I don't know why this bar gets so much hate, but I find this place very relaxing and just a good drinking spot. Good atmosphere, cool and respectful security and typical prices on drinks. Definitely better than the other bars around. Has a second floor with additional bar area and few pool tables. The business also owns The Underground night club. Go check them out. read more

Blond bartender will call you out in front of everyone and wont serve you anymore if you don't tip 20 percent

Honestly a zero stars felt like my boyfriend was discriminated right away for a face tattoo that is less then 1/2 an inch and faded color to top it off the door guy was rude about it with a strong approach towards my boyfriend for no reason but yet he was letting other non color people walk in with a slight glance of their ID ya not cool or professional these were the door guys words ," I cant let you in with that face tattoo it's not allowed " read more

Turned me away for having joggers while women can go in with the most revealing clothes ever man that sh** sucked. Plus shots are like $20 + each so have fun with that and the dj sucks. They're are not the best. Wouldn't recommend. read more

I dislocated my knee, tore my ACL, and meniscus. I was dancing on the stage 3 years ago and got left in there after hours. There were spills, cups, coats, everywhere. I didn't see that people were putting cups near my feet while I was up there because there were coats hanging on the railings. I didn't get any help, couldn't walk or bear any weight on my leg it was completely swollen. I'm a professional athlete. I had to hobble all the way out by myself (after hours) and when I got to the front of the club. I desperately asked the cashier to call me an ambulance and she left me. So I'm the reason they don't have those stages anymore. And I'm the one who broke all the windows in the front of the royal after getting drugged twice. One roofied. One fentanyl. They just let that guy in. They don't care they just toss you out in the alley even if you're completely non responsive. The DJ does business with the coke guy and now that's a wrap because I see him leave now. Did my time in jail. After I broke my leg. It's ruined my life. I've been a regular for the last like thirteen years. I saved the underground from going out of business working under the table just for a VIP and a bottle of champagne anytime I would walk in. I suggested that DJ B Mello would come on the scene because he was leaving kube 93. That's when it became the number 3 club in the state when I first came on the scene. I thought this was my family and when I was disrespected from the staff I quit and it went to a complete poop hole. I have had VIPs everywhere in Seattle, Maui, Van city, B.C. and Sacramento up till this incident. Todd never paid me to help promote his bar like he said he would. He even made me pay to come in on my birthday. And the girl who stamped me free one night knowing who I was. he straight up fired. Now it's free cover before 12. It used to be ten pm. The same old predatory people and just people who go once in a blue moon. Don't forget the exact same playlist for the last decade. read more

I am not a night club person, but I had fun here and I think this is a spot for people of all age group (adult of course). They have a dance floor area, beer pong and pool, and areas just to chill and enjoy a drink and chat. Plus, the bathrooms are clean! Haha The bartender was really nice he made me this Sunset drink that was on special on their board that tasted like an Orange creamsicle! It was just missing the whipped cream. They have a jukebox you can play and if you have the app you can connect to it through your phone. Great spot. We live pretty far away, but plan to return! read more

Average priced drinks, fun atmosphere, and really good music from the DJ's, especially on Friday nights if you're okay with the place being packed. I think cover is $5, coat check is $3. The dance floor is always fun, more so if you can keep to your group and don't get unsolicitedly danced on. Bartenders are typically friendly and quick if they're not overwhelmed with patrons. read more

The last time I was there two male bouncers were holding open the door to the woman's bathroom looking inside. I asked what they were doing and they told me women could be getting raped in there. I obviously panicked and told them I might have a friend in there, but they tried to get me to go over to a dark corner in the hall. When I refused they tried to throw me out without letting me go back to my table a get my belongings. I begged a female employee to not let them put me on the street without my phone and jacket and informing my friends where I was going. She reluctantly escorted me to get my things. read more

Me and my boyfriend went here tonight for a fun night out. Before we could even get a drink my boyfriend was abruptly kicked out. The security guard said that there were "multiple complaints" about him spilling drinks on people and slurring words. Doesn't really add up considering we had yet to order a drink. We asked to speak to the head of security as we were both confused why he was being kicked out. The head of security said that his hands were tied and multiple complaints were made towards my boyfriend. (??) we still don't know what happened, but it ruined our night. Would not recommend this place! read more

This place sucks. I've seen people get knocked out just outside the bar, been cursed at in the bathrooms by staff, and a staff member even FAKED AN IRISH ACCENT on st patrick's day. I'm irish and her irish jig was so bad it was offensive. I've only been here 3 times, tried to give it another try each time and they just don't have any patience or respect for people there. However, the bartender is incredibly nice and so is the DJ. Make sure you're 100% sober going in or you risk getting immediately kicked out. read more

Here's the thing about the Royal, they never cut you off. Seriously, if you want to float down the Amazon River of booze, pop in here. Have to love that about college bars. The bad news? You HAVE to be near liver failure drunk to be in here for longer than 10 seconds. If you can get past the group of people throwing up in front of the door, can maneuver around the people trying to conceive children on the dance floor, and can find a seat in a booth, drink up sailor, you are going to need it!! read more

This place is the absolute worst place you can go to in Bellingham for a night out. I went in with a group of friends and the bouncer stopped my boyfriend at the door and made him step aside to ask him how many drinks he has had. We all started laughing because we had maybe 1 or 2 drinks beforehand and thought he was joking with us. He claims that my boyfriend was "stumbling", and then after my boyfriend said he was fine he let us in. We walk inside, get one drink and head to the dance floor when my friend starts walking behind a security guard to get to the dance floor. The security guard turns around and immediately tells my friend that he is kicked out and starts walking him to the door. We as a group are all so confused, so we walk out with them. Turns out the security guard kicked our friend out because he said he was "mocking" him, and told us not to return. THIS WAS SUCH A WEIRD PLACE, nobody here was kind to us, and all the security staff must have such small egos that they have to ruin peoples night for fun. Also while we were waiting in line the security staff was talking about how this place was losing money so quickly, and now I definitely know why lol. Go anywhere else but here. read more

I wish I could leave a 0 star review. I identify as non-binary and used the men's restroom as the line for the women's was 20 people long. A bouncer came in stuck his head over the stall invading my privacy while I was using the restroom and told me I needed to leave immediately. He took my drink and pushed me out the door and explained the reason I was kicked out was because it was a rape hazard. I was kicked out because I could have been raped. This was a security issue not a me issue. They are sexist and a very poor establishment, if you are looking for a welcoming place to hangout this is not the place to go. read more

Not sure why this place has low ratings. I went to The Royal for the first time tonight. Paid a $5 cover charge for being a non-student, paid $11 for the AMF tip the nice gal $5 for warming me up. Dance the night away with no judgement from security. As long as you can handle your alcohol and respect the people around you, it will be a great time. Good top hits music. Catch me there sometime you won't miss me. read more

I've been here 3 times and the staff have always been rude. One time I was DDing and waiting by myself playing candy crush on my phone by the entrance. I had my (very inconspicuous) weed pen in my hand with my phone while I was playing on my phone. A bouncer came up to me and told me I was not allowed to have a "dab pen". I immediately apologized, said I didn't realize I even had it in my hand. He told me, a 25 year old woman alone at midnight on a Saturday night that either he took it or I had to get out. So..I went out alone in the cold without my friends and felt extremely uncomfortable and unsafe. Do better. read more

STAY AWAY!!!! Just terrible, no responsive, and rude staff. I know I left my ID at your bar (upstairs), realized after I returned your darts. Came out of the bar, and wasn't allowed back in to get it. Now I've been trying to call and message your company for weeks and you tell me you don't have it? That's a load of garbage. read more

since when did we discriminate?? my tattoo guy who's awesome... was denied entry to this joint because he has facial tattoos!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? they said we have some bad as you can cover them up with. that is the most insane thing I have ever heard! read more

Racially profiled me from coming back in. I was DD for my group, didn't have a drink from The Royal and was the only one (only non white person as well) to be told "I have reached my limit" while all my hammered white fried were allowed back in with the same stamp. The doorman even lifted a white man up off the ground to "search" him after denying me. Pretty poor display read more

CAN I GIVE A NEGATIVE STAR?! Well went to Bellingham for my brothers 22nd birthday and we drank before and went to the royal for some fun. It was fine for a while, typical college bar crap karaoke and cheap beer. Some creep kept sexually harassing my brothers friend and she told him to back off and he didn't listen and then he grabbed her. My brother told him she is interested and to leave her alone, well as soon and my brother looked away the creep sucker punched him and knocked him out and made him hit his head on the ground. Instead of the bartenders calling the police or asking if everyone was okay they helped the guy escape and got him out the back before the police arrived. The owners covered it all up and said they didn't see what happened when it was clearly right in front of the bar. Needless to say and ER visit and a shoty police report later I will never ever go back there! Girls watch out this is where you get sexually assaulted and no one does anything and guys get sucker punched. This place is a joke. read more

Please put occupied/ vacant locks on bathrooms, I needed to pee real bad, and the boys where in and out

i always have fun here but i have two issues: they never play any current music, only throw backs, which is fun but like cmon...also they kick everyone out at 1:30 when the bars don't close until 2???? fun times usually but these things suck read more

Okay, look. It's The ROYAL. I don't really get the low ratings on this place except to say that obviously you gotta go in with the right expectations. The Royal is a Meat Market. And not like fresh meat but like...an open air market in Afghanistan at the height of noon. No matter where you start your night out in Bellingham, no night is complete without a pit stop at The Royal. Why? Well, when most city folk envision a night out, they think of a DJ spinning Top 40 pop and hip hop music, a crowded dance floor, scantily clad young co-eds, and drinking. Lots and lots of drinking. It's hot, sweaty, loud, and the place to see and be seen. Whether you're playing it too cool for school upstairs shooting pool, or shaking your booty on the dance floor hoping to catch some hot things' eye - The Royal is where to be. Now personally, I prefer Rumours Cabaret because I love to dance and drink and can avoid the leery eye of guys just looking for one thing. Everyone's cool, they have a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, and it's unlikely there'll be any altercations or drama. If there is, boom - you're 86'd. The Royal? Pssh - there's an expectation of trouble, and chances are if you're there often enough, trouble will find you one way or another. There's a reason they have a dress code and the bouncers don't mess around. Granted, I think the staff isn't as good as it used to be, but whatever. It's still pretty casual and a fun place to hang out from time to time. Look, you're probably not going to find your twu luv hanging out at the bar there, but if you're looking for some no strings action or checking out the scene, you'd be remiss not to check The Royal out. read more

My girlfriend and I wanted to try out a new bar and thought the Royal looked fun. Upon trying to enter the bar that we had never been to, we were immediately turned away because I was wearing adidas joggers. Why the hell is there a dress code? Safe to say we will never attempt to go to the Royal. Never been in, never will go to again. read more

I'm with Carly B. on this one. KARAOKE. That's really the only word you need to care about. Check the schedule and plan your life accordingly. Cheap drinks + Karaoke = fun times had by all. Sure we can complain about the crowd but what do you expect with such cheap drinks? Just ignore the douchery and have a good time. Or you could sing R.E.S.P.E.C.T and teach them a life lesson. AMIRITE?! read more

I've only been to the Royal twice in my two decades in Bellingham - the first was for a bachelorette party a few years back, and the most recent was to sing some karaoke with friends on a girls night out. Now, I'm not the biggest karaoke afficianado on the planet, but I was super impressed with the set-up. And since we got there early, we were able to get in quite a few songs before the crowds arrived. The drinks were also insanely cheap! Bartender was funny and friendly, too. I would definitely go back for the karaoke again. read more

KARAOKE! And if you show up early you get to dominate the mic. $2 well drinks, how can you go wrong with that? Our bartender was right out of Cocktail, juggling and fire breathing. Its a club, the guys got more annoying as the night went on, but the cheap drinks and karaoke will keep me coming back. read more

The Royal is the most popular club in Bellingham. They will sometimes have some good concerts and other events. There is always a cover charge, and it usually isn't cheap. The drinks are overpriced as well. This would be considered Bellingham's meat market. The girls dress skimpy, and the guys wear too much cologne. For that reason, the atmosphere in the Royal is what I would refer to as "pretentious". Most of the time, there is a line for the bathroom. And the bouncers are usually rude. That being said, they do have some nice pool tables upstairs. But as a Bellingham local, this is about the last bar I would go to in town, unless, of course, I wanted to gawk at the college girls. read more

Never ever, ever go to this place. One of the security guards verbally abused me, calling me a b*tch and the c word as well, multiple times. He was so unbelievably rude I couldn't even believe I was talking to another human being. I have been here several times and never had an issue, but this one was bad enough that I will NEVER being going back. They deserve to be shut down for the things he said to me. And by looking at the other reviews, looks like a lot of people have had the same experience. read more

Terrible place, went here with a friend that dated a bouncer (Beau) and was kicked out only cause I was with her. Terrible service, will never be back again. Complete disgrace. read more

By far the worst Club ever.A bouncer kicked my friend out for not dancing! Then let him stay and immediately told both of us we had to go because I told them it was racist. They surrounded me when I did nothing wrong, when I defend myself I'm in trouble. Stay away if you black and can't dance I guess. read more

I've been to the royal multiple times, and it seems like nearly every time I'm there, I see the bouncers treat guests awful. I've literally watch the same young bouncer with dark hair that works upstairs harass guests and kick them out while they were simply standing around doing nothing. All of the people who I've seen him kick out and or tell to leave have been females. I personally witnessed the same bouncer do messed up stuff; I saw him grab a girl while she was faced toward the bartender and come up behind her and pick her up by the elbows and drag her down the stairs. My jaw dropped after seeing that. & then Last weekend the same bouncer kicked my friends out around 1:00 AM; they literally were doing nothing, they had no reasoning to ask them to leave other than they were "too drunk to be there". They weren't. I'm vouching for them, because I know they weren't. I was with them all night and all's they had was 1 drink each. I have no clue what the policies are at the Royal or how they operate their Secuirty, but I can say one thing, don't go to the Royal unless you want to be harassed by their own staff. It's awful and extremely unprofessional. All these comments that were posted before mine are telling the truth. read more

I had the most wonderful night here, although my friends and I got kicked out, it was in the name of security. If you want to spend the night joyful and happy, this is the place to go. read more

Probably the worst club in Bellingham, the music is ridiculously awful and the dj's play the same old songs every weekend. If they upgraded the music, the club would be significantly better. read more

This place doesn't even deserve one star. This place had the most disgusting women's restroom I have ever experienced. After standing in line for a half hour, I found out that one toilet was overflowing. There was standing water, toilet paper and what appeared to be feces or vomit all over the floor. Girls with open toed shoes were walking through it getting that all over their feet. On top of that, there are only four stalls in the women's restroom and only two were usable. Two stalls on New Year's Eve. I heard there is one stall upstairs but did not verify that. The women's restroom was so bad the women started using the men's restroom. When my brother informed a bartender this was happening, they nearly kicked him out for "yelling" at the bartender. It was so bad the dj finally made an announcement to the whole bar that the women's restroom was nasty. At the end of the night, I told the gal at the coat check it was the most disgusting bathroom I had ever encountered and she casually said, "Oh, did the toilet overflow again?" It's obvious they have a problem with the women's restroom yet are doing nothing to fix it. Also, at the beginning of the night when arriving at the bar, they told my sister the coat check was full yet took coats from the next three people behind her in line. A couple other things about this place: Music: eh, just ok Drinks: ok People: What I have to say isn't nice read more

This place sucks so hard!!!! I wanted to let folks know how disappointed I am with this "venue". I went out last night with about 10+ of our friends and decided to come to your place for the first time since we moved here from Seattle. I have to admit that I was so disappointed to be harassed by their little bouncer from the moment I walked in to this place. That is after paying my own cover as well as the cover for 2 of my friends. I was told immediately by the little bouncer that I could not order a drink because I was too intoxicated. We were obviously targeted out by your little bouncer because we were gay. SO SAD AND SHAMEFUL!!!! I told him that I was not getting a drink for myself but for someone else. After I got the drink, I was followed by this douched bag being harassed; until I gave the drink to the person it was intended for. This man has no idea who I am nor how I act and I was immediately singled out and watched for the entire 10 minutes that we were there. Recap: I got a drink and took it to my husband, only to be followed, harassed and berated by their "staff" as I gave the drink to my husband . He then proceeded to tell us that we were too drunk to be there and took my husband and tried to put him in a headlock as he tried to move us out of your establishment. He had no idea who or what we were doing, but only the fact that he obviously didn't like GAY people. How sad and disrespectful. It's 2014 and I am surprised that a minority that works for there would be disrespectful to another minority. So sad and shameful in this day and age to be treated so poorly because of what someone thinks they know about me. I want to let everyone I know about their practices and how they treat people. In the 10 minutes I was there I gave your establishment over $20. It was the worst $20 I have spent in some time. I'd have better luck spending my money on a rabid raccoon to play with. I am going to let the everyone I know in Bellingham know about poor business practices, as well as notify all resources to let everyone I know and everyone else I can think of to get the word out of how bad they treat people. I don't want anything from this place other than to treat people with respect and get the ones with the Napoleon complex out of their business. It really makes them all look like a bunch of ignorant idiots. It's 2014 for Christ's sake. Hey Royal.....Grow up and treat people with respect like your slogan says your do!!!!! You might want to be careful on what you say to people because you never know who know whom. Bellingham is a small town with people who listen and don't tolerate this type of treatment of people. Not to mention you did all this in front of people who help run the Chamber of Commerce in Bellingham!! Well DONE!!! Thanks to last night, you now have over 300+ local people that will not come back to your place. Nice job! read more

Back when I lived in Bham many years ago, my friends and I all had a mutual deep dislike for this place. Everything is tasteless at the Royal...from the bad DJ voice, mean bouncers and front door people, bad energy and atmosphere (This was our perspective from about 10 years ago) I ended up going back to the Royal about 3 years ago when visiting bham from NY, hoping maybe this place might've gotten better but I had the worst experience ever. The front door guy was thinking my New York State ID was fake (even though there's no valid reason he should've came to that conclusion), he started giving me a hard time, we were clearly a friendly group of 4, 2 guys 2 girls. After about 5 minutes of questioning me, I just asked for my ID back so that we could leave to another place. The guy refused to give me back my ID and started calling the police so they can check my ID. After about 20 minutes of trying to keep my cool, the cops came and after checking my name and everything, they just simply gave me back my ID. I felt so violated. The people that worked at the front were just really ignorant and it just made me so mad that they would treat people like this (I don't know if the same people work there....this was like 3 years ago) I could never even think of going back to this place, the experience here kinda ruined my trip. My friends really believed that we were given the treatment we were because of our race. This place takes civilization back many years. read more

its a "club" by bellingham standards: Dance floor, loud music, flare bartenders, two levels and ok drinks. I mean it is bellingham so don't expect your typical seattle dance scene when you walk in here. Think small town girls gone wild meets college coeds drunk and confused. They have pool tables upstairs and if you show up on an off night its perfect for a place to drink a few and shoot the tables for a few hours. Beware entering on their busy nights you will get lost in the crowd and honestly its a pretty young crowd so if your over 22 you're gonna stand out and probably be labled "the creepy guy" or "the desperate girl" and not get a whole lot of play time in. Just be aware before you go. The drinks? Meh they're OK, your typical club drinks... slightly watered down but still potent if you drink enough of them. Just be careful here because they do not enforce liqour laws very well... I've seen girls literally carried out of this club by their (hopefully) boyfriends who should have been refused service hours ago. I know that "sounds great" to a lot of younger standards but it is super unsafe. read more

Horrible service. My wife and I had only one drink and were asked to leave for presumably no reason. When we asked what the reason for getting kicked out was the bouncer wouldn't give us one. He rushed us out so quickly that I couldn't get my coat or cash out. Overall very poor customer service. I would never go back. They treat people unfairly and dishonestly read more

this place doesn't even deserve 1 star. This place is as phony as it gets. If you like to be surrounded by a bunch of kids dressed homogeneously and see a bunch of girls barely past puberty dressing like hookers this is the place for you. There's a handful of men, 40+ years old, who hang out here because they will only date women who are fit and under 30 (though the men are not). If you are a person 30+ years old who likes to hang out here you are in total denial about your age and it shows. If you want an adult drink that doesn't taste like a jolly rancher or a cheap "hipster" beer, avoid this place at all costs. This place reminds me of clubs I used to go to in high school when I lived in the city. Different themes in each room (3 rooms), a bunch of bartenders that are likely pedophiles, horrible music so loud you can't hear what people are saying, a bunch of kids hanging outside the door smoking. Every guy looks the same here (saggy jeans, oversized sweatshirt, and trucker hats). There's no heat in the winter because they just wait for people to fill it up, so if it doesn't fill up you're freezing. The front door just sits wide open. I hate this place. It does not suit Bellingham. It gives me the creeps when I am there. read more

The Royal has a special place in my heart. It is not the nicest bar or club, it isn't the cheapest, but it is the staple of the nightlife scene in Bellingham! You have to go with the right expectation and want to have a great time. It that is a priority then the Royal is a great place to go on a Thursday/Friday/Sat night. Staff is great! read more