Pubs and Bars / A-Z Bristol pub crawl
A-Z Bristol Pub Crawl: Hey Dude, King Street
Evander Berry Wall was an infamous character in the glittering world of New York’s social elite.
Born in 1861, Evander was known for his interest in his wardrobe, and so was voted King of the Dudes in 1883 – a dude being at the time a mocking term for someone obsessed with fashion clothing.
It is this title that inspired the name of an eccentric pub in the city centre which is wacky and tacky in equal measures.
is needed now More than ever
With pink neon signage, purple walls, lemon yellow umbrellas and turquoise window panes set beneath a terracotta building, the not-so-subtle exterior of Hey Dude on King Street is a hint of what’s to come.
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Inside and through a door decorated as a red telephone box, the sensory overload continues.
A painting rests by the windows picturing a giraffe with zebra stripes wearing knee high red boots, sitting next to Mickey Mouse who holds a suspicious-looking leaf in what appears to be a desert. It hangs beside a yellow, bobbly wall and a bar painted with multicolour stripes on which sits a figurine of a cat holding a sign:‘tips make my pussy happy’.
At the back of the bar, there is a mural depicting partying animals with puckered lips in front of a massive sound system. Fleetwood Mac’s silky Everywhere softly emanates from speakers.
The venue stocks a whole host of beers from three local breweries – Bristol Beer Factory, Left Handed Giant and Good Chemistry Brewing. Cocktails are on offer too, which includes a ‘Hey Dude Pink Panther’ for £11.50.
‘Sorry princess, I only date crackhores,’ reads the t-shirt of a bar staff member as they pour a Kokomo Weekday.
The pub also hosts live music every Thursday, from blues and folk to soul and jazz.
Hey Dude Bar, 19 King Street, Bristol BS1 4EF
All photos & video: Betty Woolerton
Read next:
- What are Bristol’s best pubs and bars?
- A-Z Bristol Pub Crawl: The George, Knowle
- Hotwells pub named Bristol’s best by CAMRA
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