So close to five stars, just missing a few elements(food service, some spirit selection) but I think the staff here are very friendly and attentive. I’ve always had excellent service. Drinks are reasonably priced. As a previous comment mentions, they are all shot measured, but that is a Canadian law, NOT a Pumpjack rule, so in that respect cocktails are pretty weak no matter where you go compared to American standards. I’ve always personally found the bathrooms to be clean and well attended, but of course it gets a little crazy on the weekend. Number of rotating daily drink specials on beers and cocktails, pinball and pool in the back, free beer and pretzels, unpretentious, show up, have a drunk, chit chat up the regulars, have a good time. My kind of bar.
Donald K.
Classificação do local: 5 Pasadena, CA
My friends and I came here randomly during Saturday night to check out the gay scene in Toronoto. I’m glad that we came here. This club seemed a lot more upbeat and less crowded than the other ones that we’ve passed. Upon entering, there was a $ 5 cover that was cash only. The club was actually big and it did not feel disgusting. The patrons dressed very casual and the bartenders were friendly. The drinks are extremely affordable(about $ 7 — $ 9 Canadaian per cocktail) and they accept credit cards. Unfortunately, bartenders are using shot glasses to measure the amount of alcohol in your drinks… so you won’t be able to get strong drinks. :( The music wasn’t all too familiar, but my friends and I had a great time dancing. Pumpjack is large enough that it can accommodate a large group of friends. There’s a large bar area, a large dance floor, and places to sit everywhere! The bathrooms were relatively clean, and the entertainment was enjoyable. Everyone — including myself, had a great time. I wish there was a Pumpjack in LA. MOSTIMPORTANTLY, THEREWASFREEWIFI! If you’re a tourist and you do not roaming capabilities, you’d understand my excitement.
J A.
Classificação do local: 5 San Francisco, CA
People always like to be bitchy and rude. Like I am reading this review from Ali. I was there for pride as well. And I come from SF. When the life for us is just the best. My partner is not much into a bar scan. But I say it’s pride. Let’s try. My first time at this place. I can’t say it was wow. But it was fine. The out door was great. Nice people. Fun place. The place is huge. Coming from SF when there bars are so small. This place is huge. And I think that why it’s never full. But mr Ali. Also need to know the rules. And I am sure the bar is not allowed having more then some amount of people. So that why is a line in gay pride. Overall. I have a fine time. The bartender was nice to me and my partner. Not sure what people expect on a bar like that. Maybe they just didn’t got luck. So they write some crap to feel good about them self If you go for a drink. It’s a cool place. I will visit again when I go to see my partner
Curtis L.
Classificação do local: 4 Vancouver, Canada
The bartenders here rock. They are always so fast and there main priority is to get you your drink order so you can continue having a great time. The music is the usual top 40 remix’s but overall a good time.
Keshi N.
Classificação do local: 2 Seattle, WA
Just a typical gay bar, good size dance floor, decent drinks and ambiance. Crowd might defer on certain nights.
KERRY G.
Classificação do local: 1 Vancouver, Canada
I can’t believe that they asked a regular Sunday Customer to leave yesterday and when one of his friends went to explain he’s on medication and the friend was told you can’t mediate for him or talk for him and your friend has to leave and you will have to leave as well because you are being a trouble maker. All because he wanted to explain to them about his friends Medical Condition. The staff didn’t have a problem serving them and taking their money that they tipped but didn’t want to discuss anything just make an uninformed decision that this person was to drunk, even though the customer was not rude or rowdy. Certainly isn’t a place I would like my money to go to with that attitude. And staff not taking the time to find out anything.
George P.
Classificação do local: 3 Vancouver, Canada
Nice place friendly but I’m bummed out that there is no cheap beer on Sundays anymore come on guys get with it!
Alden C.
Classificação do local: 4 Tacoma, WA
Apparently the Pumpjack recently got remodeled so our first time here was timed quite well. We were not out very late, it was midafternoon and after a day of walking around downtown Vancouver we needed to stop for a minute and get a beer and give our aching feet a rest. We went in, being the typical confused foreigners I suppose. I picked a Canadian IPA which was in the bottle and was good. Again pretty mild and Steve got something local. The bar is wide and spacious and alcholic drinking options were wide and generous. In the back of the bar was looked like a very charming space for dancing. But again we were too early to partake any of those activities and our aching feet would only make us look like stumbling buffons on the dance floor. Self Expression«dancing» perhaps more of a dance of pain. That would be acceptable if I were in high heels but I was in hiking boots so… yeah. The Pumpjack was a really nice bar and we would not mind going back when we are in better shape and it is later in the evening.
Ali F.
Classificação do local: 2 Little Italy, San Diego, CA
This is the pride weekend and I’m visiting from Las Vegas. All I can say is this bar blows. First off, the place is absolutely filthy. Wet floor, sticky bar counter, trash all over the dance floor and hundreds of sad empty bottles and glasses pulled up on tables. I understand that pride weekend can get crazy but this is at midnight after the parade while the bar is half empty and the staff are either standing idle or just chit chatting with random friends. Nobody’s cleaning this place. Amazing! Second, we waited in line for 40 minutes before walking into a half empty bar. It doesn’t make sense, does it? The line is still out there with poor people in it. Third, the staff are not happy, friendly nor attentive. Finally the music is tragic. Horrible DJ with absolute ghetto taste in music. We all know men are pigs, but somebody needs to remind the owner and the managers they’re not running a pig farm.
Max L.
Classificação do local: 5 Greater Vancouver Regional District, Canada
The Pumpjack will never be classy. It will never be cutting edge, have cocktails to die for, have a beautiful interior or be the most crowded bar on the street. It will always be its own little humble watering hole with bad lighting, bad draft beer and kooky regulars sitting in each corner. It’s music selection is hit-or-miss, its bathrooms get cramped in the evenings and it does attract its fair selection of weirdos. But it’s also completely reliable for what it is. It’s the one place I can go to and try to pick up older, larger men with grey beards and chubby dudes wearing plaid cut-off shirts and cargo shorts. Five stars is defined as being ‘as good as it gets.’ Once you know what you want, you might just find it at the pumpjack. To those of us in the queer world that march to a different beat and like things hairier, fatter and older, it really is as good as it gets. And that’s why I’ll keep coming back.
AJ C.
Classificação do local: 4 Toronto, Canada
Great staff and fun place. Saturday for dancing and Sunday for cheap drinks
Brian M.
Classificação do local: 5 Vancouver, Canada
Such a great fun time. Staff are awesome good music and good beer. Most of the customers are pretty cool as well. A few crazies around but that happens everywhere. Great bar — check it out!
Diane F.
Classificação do local: 4 Calgary, Canada
It’s a gay bar and I have been here before quite a few years ago. I think it’s changed a bit. Or my perspective on it has anyhow. It used to seem more butch and almost always was only men. I went this past weekend on a Saturday night to meet a friend there and it was quite good. They had great dance tunes playing and a live DJ. I don’t recall that from before. I also was not the only girl there, although there were maybe only 2 or 3 others, but more than I ever remember. I was surprised that a gay couple came up to me and said it was nice to see a girl there having fun. Kinda made my night and I did have fun! The drinks were cheap. $ 4.25 a single I believe. I don’t know… I was drinking doubles for $ 8.50! Bought my friend a mug of beer and I think it was only $ 4. I was expecting to pay big city prices and was nicely surprised. We were able to chat while listening to good music. It was nice. I’d recommend it to others in a heart beat.
Mike L.
Classificação do local: 5 Montreal, Canada
TWO pinball machines – both great… and zero people in the room housing the machines, on a SATURDAYNIGHT! The main room housed about 70 male leather fans… we came on leather night, uh, I mean, we showed up to leather night. I was wearing leather. I was with my girlfriend, who was also wearing leather. We didn’t know it was leather night. We did come to dance to rad tunes at a gay bar though! Fun times, for real. The drinks were strong and reasonably priced, the music was great(but too quiet, so we had to find somewhere else to groove), and the only drag queen in the place came to keep us company. «Soooo, how did you guys end up HERE? I mean, I’m all for diversity, but…” – says Filipino mama in Joker makeup(«…just came from a Batman party»). Yeah, uh, well, I guess my GF was the ONLY female in the spot. Anyway, good spot for real, well set up and great spot for a DJ booth… maybe not used to straight couples being interested in decent tunes and motion, but we’ll return. Seeya next time, leather lovers!
Annaliza S.
Classificação do local: 5 Portland, OR
This place was awesome! My partner and I were looking for a chill bar to have a drink at that was gay friendly. This place came up in our search and it got rave reviews. It’s on Davie street which is what a lot of people say is the«gay district». It was fantastic, the service was great. The bartenders were sweet, attentive and so helpful and awesome. The drinks were great. The atmosphere was very welcoming and chill feeling. A lot of bars that we have gone too are very cold or isolating, and that wasn’t the case here at the Pumpjack Pub. I would totally recommend this place to anyone wanting a chill bar scene where they can get a good drink! I really wish we had a bar like this in Portland, OR that really felt welcoming and not all«catty» and«b*****» like some of the gay bars in Portland. It was refreshing going to a place that was inclusive and the bartenders weren’t catty.
Emily-Anne P.
Classificação do local: 4 Edmonton, Canada
I. Love. The. Pumpjack. It’s the place to be if you want to sit down, have a pint and hang out with some bears. Okay is that wrong to say that? Wrong or not, I love it. It’s small, and dirty, there’s a patio in the back that I’ve really only ever seen at pride(is it even a patio, no one knows), there’s some pool(I think) and darts(could be making that up) there’s everything you need to enjoy yourself. Cheap beer, awesome people, entertaining staff. It really is a recipe for success(especially if you define success as getting tanked, falling off your stool and having to stumble down Davie).
Anna B.
Classificação do local: 4 Portland, OR
Started out the evening at Ye Olde Pumpjack during a recent Vancouver visit, and my Stella Artois-drinking friend said, «That’s a good Sparkle Penis!» Um. What?! Since when are we calling Stella that? Is this some special jargon I missed? I DIDNOTGETTHEMEMO! Ok, I’m game. I’ll promulgate that. «Yeah, cheers! Great Sparkle Penis indeed, can I have a sip?» «Um… look behind you, dummy.» Oh, my! That makes MUCH more sense. There was actually a giant, glittering you-know-what, with berries, up on the wall behind me. I was relieved, actually. It’s hard to get new language trends started, especially in a city where I know no one. Lotsa leather, basic drinks, tunes, pool. Solid spot amongst the Davie bars, with a pretty ruckus crowd on a Saturday night. Good times had by all, great place to start the evening pub crawl.
Mark F.
Classificação do local: 4 Santa Barbara, CA
Feeling good and looking groovy Coin op pool and pinball in the back Good beer selection and bowls of nuts Front doors open to the street for fresh air and nice views. This is a neighborhood bar to share with friends, meet new ones and enjoy by day or night.
Evilyn T.
Classificação do local: 4 Vancouver, Canada
Have I mentioned that I love gay men? I can’t remember if I did or not? I love everything from their limp wrists to their sweet lisps. Ok I’m stereotyping, but I’m allowed, I’m a fruit fly! If you’ve ever walked down Davie street on a Sunday, you’ve probably walked by the Pumpjack without even knowing you were being checked out. It’s pretty well hidden, much like all good things in this city, and I fear too many Unilocal reviews will spoil my fun of being one of the few ladies in the establishment. I feel like Goldilocks surrounded by a million bears!(This one is toooooo hot!!) Only I have black hair and lots of tattoos, so its like Goldilocks after she was corrupted and turned to the dark side… oooh almost as naughty as this little haunt! There are some cast iron lights that hang over the bar, and its all black inside, and they have coat hooks under the bar so you can hang your jackets up by your bar stool. If you drink enough and you reach for your jacket you can accidentally cop a feel and pretend you were just reaching for the knob you jacket was on… not that I’ve ever used that pickup line. This is the place where you go for a beer, or the place you go to cruise for a manly man, you know, like the leather daddy from the Village People. The only thing I wasn’t prepared for when I came here was the music. Can someone please explain to me why we were listening to Brittney and Michelle Branch? Shouldn’t we be listening to Queen and David Bowie? Hello McFly???
Ian P.
Classificação do local: 3 Toronto, Canada
Passable pubs not so pugnacious OK…alliteration does me little good. I think my bias against bars here is that they’re so damn expensive! Beers at $ 6+, liquor even more. I had a passable Whidbey Island beer. The waitstaff was pretty blah. At least the music wasn’t too loud. Lots of lesbians cheering at hockey, pretty mixed scene.