Bürgermeister's Hideaway Speakeasy Debuting July 20th

[warfelg]

One aspect nobody has discussed here is that the price includes alcoholic drinks, and the price is the same for guests ages 3 - 20. I am kind of surprised they didn't offer a cheaper kid's price. If parents don't get the extra drinks, I will be curious to see how many families visit the pub. That said, perhaps the intention was to make the pub less family friendly?

I would think that’s the idea. In fact, I’m actually a little surprised that they’ll let underaged in.

I don’t know if VA has this law but in PA no one can drink is one member is under 21 and no member is over 25 of any party. If that exists in VA I can see this being a sticking point.

 

[Jonesta6]

Pretty sure the ABC laws that cover the entire park apply - as long as the individual is 21+ and can present their ID, they can drink. Servers can refuse sales if they think the individual is over-served or is purchasing for an underage person.

 

[Coasternerd]

This location includes Mocktails, which are non-alcoholic. In which case, kids can be there because they can consume the mocktails.

 

[Turbo]

This location includes Mocktails, which are non-alcoholic. In which case, kids can be there because they can consume the mocktails.

Correct, but $50 for a few frozen smoothies isn't going to attract many families.

And that is okay.

 

[metalman]

In the little blurb the last page back, it says something like “it’ll leave you craving more.” I’m sorry, but for that price I don’t want to be left craving more. I want to be totally full and satiated. Content and satisfied. I want to know it was worth my money and time.

 

[WDWRLD]

Personally when I hear speakeasy I don’t think of frozen drinks…..I really though they would have a small selection of bourbons, whisky’s, and even though I don’t care for it at all moonshines. They basically have a upcharge location to get beers, which you can get other places in the park, wines which you can get elsewhere in the park and and frozen drinks which again you can get elsewhere. They really needed to have something that was exclusively sold there. They could have really hit it out of the park by going to some
of the smaller distillery’s along the east coast and working with them
to have exclusive Busch Gardens Williamsburg liquors such as what Disney does with Knob Creek. Highlighting quality drinks over crummy drinks with bottom shelf liquors and a cheesy show.

 

[Icer]

Honestly was hoping for an experience that would appeal to frequent park goers, something where if you know about it and it isn't full you get to go in and experience something like what @WDWRLD was saying with higher quality drinks and exclusive drinks like whiskies or whatever. Something where at first not that many people go but as word spreads that it exists more and more people get in line to try and get a seat at the bar type deal.

This doesn't seem like a repeatable experience much to me, with both the price point and what the thing even is. The fact that it is like a bartender show experience with most likely low quality premade drinks just disappoints me, as a place to come on a slow day after work or something to sit down and there actually be a bartender to have a conversation with and enjoy a proper drink would've been such a nice addition to the park that appeals to the locals and frequent flyers of the park. I always wished Grogan's actually had stools up at the bar as well as another system for walk up orders for if I ever wanted to just stop by for a drink with the pint club membership and maybe have a conversation with the bartender on an off day, and I guess I was hoping this could kinda be that.

 

[warfelg]

I think one thing being missed here is they seem to be leaning much more into the show part than the drink part. Your paying for an experience as well as the drink. Also you are getting the exclusivity of 25 people in a spot.

Also, when are we going to learn our lesson on saying something is good or bad before it’s open.

 

[kmccarthy27]

Personally when I hear speakeasy I don’t think of frozen drinks…..I really though they would have a small selection of bourbons, whisky’s, and even though I don’t care for it at all moonshines. They basically have a upcharge location to get beers, which you can get other places in the park, wines which you can get elsewhere in the park and and frozen drinks which again you can get elsewhere. They really needed to have something that was exclusively sold there. They could have really hit it out of the park by going to some
of the smaller distillery’s along the east coast and working with them
to have exclusive Busch Gardens Williamsburg liquors such as what Disney does with Knob Creek. Highlighting quality drinks over crummy drinks with bottom shelf liquors and a cheesy show.

Especially with one of the very large props being in the room is a Pot Still.

 

[WDWRLD]

What if there is a minimum for this “show”. What I mean is if capacity is 25 and there are only 4 people booked will they cancel those reservations or still do the show? Also, with the BGW history of running out of product what happens when they can’t make one of the 3 drinks? That would be poor show with no options other than a double of a drink. There should be more options just for this reason.

 

[Howl-O-Scream Fanatic]

With the name officially revealed and the opening two days away, I think it's time for this thread to receive a name change and move to the Eateries subforum. Of course, there's no rush.

 

[Jonesta6]

I think it was mentioned in the Pantheon thread that usually that sort of change occurs after opening and any initial hype dies down - either @Zachary or @Nicole can give a much better explanation as to why.

 

[Icer]

The easiest way to worry about thread placement and titles is to not, I learned a while ago that typically Zach or Nicole know what is happening. Yet I like to exist in the sphere of things they cannot possibly understand. I call it the alphabet deathstar

 

[tursiops]

No chance this place has an actual candy store up front. You could see in the windows on the door yesterday and see that it's just a facade with painted bins of candy and such.

 

[Jonesta6]

Tbf, that'd add to the complexity of the operation and take space...

 

[EdK]

I was hoping for a full service bar like they have at BGT. In the fall a good Old Fashioned would have hit the spot. It would have been more fun to have a full service bar hidden in an actual candy shop that they didn't advertise.

 

[dawno]

Based on that it seems like they might change up the drinks seasonally. It would make sense the ones they are advertising seem very summery with watermelon jalapeno and strawberry lemonade

Agreed. Though I enjoy an occasional frozen drink (particularly if I'm on a beach vacation) I don't think I'd want to sit and drink three sweet beverages. I'd imagine I'd be far more interested in the fall / winter / spring offerings.

Very interested to see what people think about the experience. Was talking about BGW with my husband earlier today and told him I think it might be time we go back. (It's been since before covid started) Perhaps for Howl o scream, and I'd definitely consider checking out this experience.

 

[Jonesta6]

Who's betting that KD/CF will observe the operations and imitate/improve upon them?

 

[Zachary]

Who's betting that KD/CF will observe the operations and imitate/improve upon them?

I am having a hard time imagining this working at BGW long-term, let alone at parks with far less of a reputation/association with alcohol.

 

[Icer]

Classic example of an idea brought up in a meeting that through the process got strangled and corporatized until the final concept is lifeless and ineffective, getting the worst parts of targeting the locals and appealing to the people who are only there for a day or two.