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Telephone: | +1 901-272-7600 |
Website: | www.thepumpingstationmemphis.com |
Address: | 1382 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN, 38104 Med District |
Nearby public transportation stops & stations: | 0.4 miCleveland Street 0.9 miPauline Street 1.1 miDunlap Street |
Categories: | Gay Bars |
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Bussiness info
Accepts Credit Cards | Yes |
Parking | Street |
Bike Parking | No |
Wheelchair Accessible | Yes |
Good for Groups | Yes |
Ambience | Divey |
Noise Level | Average |
Good For Dancing | Yes |
Alcohol | Full Bar |
Happy Hour | Yes |
Best Nights | Wed, Thu, Fri |
Coat Check | Yes |
Smoking | Yes |
Outdoor Seating | Yes |
Has TV | Yes |
Dogs Allowed | No |
Has Pool Table | Yes |
Today
Today | 4:00 pm – 3:00 am Closed now |
Local time (Memphis) | 11:26 Wednesday, 29 May 2024 |
Business hours
Monday | 4:00 pm – 3:00 am |
Tuesday | 4:00 pm – 3:00 am |
Wednesday | 4:00 pm – 3:00 am |
Thursday | 4:00 pm – 3:00 am |
Friday | 4:00 pm – 3:00 am |
Saturday | 3:00 pm – 3:00 am |
Sunday | 3:00 pm – 3:00 am |
Description
Specialties
Voted #1 Gay Bar in Memphis 3 years running. Full service liquor bar with over 80 beer choices including beer on tap. Two bars and a full patio complete with a treehouse. Non-smoking inside, smoking allowed in the Backdoor Lounge. 21 and up only. Open 7 days a weekdays 4p-3a, Saturday & Sundays 3p-3a.
History
Established in 2001.
The Pumping Station was established in 2001. The bar is gay owned and operated but welcomes all. Open 7 days a week it has become an institution in Memphis, TN and has been voted #1 Gay Bar three years running. Two bars allows for a great flow. Non-smoking up front with a jukebox and a pool table. In the Backdoor Lounge, smoking is allowed and you might even get coaxed into playing Mega Jenga. The patio doesn’t disappoint and comes with complete with a treehouse. Full liquor service with over 80 beer selections including tap beer.
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20 reviews of The Pumping Station
No registration required
Happy S.
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
My girl and I decided to meet up with an old friend of hers and visit this joint over the past weekend. So much fun! Friendly vibes abound, strong pours, great prices and best of all… we discovered a selfie the next day with Themla & Louise snapping their polaroid selfie behind us. Priceless! YASSSS.
Stephanie H.
Place rating: 4
Memphis, TN
It was my first time coming here and I had tons of fun! Everyone who was there was very nice and friendly. I thought I might get a few dirty looks for being a female, but boy was I wrong. The bar tender John was fantastic. They have a bar (with TVs) and pool tables in what looked like a non-smoking section right as you enter the place. They also have another bar (with TVs) out back that leads out onto a patio in what looked like a smoking section. The patio is small but awesome. They have a giant heater with an actual fire right in the middle of it. The restrooms are very amusing. They are labeled «Masters» and «Slaves». I did not feel too comfortable using either because I was told that they both had stalls that don’t lock. Another thing to keep in mind is that they do not have their own parking. We ended up parking on the street adjacent to the bar. I’d definitely come back :)
Anthony H.
Place rating: 4
Seattle, WA
Great drinks and atmosphere. It’s your classic local watering hole pouring stiff drinks at reasonable prices. They also make sure to keep patrons safe that have too much to drink.
Jake T.
Place rating: 5
Memphis, TN
As a new resident of Memphis, it has become my home away from home… great atmosphere, amazing staff (hate to single anyone out ’cause I love them all), especially Dan, Alex and Brando…
Miguel P.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Place is super fun and the drinks are reasonably priced. I’ve been like 3 times so far and always had the best time. Highly recommend.
Mike H.
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
Had a fantastic time on a Saturday. The bar is the perfect size and the patio and the tree overlook are awesome. Drinks are good and cheap. Short cab ride from downtown.
Matt G.
Place rating: 5
Collierville, TN
Always been one of my favorite places to go and just have a drink. The Atmosphere is chill and I always see familiar faces. I love how the staff knows me and remembers my drink order! It’s like my very own Cheers!
Leon P.
Place rating: 5
Memphis, TN
First bar i came to in Memphis may be the only bar ill come in on a regular bases. Thanks guys for the hospitality !!!
Shaun B.
Place rating: 5
Memphis, TN
The girlfriend and I came here for a Unilocal event celebrating Pride Month, and were very pleased by our experience here. We had the opportunity to try the sangria here, which was quite delicious. We also got to try some of their liqueurs in a sampling which were amazingly smooth (and dangerous; I would have gotten into trouble drinking that stuff in college). I also got to try their fried macaroni bites and fried ravioli; both of which were excellent. The bartenders were also very friendly and were very attentive to ensure everyone was having a good time. We would certainly come back!
Deanna W.
Place rating: 5
Memphis, TN
This place is so dang FUN! Like Robin said, park in the Kroger lot :). They don’t have private parking.
They are apparently still renovating a few things, but y’all, give this place a try! Theres three different sections, you have the front bar with a pool table and a handful of tables (non-smoking). which I loved :)! Then you walk out to a little more open bar area that is smoking. At night they do open up the doors to the patio which helps ventilate! And the patio… so fun!
Now for the food, their fried mac and cheese bites were delicious. I probably had like 8 which is awkward cause I said I’d only have one, MAX two. So… yikes.
They are also a part of project green fork! Such sweethearts. So many regulars. You can tell they are just one big happy family!
Alex D.
Place rating: 5
Memphis, TN
Great music, amazing apps, AMMMAAAAZING drinks. They have old school black and white shows playing on the TVs too! Smoking and non-smoking section and the cutest patio! Love this place!!!
Robin B.
Place rating: 5
Memphis, TN
After we finally called to find out where to park (Kroger parking lot worked well), we love this place! I brought a friend to a Unilocal event here, and am so so pleased that we put on our party pants! I love that there’s a non-smoking area at the front, and a smoking area *called the Back Door) and patio out back. Sectioned bars work so well to keep flow and satisfy everyone.
All the bartenders were excellent, though Dan was my favorite. We met some wonderful men and women and even some folks who were a bit blurry from BBQfest last month. I enjoyed running into some bright-eyed and bushy-tailed lovelies, and honestly have nothing bad to say about this place. The drinks were reasonably priced (use Unilocal for check-in offers) and flavorful.
I don’t know how long this place has been around, but I’m sad I haven’t been before!
John H.
Place rating: 5
Memphis, TN
Bartender is nice and the place is pretty cool. My first time here and the other patrons were friendly. Prices are very affordable. Very clean establishment. I’m pretty sure I will be back!
Danielle P.
Place rating: 5
Memphis, TN
I’ve been here a couple of times, but they have renovated the back half of the bar, and it’s called the Blackfoot lounge. You can smoke your cigs back there only not the front part, which I really liked.
The bartenders were very friendly and helpful with my drinks. The atmosphere is really nice they always have good music playing and they also have a pool table too!
Heather C.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Not an exaggeration to call the Pumping Station the best gay bar in Memphis. I try to make it there every time I’m in town. The bartenders are awesome, and the beers are cheap. This is one of the only leather bars I have ever been to that is truly welcoming to all types and genders. I never felt unwelcome as a woman.
Andy S.
Place rating: 4
Memphis, TN
Memphis has a few gay bars and clubs. This particular one is a very chill bar. It’s a nice place to just go hang out with friends.
There is a tree house in the back. It is kind of strange… different…
They always have a special for about $ 6. It’s usually fruity. This one was called the after school special, which was kool aid and vodka.
This particular day, they had jello shots for a $ 1.
They have a bar area, an outer porch like area, and then the outside area, where the tree house is.
It’s a full bar, with any mixed drink and beer on tap.
They also have a pool table.
The restrooms are labeled «masters» or «slaves.»
They have a steak night. I am curious to try it.
The best part of this place is the bar tenders. They are always friendly and they are quick to learn your name, which is a nice touch.
Chris G.
Place rating: 2
Memphis, TN
First of all, the location is sketchy and the parking is terrible. You have to park in the Kroger parking lot then walk across the parking lot of a fried chicken restaurant to get to the bar. Next, the bartenders sometimes have attitude. They don’t always treat their customers as customers. They don’t always say «thank you» when they are tipped.
The drinks are small and over priced.
The set up of the bar is pretty nice even though it is somewhat small. The lighting is nice. There is also a nice spacious patio in the back.
The clientele is what is the deal breaker for me. It is very «clicky». There are very few singles there. Nearly everyone is standing around talking in tight little groups.
I wouldn’t recommend the place for singles to try to meet people.
Mat M.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
I was in Memphis and had a great time here. No masters or slaves in here the night I was there. Just some dudes, hanging out. Met two drag queens and had some great convo. I’d go back.
Jere D.
Place rating: 5
Houston, TX
I like the nightlife, I like to boogie! Ok, I’m an old, old, OLD Memphian and the Pipeline was one of my favs in Mempho back in the day. This place rocks again with all the events and the full service bar. I do miss the Sunday afternoons but hey, that’s just me.
All in all, keep it up guys and I love the lack of «tude» at this place.
Kim D.
Place rating: 5
San Jose, CA
Are you a master?
Or are you a slave?
(You’ll get what’s going on with that, once you pee here)
For my weekend in Memphis, I made it a point on my list to stop into a gay bar. And luckily, the person I was visiting was all to down with the idea.
We had to go to the Pumping Station, because frankily for a gay bar — the name is brilliant.
The thing about going to gay bars in Memphis is that you can carry and conceal there. So it’s awkward to see no guns signs in the front — and for it to be a gay bar in the South, you get a bit of trepidation.
But I’d have to say beyond awful drinks (sorry, am I the only one that expects gay bars to have drinks poured by broken wrists?) everything else was on point. It was a great place to hang out and it reminded me much of home. The crowd was mixed, but we managed to meet interesting people.
We met two transplants from the Midwest, by the tree house outback (infamous for it’s R-rated pursuits) and we also met some locals who had a friend who just came out at 29.
It would be your every day occurrence here in California, but for Memphis — coming out at 29 is epic. And to speak of the staff, we complained about this awful straight drunk frat boy who completely just ran his mouth to us and the bartender took care of it.
So while, I only expected 87 while I got here… I definitely got 91.
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