The same people behind a downtown Huntsville music venue coming to the former Crossroads Music Hall and UG White Mercantile retailer space are also opening a new, British-style pub on the square.

The latter venture will be called The Poppy and located at 117 North Side Square. Expect Guinness on tap and a 1920s, post-World War I industrial vibe, for starters. Co-owner Paul Daigle hopes The Poppy will open in April. Currently the storefront there is blocked off with tall white partitions. The space was formerly home to a fine art gallery and to an architect office.

The pub name is a reference to John McCrae’s 1915 war poem “In Flanders Fields.” Daigle, and his two partners in PBD Holdings, Dave Clarke and Brian Peoples, are all veterans. Daigle is a former Army helicopter pilot and served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Walking down the street you have no idea how many people in this town are veterans," Daigle says, "because it's not something we get cheesy about." Daigle and his partners wanted a place that would honor those who've served while being "a good mix of working professionals and younger people as well. It's like that neighborhood pub. We just don't have that."

PDB Holdings' aforementioned, upcoming music venue, called The Mercantile, has targeted a June 28 opening with long-running Tuscaloosa band The Dexateens and local group Rob Aldridge & The Proponents performing that night. The venue's website lists capacity at 1,000.

The Poppy will also offer some live music, but on a smaller scale, along the lines of acoustic duos and solo acts. “Nothing that would prevent the casual customer from holding a conversation,” Daigle says.

PBD Holdings' other ventures include the Arsenal Coffee food truck. After serving in the military, Daigle has worked as a defense contractor. A hunting trip to Scotland and friendship with an industry colleague/rugby teammate who is British helped pique Daigle’s interest in U.K. culture.

The Poppy will not serve food. However, Daigle says, the pub will allow (and help facilitate) customers to obtain food from surrounding restaurants and bring it there. Big Oh’s Korean restaurant, for example, is two doors down. Humphrey’s Bar & Grill, Jimmy John’s, Pints & Pixels are some other eateries in the general area. Sam & Greg’s Pizzeria was formerly located next door and plans to reopen across the square this fall. An empty space formerly occupied by shuttered nightspot Amendment XXI is three doors down from 117 North Side Square.