adminNow, you may get new bars opening every week in Benidorm, but I was particularly excited when I spotted the old building that had been closed for some time – I believe since Covid. It was great to see a themed bar coming to the Old Town side. Later, I discovered it was owned by Ku, a long-established brand in Benidorm, and that it was going to be a cabaret bar. Now, you all know I’m a bit of an old fuddy-duddy, so you’re probably guessing correctly that I’m not much of a tribute band fan. That said, on the odd occasion, I do enjoy a bit of cheesy entertainment, and I can tolerate some tribute acts, as you’ll soon find out.
Daytime
We popped in during the day, and to be honest, I wasn’t a fan. It felt a bit too enclosed. You know I’m in Spain – it’s 30°C+, the sun is blazing, and I want to catch some rays with my beer. As you’ve probably guessed, I don’t lounge around the pool or sit on the sand. In my defence, I was brought up by the sea, so while I love the smell and sound of it, the thrill of sand completely bypasses me. The sea itself scares me- I think growing up watching Jaws left its mark. I do swim in the sea now and again and even enjoyed a dip on this trip to Benidorm.
Anyway, Jolly Roger during the daytime isn’t really my thing. However, I would stop there for a drink if it wasn’t too crowded and I could grab a sunny seat.
Night-time
We visited Jolly Roger several times in the evening. One reason was that it was October, and the temperature can drop at night, so being indoors was nice as it got later. I think the first band we saw was an Abba tribute. Neither of us are Abba fans, but two songs in, we started to enjoy it. By the third song, it began to grate, and by the fourth, I’d had enough—but we soldiered on!
The next act was, I believe, Melvin, “The Greatest Soul Man.” Now it’s time to put my cards on the table—I enjoy alternative music. As a ’70s child, punk rock was my thing, followed by reggae and dub. I don’t mind classic soul or rock, but sometimes it all sounds the same to me. So, as you’ve guessed, Melvin wasn’t my cup of tea and, frankly, bored me.
We saw a few other acts, and the standout performance would have to be the Diana Ross and the Supreme (not Supremes) tribute. They were full of energy and life, and their wild, vibrant performance made it hard to tell whether they were entertaining the crowd or just enjoying themselves!
Overall
The bar staff deserve a shoutout—they’re amazing. The place is spotless, with staff constantly clearing tables and bringing drinks. You can order at the bar or from your table, and the prices are the same. Speaking of prices, I found Jolly Roger reasonable—it wasn’t cheap, but it wasn’t expensive either, especially when you consider the free entertainment and premium drink brands.
Another positive is the security. They blend into the background, letting people enjoy themselves and only stepping in when something genuinely affects other customers. I never saw them get physical with anyone, which is refreshing.
After visiting a couple of nights, I concluded that the atmosphere really depends on the crowd as much as the performers. For example, we saw Melvin twice. The first time, it wasn’t for me—don’t get me wrong, he’s talented, just not my style. But the second time, he was fantastic. The difference? A livelier audience. Instead of sitting around like they were at a wake (which I’m guilty of doing), people were up dancing and having fun.
All in all, I like the Jolly Roger. It brings a bit of New Town entertainment to the Old Town without the negatives. I’m not sure I’d visit as much during warmer weather, as they close the doors around 9-10 pm – likely to keep the noise down, as other bars do. But for me, it’s a welcome addition to the Old Town. Let’s just hope we don’t see too many more bars like it and lose the area’s charm.
