Inclusivity with a Beer, Friends & Fun
Every day of the year, there’s a place to find friends, have a bit of fun, and enjoy a drink. From afternoon through to the early morning hours, Pumpjack Pub at 1167 Davie Street is mixing up the West End’s queer scene with entertainment and a community vibe.
Community Pub by Day, Nightclub After Dark
We talked with General Manager, Byron Cooke, about the pub’s history and the area’s nightlife scene. “Pumpjack goes way back. We’ve been open for a quarter century and have evolved with Davie Street. Back in the day, we were all about the queer blue collar, kink, and men-in-leather scene. We still have regulars who fit into the traditional mix, but there’s a new crowd now, too. Some are coming in after work for a drink, maybe to play some pool or visit with friends, but as the evening approaches, we transition towards a nightclub mix with music and dancing.”
“We take inclusivity seriously,” Cooke added, “and, at the core of it all, we’re about friends, community, and great entertainment. We have live DJs and special features, like our Sunday Kegger, Wednesday Karaoke, Fetish Wear Fridays, and Jockstrap Parties. There’s never a dull moment and we’re known for our weekend enclosed entertainment cube with hot dancers and showering fun.”
Giving Back to the Queer Community
Pumpjack Pub brings community building to a new level by leveraging its 250+ person capacity for social causes, too. Public health initiatives for men are hosted, as well as monthly socials for key community groups. The commitment extends off-site, as well, through sports team sponsorships.
Pumpjack is a destination draw for out-of-town visitors looking for a legendary Davie Village experience. Pinball, dancing, drop shots, and bomb shots — the music’s great, the friends are close, the excitement is everywhere.
Qmunity, Health Initiative for Men (HIM), and LGBTQ+ sports organizations — what’s important to the queer community runs through everything Cooke and his team focus on. “We might seem like a hot place to party, somewhere where the beer’s on-tap, and your favourite game’s on the big TV, but we’re more than that. We’re family and a place where Davie Street’s scene has grown, looked good, met one another, and staked its freedom. Our inclusivity extends in all directions,” Cooke said.
Everyday of the Year, Into the Wee Hours
Whether you’re stopping in for off-sales, or out for a night on the town, Pumpjack Pub is the place to see and be seen. There’s patio space, tunes playing, and new friends to meet. There’s no excuse to sit at home alone, weeknight or weekend. With a great selection of beers on-tap, cider in the well, and cocktails being mixed — you know your night’s going to be special.
Pumpjack Pub is willing to bet you’re going to be back — in the heart of Davie Village, where you’ll feel so at home, you can let loose, party, and find the friends who have been right here all along.