Introducing The Bunker, Jackson’s newest downtown destination and first sports simulation-focused bar. You’ll find the stylish bar beneath Pinky G’s with expertly crafted cocktails, friendly staff and multi-sport simulators. If you’ve been wishing for an activity-style bar in Jackson, owner Tom Fay made those dreams of playing golf (and other sports) indoors while enjoying delicious libations come true!
When visiting The Bunker, guests can park themselves at the main bar, comfortable lounge booths and tables, or rent time at one of two simulators. Guests can also enjoy free arcade tables to add some competitive flair to their cocktail experience. The Bunker’s golf-themed bar menu offers various cocktails, beers and wine. Try the (very refreshing) Mulligan, their signature cocktail with chamomile-infused gin, lemon, celery sacrum, basil and egg whites. The food menu is evolving and offers light bites such as soft-serve ice cream, hot dogs, snacks, and of course, everyone’s go-to sports snack: Pinky G’s pizza.
The Bunker is also a great spot to host your next private party. There is a private party room towards the back of the restaurant that has a giant walk-in freezer door for added privacy and restrooms that blend into the walls, giving it a speakeasy feel. The private space gives off the perfect vibe for birthday parties, bachelor and bachelorette parties, youth sport gatherings, wedding receptions, office get-togethers and everything in between. Inquire about private party offerings here.
Guests can rent simulation time by booking online. Parties of 6 or fewer can select from an hour up to an hour and a half to play golf, baseball and other sports. The first available reservation is at 4 p.m., and the last starts at 8 p.m. (subject to change as the summer season progresses).
Fay is hoping to launch summer golf leagues and possibly memberships, allowing guests to regularly come in and play at consistently scheduled times. You and your foursome will never experience a rain delay at The Bunker!
*Kids are currently welcome in The Bunker during the day, transitioning to a 21 and over crowd after 6 p.m.
Here is more from Tom Fay:
What drove the idea behind The Bunker? Did you get inspiration from elsewhere and want to recreate in Jackson?
I’ve always thought that a golf simulator space in town would be a good business concept so that avid golfers, like myself, could have a place to go and hit golf balls all year long, since our golf seasons always felt short.
Over the past couple years, the golf simulator business concept has grown like crazy and the technology for these simulators have only gotten better and better. What’s great about the machines at The Bunker is that they are not only golf, but multi-sport simulators from Full Swing, so guests can play soccer, football, baseball, lacrosse, hockey, dodgeball, skee ball and more, all with several fun games/ contests to play with each sport. You don’t need to be a golfer here to have a good time!
I haven’t been to any golf simulator bars quite like this. I’d say we classed it up a bit to provide a country club feel that meets an English pub vibe. It’s a place I’d like to come and hang out to eat, drink and play some golf and watch some games. It’s an activity bar of some sort.
Many people didn’t know the space below Pinky G’s existed, take us through the build out a bit.
Back in the day, it was Dancers Workshop studio. For the past four to five years, the basement space that is now called The Bunker, has been sitting empty and I had always asked my previous landlord if I could rent the space with the idea and vision in mind, but he wouldn’t allow me to sign a lease until he sold the building. Luckily, the building sold, and the concept could come to life. For the past year and a half, we’ve been working with architects, builders, interior designers and the Town of Jackson to get this off the ground. There are a ton of people to thank for having gotten us to where we are today, and hope to be in the next couple of years!
What’s your favorite cocktail on the menu and simulator game to play?
One of my favorite parts of the bar is the draft beer system. We splurged a little and got a custom-designed tower that lights up and is low enough to see over. I’ve always felt like you get those bar seats right in front of a tall keg tower and you can never see or talk to the bartender. We can also have house-made craft cocktails like our version of a John Daly, Grandma’s Tea, with peach-infused tea and vodka on draft. The best cocktail, in my opinion, is the Gopher Punch made with blanco tequila, guava grapefruit cordial, Campari, lime, cilantro and coconut oil.
As for the simulator games to play, I think I’ll pick golf at Pebble Beach all day long! It’s usually me playing a “Closest to the Pin” game on Hole 7 at Pebble, the most iconic golf hole in the world!
