MacKenzie's Pub — Restaurant in Beaumont

We were in Beaumont (we live in Houston and had a hotel room in Beaumont for the night) for a show downtown at the Julie Rodgers Theater (Ron White... funny as heck!) and after the show we were looking for a nice bar to go party in.

We tried the 'Crocket Street' bars and they were a joke. Too loud music (you couldn't think let alone talk) and dead action wise. The one venue that we had hoped would have live music was having Tejano Male Strippers that night. Please...

So we took out our iphones and started a search. I stumbled on Mackenzie's Pub and said what the heck, let's give it a chance. Gave the address to our limo driver and off we went. We arrived about 10:30. It is in a strip center and looks closed when you pull up in front because the windows are all blacked out. If it were not for a tiny electric 'Open' sign in a corner of a window we would have driven on and looked for somewhere else.

When we opened the door we were surprised to find a 'traditional' (or traditional for Texas) rendition of a Pub with dark wood, green trim and all. There is a nice sized dance floor front and center and a band area adjacent to it. We chose to sit on some barstools between the bar itself and the dance floor which were next to a bar height counter.

As it happened Britt Goodwin was playing that night (he is quite good). The atmosphere was warm and friendly and you had the feeling that you were in a place that was the local version of Cheers where almost everyone knows everyone and no one is a stranger. We were served quickly and cheerfully by our waitress. The drinks were good and reasonable priced.

Britt responded favorably to our request for "You Never Even Called Me by My Name" and soon the whole place was singing along. We got up and danced to a few songs and generally enjoyed the ambiance of the place. In Houston you would more likely find us in a Blues or Jazz venue but this place suited us just fine. During the evening the Owner, Chuck Mackenzie, came over and welcomed us and had a nice chat. We were having such a good time we called our driver and told him we would be another hour or so as we intended to close the place.

Earlier that evening we were talking with Ron White backstage after his show and he was talking about how much he had enjoyed Scotland and the Pubs there. He said that in Scotland you could go into a pub, sit at a table by yourself and order a drink and in 15 minutes you would have new friends at the table sharing a drink and their stories, as opposed to New York where you could go into a bar, sit at a table and get a drink and you would sit there alone until you died 35 years later and no one would ever even say hello. Mackenzie's is the Scotland sort of pub. I don't think anyone who walks in would ever be a stranger for long. If you are in the area, go, you will like it. We are only sorry the place isn't closer to us because if it was we would probably become...

Jan is one of the best professional bartenders in Beaumont, if not the best. She's certainly one of my favorites. Great drinks, good food thanks to Terry and Rodney. Always a courteous and friendly crowd - skews a bit older demo, but that is one of it's many charms. You can chill to great jazz, big band, or singer- songwriter fare and chat with everyone or keep to yourself and you'll be...

This one of the only places in Beaumont, TX that offers a variety of entertainment and good food and drinks that are reasonably priced. Chuck McKenzie has a winner here. As a musician I had the opportunity to perform last Saturday night with the band Jerryatricks. It was nice to see the Dance Floor full and people smiling and having fun...