It's a Barbershop Bar

New Deep Ellum bar High & Tight takes speakeasy idea to hairy new place

High & Tight will combine barbershop and bar.

Photo courtesy of MNC [https://static.messynessychic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/barbiera2.jpg]

A new bar coming to Deep Ellum this summer is in a class by itself. Called High & Tight, it's a combination barbershop and speakeasy, a concept not yet seen in Deep Ellum — or all of Dallas, for that matter.

We have the underground speakeasy in Midnight Rambler, and the speakeasy-behind-a-fake-candy-shop in Truth & Alibi. But the speakeasy barbershop — as seen in places like Los Angeles and New York, such as the Blind Barber and Speakeasy Barber Salon — is something we do not have.

Founder Braxton Martin envisions High & Tight as a barbershop with a passageway into the bar, but promises that both sides of the business will receive the same degree of TLC. This separates it from Truth & Alibi, whose candy-shop entrance is nonfunctional and serves only as an entrance.

"We are a 1920s-themed gentleman's barbershop with a speakeasy in the back," says marketing director Corey Good. "The idea was to have a barbershop in front with a kind of secret entry through the hallway to get into the bar."

Martin and Good are a young entrepreneurial duo — Good is 26, Martin is 30 — who met while working in the service industry in Austin. Martin hatched the idea, and he scoured Greenville Avenue and Bishop Arts before settling on Deep Ellum. His location at 2701 Main St., across from Pecan Lodge, is not only centrally located, but it also has the capacity for two entrances, with a door to the barbershop on Main and a separate entry to the bar on Elm Street, across from the Green Room.

Martin says the idea rose out of his infatuation with institutions from the 1920s.

"The Prohibition era struck me as interesting, and I wanted to have something that evokes that culture," he says. "The barbershop is something all men are familiar with, but over the past decades has slipped away. I wanted to bring back a place that was gentleman-friendly and respected the tradition."

The official entrance will be via the barbershop. There'll also be a powder room — "with lavender and feminine touches," Martin says — that leads into the bar. The decor will be 1920s-30s London, and there'll be a stage just big enough for three- and four-piece brass bands.

"It'll be like you stepped on a movie set," Martin says.

Executing their vision within the tight confines of city permits has had its challenges, but they hope to get the barbershop open the first weekend of July, followed by the bar, with a grand opening by Halloween. They're currently interviewing for a complex team that includes not only master bartenders, but also top barbers.

"The barbershop will be a full cocktail bar, as well, for when you're getting your hair cut, with a bar maid and the whole works," Martin says.

openings

Pub News

Queens Head English pub to open in storied Deep Ellum Dallas location

Courtesy photo

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There's a new English pub coming to Deep Ellum: Called Queens Head Pub, it'll open at 2713 Elm St. in the storied space that was once home to the legendary Green Room.

The opening is slated for May, timed to coincide with the arrival of the FIFA World Cup 2026, with a goal to serve as a destination for match-day celebrations, live music, and neighborhood gatherings — an authentic and spirited setting where fans can unite over the game. (FIFA matches in Dallas will run from June 14-July 14.)

The Queens Head Pub will mark the second concept from Deep Ellum Collective, who in September 2025 launched The Terrace, an elevated event space at 2554 Elm St. with a spacious rooftop patio boasting views of downtown Dallas.

Led by longtime neighborhood veteran Eric Bradford (of Bomb Factory fame), Deep Ellum Collective is working on a series of projects aimed at revitalizing this iconic entertainment district while introducing fresh, community-driven hospitality experiences.

“Queens Head Pub captures the spirit of a traditional English pub while embracing the energy and authenticity of Deep Ellum,” Bradford says in a statement. “This is more than just a pub — it’s a gathering place that celebrates tradition, camaraderie, and the vibrant culture of the neighborhood. As our second concept, it sets the tone for what’s to come as we continue to introduce projects that contribute to the revitalization of this historic district.”

They promise that the pub will deliver the charm and tradition of a classic British public house, but with a Texan sense of hospitality, with full pints, hearty plates, and a welcoming atmosphere for "after-work regulars, match-day diehards, first dates, old mates, or anyone seeking a place that feels instantly familiar."

Food & drink
The menu will comprise elevated Britain pub fare, with entrees such as fish & chips, shepherd’s pie, steak & ale pie, and bangers & mash. Starters include Scotch eggs, sausage rolls, and curried mussels.

Other highlights include Guinness beef stew, the QHP Burger, and indulgent desserts such as toffee bread pudding.

The bar will serve imported and domestic draft beers, English ales, full pints, and expertly poured Guinness. There'll be craft cocktails, and an approachable wine and spirits menu.

Rendering of interior of Queens Head Pub, opening in Deep Ellum.Courtesy rendering

Design
Led by Droese Raney, the design recreates a traditional English public house that preserves the history of the space. The project combines the former Green Room space with the neighboring property to create a venue spanning 6,000 square feet. At its heart stands a striking 40-foot bar that incorporates the original Green Room bar — believed to date back to the 19th century — maintaining a tangible connection to the building’s storied past.

The space includes cozy nooks, communal tables, a relaxed lounge area, and a private dining space. A rooftop patio spanning 2,000 square feet will offer both covered and open-air areas designed for year-round use and a variety of social experiences.

Materials used include reclaimed hardwoods, stained wood, brass accents, tin ceilings, and hand-painted mirrors — many sourced from antique dealers in Round Top, Texas. They'll be open Tuesday-Sunday starting at 11 am. Follow the progress on Instagram at @queensheadpubde.

deep-ellum openings