drink a Budweiser."

Cheers mate!

Brit's Pub's happy hour is weekdays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A few of your other favorites were Maynard's in Excelsior and Bunny's Bar and Grill in St. Louis Park.

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