People sitting at a patio in front of the mountains in Vancouver's Kits neighbourhood

Batch Kitsilano celebrates first anniversary as DownLow Chicken joins the menu

June 18 2025 –

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is celebrating the first anniversary of its partnership with Batch at the Kitsilano Pool concession with the launch of a new collaboration with DownLow (DL) Chicken and a 60-seat expansion of the licensed patio.

In June of 2024, the patio transformed an underused deck into a vibrant, licensed gathering space in one of Vancouver’s most scenic waterfront locations. With local food, drinks, and live music overlooking the North Shore mountains, the patio has become a standout example of how thoughtful partnerships can enhance public spaces.

“This is the kind of partnership that reflects our commitment to creating welcoming, dynamic public spaces while supporting local business,” said Park Board Chair Laura Christensen. “It’s exciting to see people coming together in a vibrant community space while enjoying good food and live music set against Vancouver’s picturesque skyline.”

Open Wednesdays through Fridays 3 pm to 10 pm and Saturdays and Sundays noon to 10 pm, the concession now features menu offerings from DownLow Chicken, a Vancouver favourite known for its bold, Nashville-style fried chicken. The expanded menu includes a variety of DL Chicken classics, including the OG Sando and DL Tenders, well as new options such as Burrito on the DL, the SWagyu Dog, and the Kits All-Beef Burger. Menu offerings continue to spotlight locally sourced products in line with the Park Board’s “Think Local” approach, which encourages prioritizing Canadian food and beverage products wherever feasible.

“This partnership has been an incredible way to connect with the Kits community,” said John Negrin, owner of Batch. “We’ve always believed that public spaces can—and should—be lively, welcoming places that bring people together. We're thrilled to partner with DownLow Chicken and continue our collaboration with the Vancouver Park Board as we grow into this epic location.”

“We’re excited to be partnering with the Park Board and the amazing Batch team, and to be joining them at such an iconic Vancouver location this summer: the famous Kitsilano Pool Concession,” Doug Stephen, co-founder of DL Chicken. “Kitsilano has always been a neighbourhood full of energy and great food culture. We can't wait to be part of that and bring the heat to the community with our fried chicken creations.”

The partnership aligns with the Park Board’s “Think Big” Revenue Strategy (210 KB) by demonstrating how public-private partnerships can create revenue opportunities that improve visitor experiences. 

About Batch

Batch is a Vancouver-based hospitality group known for transforming public spaces into relaxed, open-air experiences with locally sourced food and beverages. Their seasonal pop-up patios showcase BC producers and foster community connections through casual, thoughtful design. 

About DownLow Chicken

Known as Vancouver's original Hot Chicken brand, DL Chicken has been an East Vancouver cult favourite ever since Doug Stephen and Lindsey Mann opened their first location in 2018. The concept brought Nashville-style Hot Chicken to the West Coast, with crispy, fried chicken coated in their signature hot spices. 

For more information about Park Board concessions, visit: vancouver.ca/concessions.