OFT PONDERED QUERIES

DIRECTIONS

How do I get to the Bull Run Restaurant?

Click HERE for Directions to Bull Run.

How do I contact the Bull Run?

Our General Manager Bryan Sawyer answers all questions! We are open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 11pm. We have office hours on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10am – 3pm.  When we aren’t able to get to the phone, we have an answering machine that we check daily. You can also send an email to Bryan directly at bryansawyer@bullrunrestaurant.com, or send us feedback at bullrungeorge@gmail.com

Bull Run Restaurant  215 Great Road/PO Box 1228  Shirley, MA 01464  978-425-4311  Toll Free: 877-536-7190

What are the hours of operation for the Bull Run?

Lunch & Dinner:  Wed - Sat, 11AM - 10PM 
Sunday Brunch: 10AM - 2PM
Sunday Dinner: 2PM - 10PM

Office Hours:  Monday - Friday, 10AM - 3PM

RESERVATIONS

Do I need to make reservations?

We strongly recommend reservations. Please call us at 978-425-4311.

Dinner and show?

All of our concerts are a la carte. When you purchase tickets online and choose the “Show and Dinner Reservations” option instead of “Show Only” you are letting us know that you intend to eat dinner. Please note that your ticket price does NOT cover the cost of whatever you eat and drink. You will notice that the “Show Only” and “Show and Dinner Reservation” are the same price. We ask simply to give our Chef an idea of how to best prepare the kitchen.

PARKING

It looks small from the road, but the Bull Run has a 250-space parking lot on both sides of our Covered Bridge. Parking across the bridge is well lit private property for Bull Run patrons only.

SMOKING

The Bull Run is a no smoking venue. We have outdoor areas designated for smokers.

ATM

The Bull Run does not have an ATM, but the package store right next door to us does.

ACCESSIBILITY

All of our rooms at Bull Run are wheelchair accessible, except for the upstairs Ballroom, Noble Room & Chimney Room. For Sawtelle Room & Tap Room/Lounge, enter through our front door ramp. For events in our Studio or Garden Room, please enter at the Sawtelle entrance in the back, across from our Covered Bridge.

HISTORY

Can you tell me something about the history of the restaurant & the building?

The Guercio family of Shirley has owned & operated the Bull Run since 1946. The restaurant is now being managed by the 3rd generation. We work with various nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and even a few outlaws. We’re proud of our staff and their commitment to the business.

For more information on the history of the Bull Run, please click HERE

DRESS CODE

How should I dress to visit the Bull Run?

The Bull Run is a 300-year old tavern, and therefore oozes charm and casual elegance. Our tavern was originally a stagecoach stop, and when the tired and thirsty travelers stopped in from their long, dusty ride, they looked forward to relaxing in front of our fireplace with their boots off. To this day, we believe in what we call “Boots Off Comfort” for our patrons. There are several different rooms at Bull Run; we often have more than one event going on in different rooms on the same night, so you will see everything from wedding gowns & tiaras to shorts & polo shirts. We want you to be comfortable and suggest appropriate dress that is presentable for a night out at a nice venue. For photos of our various rooms, please go HERE

MENUS

What kind of food does the Bull Run serve?

The Bull Run is a farm-to-table restaurant with 7 different menus that change seasonally. Our Executive Chef Isaac Carter uses only the finest ingredients from area farms and we try to purchase from local farmers and we list the names of the farms and the products sourced from each on all our menus.
Our 7 menus are: Dinner, Lunch, Lounge, Pizza, Concert, Sunday Brunch & Kids. We also have an ice cream stand called Obadiah’s and an outdoor Patio called Arthur’s Garden that are open from May through September!

When you reserve a ticket for a show, you will be given our Concert menu and depending on the size of the show, our Pizza menu. If you want more choices, including Dinner & Lounge, you are welcome to eat in our Tavern restaurant in advance of the concert. Once you are ticketed, your seats will be saved until show time. Just let us know which room you prefer to eat when you make your reservation.

PLEASE NOTE: Your ticket purchase does NOT include the cost of your meal.  When you purchase tickets, you will be asked to choose between “Show Only” and “Show and Dinner Reservations”. This is NOT binding. It’s only there so our chefs can get a rough idea of how many people may be eating. If you check Show Only, you can still eat if you get here by 6 or 6:30pm. And likewise, if you choose “Show and Dinner Reservations” you are not required to eat.

The Bull Run is a full service restaurant.
To view all our menus, go HERE.

What kind of beer do you serve at Bull Run?

The Bull Run is a full service restaurant with full bars in most rooms. We serve several local brews on tap, including The People’s Pint, brewed in Greenfield, MA, and Wachusett Country Ale and Wachusett Blueberry Beer, also brewed in Massachusetts. Other beers on tap include a seasonal Sam Adams and Miller & Bud Lite. We have all the most popular bottled beers.

PAYMENT METHODS

What form of payment do you accept?

The Bull Run accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Gift Certificates, Travelers Checks, and Good Old-fashioned Cash. If we know you, we’ll take a check, but we only know a few people.

SEPARATE CHECKS

We can easily do separate checks but we require you to tell us in advance of your meal that you prefer the checks separately.

GIFT CERTIFICATES

Does the Bull Run offer Gift Certificates?

Yes, you can purchase a gift certificate for concerts or meals. Order Gift Certificates online HERE.
You can also stop by the restaurant or call 978-425-4311 to purchase a gift certificate.

TICKETING

I purchased tickets and now have a conflict. Can I get a refund?

Tickets are non-refundable and all sales are final. To pick up your tickets at the door, we will require the ID and credit card of the purchaser. We recognize sometimes there are emergencies, and we try to accommodate special circumstances if possible. But our policy is all sales are final. Please call our main number at 978-425-4311 and ask for our General Manager, Bryan Sawyer if you have questions. If a show is cancelled and rescheduled, we will honor your ticket for the make up date.

PRESS & MEDIA INQUIRIES

I am a member of the media and need more info. Who can I speak with?

Most background information is available on our website. We are happy to do interviews for the restaurant, and often can arrange interviews with the talent that we showcase for media. Please contact the restaurant directly, or send an email to bullrungeorge@gmail.com. Please include your name, contact info, and specifics on what you are interested in. We respect your deadlines and will promptly respond!

And see our Menus HERE

And read our History HERE

PRESS & MEDIA SEATS

At times we are able to set aside seats at shows for media. All arrangements must be done in advance through our General Manager, Bryan Sawyer.

Can you add/remove my name from the Bull Run mailing list?

We respect your privacy. Please send an email asking to be added or deleted from our email list to bullrungeorge@gmail.com. The Bull Run will never sell or share your information with any third party.

What time do the doors open for concerts?

Doors open for dinner at 6pm in the Sawtelle Room for concerts. The Tap Room is open from 5pm on for dinner prior to Ball Room shows, and you can always have a drink in our lounge prior to or after a show. Please check to make sure you know which room your show is in!

Can I buy tickets at the door?

Yes, if there are tickets available, you can buy them at the door day of the show. Ticket prices are higher at the door on the day of the show and may not always be available.

We prefer you buy in advance, so we know you are coming! But if you come last minute, we will do our very best to accommodate you. You can also buy tickets in advance during regular business hours at our front desk, and online. Please note: The same service fees apply whether you buy online, in person, or by phone, and we cannot guarantee tickets day of show.

Is the Bull Run Concert Series menu different from the restaurant menu?

Yes. We have a special Concert menu that changes seasonally. However you are welcome to eat in our restaurant in advance of the concert. Once you are ticketed, your seats will be saved until show time. Just let us know which room you prefer to eat when you make your reservation.

PLEASE NOTE: Your ticket purchase does NOT include the cost of your meal.

The Bull Run is a full service restaurant.
To view all our menus, go HERE

Can I choose my seats for the concerts?

Some shows have general seating, and some have reserved seating. Click on the show you want to see to find out whether you can choose your own seats. You will see a map and be able to choose the number of tickets at available tables. If a table is NOT available, when you scroll over it, it will say SOLD OUT. If a show is general seating, nothing will happen when you scroll over the map. Please note, the Sawtelle Room seats just 286 people, and there really are no bad seats or sight lines.

There are only 2 of us but the table are all for 8 on the Concert seating map. Why?

All tables for the Concerts are set for 8 people, and it is likely you will be sitting with other people at your table.

Can I take pictures and/or record the show?

Most of our artists prefer that you not take flash photos or record them unless you have specific legal authority to do so. Please respect their wishes during the performance.

Can I eat during the show?

Most people eat before the show, and work on dessert and drinks during the concert. Doors open at 6:00pm.
Most shows start at 8:00pm if there is an opening act, and closer to 9:00pm if there is a headliner only.
Dinner reservations any time between 6:30 and 7:30 are recommended. Leave yourself a little extra time if you prefer to dine in our Tavern which has a more extensive menu. Reservations are strongly suggested.

CANCELLATIONS

How will I know if a show is cancelled due to weather?

This is New England so we are not as wimpy about weather as other places. However, at times, we have to cancel a show due to inclement weather. If weather is an issue, you can call the Bull Run directly at 978-425-4311 if you have questions. We will generally update our website if we need to cancel. We will refund or transfer your tickets with your agreement to another show if we need to cancel. When you purchase tickets to our events, you agree to all our terms for ticket sales.

How do I get booked at the Bull Run?

For information on playing at our venue, please go HERE

Where can I stay if I’m traveling to the Bull Run?

There are several options nearby. For a full service hotel, we suggest the Devens Marriott which is the next town east of Shirley in Devens, MA. For more intimate and unique accommodations, we suggest the Harley House, which is the next town west of us in Lunenburg, MA.
For directions and contact information on places to stay, please go HERE.