The Pub Crawler: The Varsity Club

With nearly 30 flat screen TVs and a couple of giant pull down wide screens, you know right away that the Varsity Club in Clearwater is a sports fan’s dream.

Throw in an extensive menu of burgers, chicken sandwiches, wings and appetizers, plus drink specials designed around different sporting events and what you’ve got is a sports fan’s paradise.

The “V” Club was established in 1989 by owner Dave Berlo, a Massachusetts transplant who set out to replicate the success of sports bars back in his home state.

But what began as a mecca for Boston sports fans soon developed into a haven for Cheeseheads.

The early/mid- 1990s heyday of Brett Favre and the Packers, coupled with the influx of Midwesterns to the Tampa Bay area, brought a lot of Packers fans to Clearwater, and eventually, to the Varsity Club.

Being a smart businessman, Berlo decided to go with the yellow and green flow, allowing the Clearwater Packers Backers to set up shop at his place. And they’ve been filling it up during football season ever since, right up to this years’ Super Bowl victory over the Steelers.

But don’t be put off by the V Club’s allegiance to the Packers; fans of any team are welcome at all times.

In addition to the aforementioned menu items, they also serve dinners such as prime rib, mahimahi and chicken parmesan, as well as homemade pizzas, wraps, salads and sandwiches.

Kids are not only welcome at the V Club, they are catered to, with crane games, video games and a meal special where kids eat free on Tuesdays with each paying adult.

NTN Trivia, a pool table, karaoke on Friday and live music on weekends will satisfy the adult crowd, as will the daily shot specials, rotating drink specials and dozens of beers on hand, including Amstel, Corona, Guinness and Shock Top.

They even have free WiFi if you want to get some work done while watching the game.

Basically there’s something for everyone at the Varsity Club, even if you don’t wear a giant block of foam cheese on your head.

24091 US Highway 19 N, Clearwater (corner of Sunset Pt. Road and US 19)

Phone: (727) 726-6551

Hours:  11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Sunday to Thursday; from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.