This is a guest review by Thomas Anderson. Tom is a traveller and photographer in SL. You can follow his adventures on Flickr here.

Introduction

Greg's Bar & Lounge offers guests a unique and wide-reaching experience through its fleet of travelling luxury bar vehicles and mainland bar locations. My first introduction to Greg's Bar had me joining a trip aboard the newest addition to the fleet, Greg's Airship. I sat down with Greg Timmerman, the owner and proprietor of Greg's Bar & Lounge, to find out more about the origins of his ever-evolving business enterprise.

Interview with Greg

Q - How did Greg's Bar and Lounge start? Is this location here at Woodland Station the original bar?

A - No, it started with my bar boat. While on a boat trip with friends in RL I thought that I had never seen anything like that in SL and decided to convert a coal barge into a tourist barge. Currently, the bar boat is moored at the Nerido sim store.

Q - So, after the Bar Boat, what came next?

A - Then, the bar truck showed up for road events.

Q—Would you say that expanding your business beyond the Bar Boat seemed natural to you, Greg? To keep growing and trying new ideas, always keeping the theme of the bar consistent?

A - I didn't plan at the beginning that there would be anything other than a bar boat, everything came out spontaneously. After the bar truck, it was time for a bar train; its story began with the fact that my best friend decided to build her shop in Heaven. I noticed that it was the mainland, and because I love the mainland, I decided to check what was happening on the ground. I saw that there were railway tracks right next to it, and that's how the idea for a bar train was born.

Q—By this stage, you had three vehicles in your fleet: a boat, a truck, and now a train! When did you first start running tours?

A - The first boat trip took place in 2020, and the first train trip was in June 2022. After the bar train, it was time for the airship. During one of my cruises, I was asked when the flying bar would appear, so I started thinking about this idea until I finally managed to make it happen. Since then, all my projects have been a never-ending story. I'm constantly trying to update my places, vehicles and menus.

Q - When did you start developing this space here at Woodland?

A - The Woodland adventure began in June 2022. Together with Woodland, the idea for the Sky Bar came because I had not seen anything similar in SL before. The neighbours were very kind and wanted to use the same type of trees, which made the area look amazing, so I decided to do something special so that people could see it from above.

Q—The sky bar is impressive, and that glass floor is not for the faint of heart! I have seen your trips advertised via The Nature Collective group and through your personal group for Greg's Bar & Lounge. Are there any other avenues you use to promote your business?

A - Apart from what you mentioned, there are several passenger groups where you can send announcements about your trips. Also, the owners of Wandering New York, who visit my trips, asked me to post ads in their group as well.

Q - That's great! And here at Woodland Station, do you have many events, or is your current focus on your vehicles, offering these unique trips to guests rather than DJ events at your mainland bars?

A - I wanted to do something different that other places didn't have, so I decided to build a bar, not another regular big music club. Of course, there are occasional DJ parties here, but most of them are tours in bar vehicles. Who knows, maybe this will also change, and there will be even more events with live DJs in the future.

Q - Well, it sounds like you are always looking to the future, Greg. Any current plans to expand your fleet even further? Perhaps, say, Greg's BBQ Boat?

A - Oh, the idea seems interesting; I'll think about it. Thank you!

Overall Look and Feel

Greg has done an excellent job bringing together a brand cohesiveness that carries through each of his locations. The design can best be described as refined elegance.

Gold pillows, contemporary decor elements and thoughtful lighting design accent Lux dark leather furniture. Each bar is very well stocked, including fun interactive drink coasters, which provide guests with a cocktail menu to choose from (the drink is then rezzed on the coaster for guests to take and enjoy).

The Fleet

Greg Timmerman hosts travelling bar experiences where guests are invited to a given destination and taken on a tour through select regions of mainland SL.

During my experience aboard Greg's Airship, Greg greeted guests stationed at the bar and ready to serve a preflight drink. Guests were encouraged to remove unnecessary HUDS and lower script count, and before long, we alighted into the skies, enjoying the gentle movement of the airship as we made our way to our destination airport.

A television mounted above the captain’s station played fun RL music videos as passengers chatted with one another. Whether setting sail on Greg's Bar Boat, taking to the skies in the airship, or relaxing on a gentle jaunt on Greg's Bar Train, each excursion aboard Greg's moving bars feels like a VIP experience.

The Mainland Bars

Woodland Station

The high standard and attention to detail extend to the mainland bar grounds.

Greg's Bar & Lounge Woodland Station is an expansive and impressive space located on Route 1. While awaiting a train trip guests can enjoy beverages from the train station bar and relax in the outdoor lounge area with stunning views overlooking the neighbouring sims.

A short stroll from the station is the towering Greg's Sky Bar with 360-degree views - a fantastic spot to watch the sunset. For guests looking to enjoy some outdoor R&R, head further down, and you'll find Greg's Pool Bar, boasting two impressive pools, a spa and a two-story bar space. Down a side path, visitors will find the home of Greg's Airship.

Quagmire

Often the disembarking spot for trips aboard Greg's Bar Boat, the waterfront lounge located in Quaqmire is a fun spot to enjoy a few evening drinks, play a round of darts or dance the night way on the rooftop dance floor.

Things To Note

Both mainland bars are located in moderate sims. Although a number of furniture items are adult, signage at the Woodland bar expressly prohibits patrons from engaging in adult activities.

While the mainland bars, including Greg's fleet of bar vehicles, can be visited at any time, the best way to enjoy Greg's Bar & Lounge experience is by joining one of the trips advertised through various SL Passenger groups such as Passengers of SL, Greg's Bar & Lounge group and The Nature Collective.

All groups are free to join, and while trips are free, tips are greatly appreciated. Greg also caters to group events and private parties aboard his bar vehicles.

Conclusion

Visitors to any of Greg's Bar & Lounge locations can expect an elevated and unique experience, whether they embark on one of the various travelling bar trips or prefer to relax on land. Greg is always evolving his fleet of bar vehicles, and I'm looking forward to what ideas he dreams up next.

Locations

Greg's Bar Boat Location

Greg's Bar & Lounge - Woodland Station (Also home of the airship and bar train)

Greg's Waterfront Bar at Quagmire