Lily Verney-Downey & Warren Barr

Warren was born and raised in BC and was very fortunate to start his career in Vancouver at Le Crocodile Restaurant under Michel Jacob. During his career, he has helmed the kitchens of the Inn at Bay Fortune in PEI and the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino. Working in small, remote coastal communities from coast to coast, Warren developed a deep appreciation for Canadian ingredients and the hardworking individuals who farm, fish and forage. 

Lily began her career in the UK, graduating from University College Birmingham with a Culinary Arts Management degree. After completing a culinary internship at the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino during her studies, Lily went on to work in some of the UK’s most prestigious kitchens before returning to Tofino and settling in Canada due to the more favourable working conditions. 

Warren and Lily met working together in the kitchen in 2011, but Lily soon stepped out of her role as a cook and into restaurant and hotel management. In 2019, Lily and Warren had the opportunity to take over ‘Norwoods Restaurant’ in Ucluelet and purchase the property. They opened Pluvio later that year, with the restaurant opening in April 2019 and the rooms following in July 2019. 

Lily and Warren are as dedicated to creating a rewarding, supportive, professional and fun working environment for their team as they are to providing an exceptional guest experience. Their goal in opening Pluvio was to create a memorable experience for their guests that is unique to the West Coast, and to offer rewarding and long term employment to hospitality professionals who enjoy living in this beautiful part of the world.

Pluvio restaurant is a small, intimate space offering a tasting menu or three course dinner menu that focuses on local produce and Canadian cuisine. The restaurant has an ambitious culinary program, with everything from the sake kasu butter to the wild rice shoyu made from scratch in the tiny open kitchen. Great emphasis is placed on delivering a fun and unique dining experience through the service, the food, and the ambiance. 

In the opening year, Pluvio was awarded 4th Best New Restaurant in Canada by enRoute Magazine. Three years and one pandemic after opening, the restaurant was honoured by ‘Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants’ to be selected as Canada’s ‘Best Destination Restaurant’ and 37th Best Restaurant by ‘Canada’s 100 Best Restaurant’ for 2022, followed by a spot as 33rd Best Restaurant for 2023. The team were thrilled to be names ‘Best Fine Dining Restaurant in Canada 2022’ by Trip Advisor, and to be included in the MacLean’s Magazine’s ‘Best Places to Eat Now’ list in 2023.