Eats Beat

An English pub near UT Arlington closed after 43 years as a burger-and-beer favorite

J.R. Bentley’s English Pub, an Arlington landmark for 43 years in two locations, is closed and for sale, according to an ad posted on the pub’s website.

The pub, known for its weekly trivia night and once popular for charbroiled burgers along with a corner-tavern atmosphere, is on the market for $895,000, according to bentleyspublichouse.com

Commenters on social media say the pub, 406 W. Abram St., closed about a month ago.

JR Bentley’s English Pub opened on South Cooper Street in Arlington and moved to West Abram Street
JR Bentley’s English Pub opened on South Cooper Street in Arlington and moved to West Abram Street Star-Telegram archives

Bentley’s has had intermittent struggles and was closed for three years after a 2012 fire.

According to Star-Telegram archives, the pub and grill originally opened in 1980 at 1321 S. Cooper St. across the UT Arlington campus.

Back then, it was considered a strong rival to downtown burger mainstay J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill.

JR Bentley’s English Pub in Arlington moved and reopened in 2015.
JR Bentley’s English Pub in Arlington moved and reopened in 2015. Star-Telegram archives

A Star-Telegram review in 1980 described wooden booths with brass fixtures and philodendrons, and a drink list including Guinness (“which is Irish”) and wine (“a good Sebastiani”).

A specialty was the half-pound Duke’s burger with charbroiled beef, Swiss and mushrooms sauteed in wine.

This story was originally published March 10, 2023 at 5:30 AM.

Bud Kennedy’s Eats Beat
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Bud Kennedy is celebrating his 40th year writing about restaurants in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He has written the “Eats Beat” dining column in print since 1985 and online since 1992 — that’s more than 3,000 columns about Texas cafes, barbecue, burgers and where to eat. Support my work with a digital subscription
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