Pensacola Beach bars offer prime seats for Blue Angels Air Show — with a hefty price tag

With Blue Angels weekend on Pensacola Beach less than a month away, some beach businesses are offering options for air show fans who are willing to pay to avoid some of the heat and sun. 

Some beach restaurants and bars charge a special fee for customers to rent a table during the air show, which takes place Friday, July 12, and Saturday, July 13. Others, however, are asking customers to just keep ordering as long as they are taking up space. 

Shaka Bar

Lopaka Robello, owner of the Shaka Bar and Aloha Wine and Liquor at 649 Pensacola Beach Blvd., has at 40-seat viewing area on top of his business available for rent that Friday and Saturday. The roof-top space is a prime spot to catch the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and other demonstrations.

Robello said the downstairs Shaka Bar and party deck will open on first-come, first-served basis both days.

"We will be wide open downstairs and there is lots from people to come out an enjoy," he said. 

The cost of renting the upstairs viewing area would depend on the size of the party, he said.

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Casino Beach Bar and Grille

Casino Beach Bar and Grille, 41 Fort Pickens Road, is situated on the Pensacola Beach fishing pier and offers one of the best locations on the beach to watch the show. The restaurant's Facebook page states it has VIP tables available for seating the Friday and Saturday of Blue Angels weekend.

"These packages include drinks, food and your reserved seat for the whole day!" the the Facebook post states.

Casino Beach Bar and Grille representatives said the cost is $125 per seat and includes five drink tickets, one entree, one appetizer for the table of four and a limited edition Blue Angel Tumbler.

Crabs and The Dock

Managers at the nearby Crabs restaurant at 6 Casino Beach Boardwalk said the restaurant will be open regular hours on a first-come, first-served bases and that customers can stay all day as long as they continue to order. 

Bruce Parris, longtime manager of The Dock at Casino Beach, 4 Casino Beach Boardwalk, has the same policy. 

"I'd have a million people asking if I let them book the tables in advance," he said. 

Parris said keeping the tables open to anyone as long as they are buying drinks is a better system for his loyal customers who be there the rest of the year. 

"Those are the folks who keep us in business," he said. 

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Red Fish Blue Fish and Jelly's Eatery

Logan Singleton represents Innisfree Properties, which is the owner of five hotels and various restaurants and bars on the Pensacola Beach, including Red Fish Blue Fish restaurant and Jelly's Eatery. 

Singleton said Red Fish Blue Fish at 5 Via de Luna Drive and the adjacent Jelly's Eatery have a variety of events planed in conjunction with Blue Angels weekend. 

That Friday, Red Fish Blue Fish will have live music from Lang Hollowman for customers during the show from noon to 4 p.m. and a performance after the show from 7 to 11 p.m. by Robbie Paynter.

On Saturday, Red Fish Blue Fish will again offer live music from Hollowman during the show from noon to 4 p.m.

After the Blues fly, Red Fish Blue Fish and Jelly's will have a special performance by Shazam from 5 to 7 p.m. for people waiting to leave the beach, Singleton said. The band SheAndTheIts will follow with live music from 7 to 11 p.m.

Peg Leg Pete's

On the opposite end of the beach, Peg Leg Pete's at 1010 Fort Pickens Road is an incredibly popular spot to watch the show. Manager Beeler Gausz said Peg Leg's will operate as usual both days of the show. 

Customers are welcome as long as they are ordering food or drinks, he said. 

"Blue Angels weekend is always an awesome weekend here at Peg Leg's," he said.

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Gausz said the only issue with the weekend is an issue businesses all over the beach face — parking. 

Peg Leg's tells customers on Blue Angels weekend to remove their car from the parking lot when they leave the restaurant.  

"When you leave, you take your car with you," he said.

Are we missing a Pensacola Beach business hosting a Blue Angels event? Email us at online@pnj.com.

Melissa Nelson Gabriel can be reached at mnelsongab@pnj.com or 850-426-1431.