Maritime Pacific’s Jolly Roger Taproom changing to all-ages

Doree Ballard

Maritime Pacific Brewing Company just announced that as of this Friday, its Jolly Roger Taproom at 1111 NW Ballard Way, will change from 21 and over to all-ages. Here’s George & Jane Hancock’s announcement:

Having had a 21 years-and-over policy in place since the Taproom opened in 1997, this will be a big new step for Maritime. The rationale behind this change: over the years, a lot of former patrons have married, started families or now have friends with families and have since had to rule out The Jolly Roger Taproom because of the age restriction. With this change, we feel we can reopen the doors that were shut to a lot of our friends as we welcome all ages to the Jolly Roger. So, in this spirit, we wish you a particularly Happy Father’s Day from the crew at Maritime Pacific Brewing Company and the Jolly Roger Taproom!

57 thoughts to “Maritime Pacific’s Jolly Roger Taproom changing to all-ages”

  6. Horay – welcome to the new Jolly Roger Romper Room!  Crayons and doodle-paper on every table – AND the bar!  This is going to be so fun I can hardly wait to go back.  In fact, I’ll wear my clown nose and really fit in. 

  9. dont worry, your paper bag and feces are still welcome.  in fact, on your way over, can you pick up some more tampax?  i think i saw a kitten in the window of your car?

  11. ugh. hope they have room for the prerequisite Giant Buick Strollers…

    hope it works out for the business, honestly, but yeah, kids in a bar? BOOOOO!

  13. This is why I avoid Uneeda Burger in Fremont, even though it has great burgers.  The place is a screeching madhouse of kids whose parents are oblivious and don’t know how to control them.I don’t see the dropoff of regulars hurting them, because like Eric said, there are plenty of lame parents with their rude double-wide strollers waiting to bring their brats in.

  14. I will be nice to take my kids there, but it’s awfully loud in there as it is.  Maybe they should invest in some sort of sound dampeners (carpet?) on the ceiling.

  15. Kids or no kids – if someone from Maritime is reading this – they DO need to get some acoustical treatment on the ceiling in there. Even as a beer swiging, non-parent adult I sometimes avoid it since it is so loud.

  16. I know what’s up with no maibock this year? It was the best-tasting beer MP has ever made.

    But the good news about the kids is that it’s already so damn loud in there, we won’t be able to hear screaming children over the “background” music. 

  17. I can’t agree more. The old location was loud, and I expected them to do something about the noise in the new place. Even when there are few other customers in there, it’s tough to hear the person next to you, never mind across the table. If they’re unwilling to spend any money on it, at least turn the music down.

    THAT costs nothing.

  19. As opposed to screaming whining adults?? Seriously, I’ve had FAR more meals ruined in restaurants by obnoxiously loud adults than by kids.

  20. Back on topic…Thank you Jolly Roger.  I have been hoping for this change for the last three years.  My family and I will eat there often. 

  22. I understand the logic behind it, I just don’t agree they should do it. Warning: I don’t have kids, so I’m biased. But, there are plenty of places in Seattle that are 21+ for me to enjoy. And if the time ever came where I had kids (god, no), I would appreciate having a few establishments that I could drink beer with the fam. Although, I don’t ever go to the Jolly Roger to actually eat, and don’t think its conducive to a children’s menu/nutrition… but whatever.

  23. Wow!  I can’t believe a place in Ballard is going to allow kids.  Really, Ballard has to be one of the least kid friendly neighborhoods when it comes to restaurants.  Most of the new places are bars that serve food I guess because it’s the cool hipster thing to do in our town.  Ballard has a lot of young families that have been searching for a decent place to eat good unpretentious food at a reasonable price while enjoying an adult beverage.  Thanks Jolly Roger!

  24. Are they really considered a “bar”? They only sell beer, wine, and good food, but no liquor. I’ve always though of a bar as a place that sells hard alcohol.

  25. Are they really considered a “bar”? They only sell beer, wine, and good food, but no liquor. I’ve always though of a bar as a place that sells hard alcohol.

  26. By definition of the LCB, a bar serves hard alcohol and no minors are allowed at any time.  The Joly Roger is a restaurant that serves beer.

  28. Yeah, so exciting.  We have wanted to go there but often have our kids in tow – glad to hear we can go grab a beer and lunch on the weekends (and not all kids are the loud, screaming kind :)

  30. I am truly saddened by this.  Every single brewery taproom that allows children, we tend to avoid.  It seems that every time we go to one of these, someone’s kid is screaming, running around, crying, and flat out ruining the “vibe” I love about these type of establishments.  

    I can get beer anywhere.  I can get good food at a multitude of places.  But Jolly Roger offered all of these with an atmosphere that just fit perfect.  I don’t know if I’ll be able to return now, and this was a regular establishment for my wife and I.  Sad to see the last of the 21+ brewery taprooms go all ages.  

  31. I am truly saddened by this.  Every single brewery taproom that allows children, we tend to avoid.  It seems that every time we go to one of these, someone’s kid is screaming, running around, crying, and flat out ruining the “vibe” I love about these type of establishments.  

    I can get beer anywhere.  I can get good food at a multitude of places.  But Jolly Roger offered all of these with an atmosphere that just fit perfect.  I don’t know if I’ll be able to return now, and this was a regular establishment for my wife and I.  Sad to see the last of the 21+ brewery taprooms go all ages.  

  38.  I’m sure that the “gIANT Buick stroller” is not likely going to be pushed into the restaurant…and by the way, I’m pretty sure that the “gIANT Buick stroller” is much likely smaller than your automobile! What is with the comments in general regarding the larger size strollers anyhow? Did you get plowed down with one recently? They are accommodating 2 or more children.  What the hell do you expect? mANY of the hardworking moms/dads pushing the “gIANT Buick strollers” are hoofin it through town, utilizing their strollers throughout the day, while caring for their children, WITHOUT the use of a stinkin car!! So tired of the stroller bashing, biG baby idiots! If you only knew…and if you don’t know, now you do! wERD!

  39. yEP, to the annoying, big baby shitty pants adults complaining  here,
    don’t have kids…EVER!!! If you can’t handle hearing a kid act up here and there, chances are you will turn into a complete phycopath being around one full time, so yes John, you are correct in a sense. To those hardworking parents out there with the “biG buick strollers” more power to you! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to a tennis match with my screaming baby!

  41. And I’ve never seen loud screaming kids that all the childless complain of. It’s sooooo overexaggerated that it’s comical. Hell, go to Vios on Capital Hill- a place that actually has a kid’s playroom carved into the seating area- at peak lunchtime and even then there aren’t screaming babies.

    And I’ve seen plenty of drunks at the JRT. When I worked at PATH I actually saw a brawl out front in the early afternoon.

    That you despise children speaks tons about you.

  42. hah! are you kidding? i won’t list all my recent examples, but yeah, parents will indeed push those Giant Buick Strollers into all sorts of small spaces. sometimes there are more than one, say, in Ladro coffee shop atop Queen Anne, such as the other day.

    the workers notice also, as they try to manunver around them to do their job.

    anyway, as i said quite clearly, i hope the business does well either way. i’m simply expressing my thoughts on the subject without namecalling or getting all in a huff. maybe you need a nap and you’ll be less cranky Strollerenvy…

  43. Great news!  Is it just me or am I seeing more babies/kids and families in the Ballard/Crown Hill/Sunset Hill single family homes these days compared to 5 years ago?  

  47. WOW!

    Thank you for all of your input so far.   Ballard has grown since we first opened the
    doors in 1990 on Leary Way.  Back then
    you could look out on Leary Way on a Sunday afternoon and not see a car go by
    for over a half an hour. Things have changed since then. But we digress.  All of your input is important to us.

    Yes, we know the acoustics are bad and it can get loud in
    the Jolly.  We are in the process of
    reviewing what would work best to help relieve the sharpness that is due to the
    hard surfaces.  But we are a Brewery
    Taproom/Pub with a restaurant license and it can still be noisy when we get
    busy.
     

    The Taproom will maintain its adult venue. We have no
    crayons, pirate hats or patches (though Jolly sippy cups would be pretty cool).
     We have a simple, no nonsense menu for
    kids’. We are not changing who we are; we are merely opening our doors to all
    ages to allow every responsible person to experience what we have tried so hard
    to create.   We continue to welcome your
    input and thank you for letting us be a part of your Ballard.

    And, please, NO Buick size strollers as we don’t have
    covered parking.

    G & J MPBC

  48. I am!  I’m getting ready for Friday and beyond – that way I can fit in well with the up n coming “big new step” for Martime ‘s Romper Room.  The kids can eat beercake while I drink mine.  Outta be a hoot.  Can’t wait!! 

  49. I have. Usually it’s a gaggle of twenty somethings who haven’t figured out that they’re now adults and need to act accordingly. I’ve had WAY more meals ruined by loud obnoxious adults than by loud obnoxious kids. For starters, when was the last time your meal was interrupted by an infant on a cell phone?
    BTW ever notice that the word “brawl” is usually associated with bars? When was the last time you heard of an ice cream shop brawl? Or a burger shop brawl? There’s a certain segment of society who turn into loudmouth a-holes after they’ve had a few drinks or who think being in a public setting gives them license to be as loud and obnoxious as they want to be. At least infants have the excuse of not having yet developed language skills. With older kids I have no absolutely no qualms with telling a parent they need to control their little linoleum lizard (and I say that as a parent, BTW) There are lousy parents but there are just as many (if not more) lousy childless adults.

    What I’d really like to see is a place that banned anyone between 18-35! I pretty much avoid Belltown precisely because I’m tired of the loudmouth d-bag crowd.  

  50. Drphil… When did I ever say I ate bar food? Nice assumption, dick cheese. I’ll forward you my paypal address for the $100… 5-9″ 150lbs.

  53. Great reply.  I just want to pile on the sound issue, as I fear for the future hearing loss of your employees. 

    I think your least visually obtrusive option would be to use sound dampening material to cover the ceiling.  Even simple cheap foam material (spray painted black of course!) would help immensely. 

    Decompression Ale is great and I hope you’re able to let your new brewer keep flexing his creative muscles.  It’d be awesome to go in there and find something new more frequently on the tap handles beyond the current seasonals. 

  54. I am a mom, I am excited to be able to take my kid to the Jolly Roger, but honestly, the urban assault strollers deserve bashing.  People seem to think they can take them into spaces clearly not large enough for them.  It’s annoying and rude, frankly.

  56. Well this is disappointing news, but I suppose it was inevitable. It’s also inevitable that I’ll be telling some kids to shut the hell up when they’re screaming in my ear.  When this happens I hope you parents will understand that small children and mildly intoxicated children hating patrons don’t mix well. I don’t go to family restaurants to have a beer, but I supposed it’s too much to ask that you keep your children away from one of my favorite brew pubs.

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