1851 Club

This is my neighborhood bar, and I love that it’s a gay bar. I grew up coming to this bar but the atmosphere is getting more and more unpleasant the more entitled white lgbtq folks hang around. My last straw was a weekend I brought a friend to a drag show. I have a condition that makes me prone to fainting. It’s summertime and the heat makes that worse. We were heading to the bar to order drinks before finding a spot to sit down. I had simply rested my hand on a table to help prevent my symptoms from progressing so I wouldn’t faint in a bar (tons of hard surfaces to injure myself on and I also have a health condition that makes my body and skin more fragile and prone to injury) and white people came up to me (while I was experiencing presyncope, by the way, and struggling with dizziness, tunnel vision, and breathing) telling me that that was their table, I couldn’t sit there, and find somewhere else to go. I wasn’t planning on it. I’m a local and already know about reserved tables. No part of my behavior showed I was trying to occupy that table. I was just catching my breath and trying not to faint. This is not the atmosphere and energy I know 1851 embodies as an inclusive space. I miss the atmosphere 1851 used to have and this solidified that. The wheelchair inaccessibility was the nail in the coffin now that I’m a wheelchair user, too. Such a bummer, tbqh. Anyways. I’m writing this review to remind myself, as a queer brown person, why I’m no longer coming to this bar and instead going 30-45 minutes to another gay bar instead of the 5 minutes it takes me for this one.

I absolutely love this place! It’s definitely a vibe and a safe space for everyone. Fridays and Saturdays are particularly lit, with drink specials that are on point. This is my safe space to be myself! Thank you so much! 🫶🏾

Recently relocated to Texas from Virginia. It could be difficult at times to find places that have such an inviting atmosphere. The patrons that frequent this establishment have been welcoming. Everyone will say the same thing, the staff is AMAZING! I have met some of the most fun and attentive bartenders here. They work hard all while keeping their guests engaged! I have had some great nights meeting new people and enjoying the Themes Nights. Happy Hour Drink Specials Are Phenomenal! This is the place to check out, it gives me the “Cheers” vibe. That is a quality that speaks volumes of the atmosphere they have nurtured here.

First time we visited and it definitely won't be the last. The show was amazing. Not too crowded and we reserved a table ahead of time to ensure we were comfortable. Hands down the drinks were on point and the prices were AMAZING. The only complaint we had was the lack of bar service. It was a decent crowd, but only 2 bartenders which we had to wait a bit for service. Outside of that we felt at home.

I had a good time during both of my visits to the 1851. My first time was during Feb 2020, I had showed up pretty late on a Saturday night looking for a place to dance! I walked in and it wasn't as busy as I'd hoped. One of the few customers there explained that, since there hadn't been a drag show that night, the turnout was definitely affected. Despite the low turnout, the few people that did show up were dancing and having a good time so, the vibe was still there and, that motivated me to start dancing too. Ultimately, I stayed until they were close to closing and, I left with a good first impression. For my second visit, I had learned beforehand that, the Arlington Pride 2025 After Party would be held at the 1851. When I showed up, I couldn't remember if they had a cover fee from last time but, I was pleasantly surprised when, I saw that they weren't charging a cover fee that night. Unlike last time, they had staff checking IDs to get in. The place was packed for the After Party! I went straight for the bar but, I realized they didn't have a drink menu so, I took a chance and asked for a Lemon Drop, and they were able to make it for me. The Lemon Drop was average but, for the cheap price, I didn't mind that. Be aware that, the large crowd did create an equally long wait for everyone in line at the bar. I guess that comes with finally getting to see a drag show here, and the crowd that comes with it. After they finished the show, the dance floor opened up for everyone so, I couldn't resist joining the crowded dance floor too. The crowd had filled out the club so much that, it felt like the building and the dancefloor had gotten smaller, haha! It was a magical experience and I can't wait to come back again.