“October is our Super Bowl,” says Jeff Angell who, with his wife Courtney, owns Deadbeats on Knight Street in Providence. The horror-themed bar has something planned for the good evenings in the lead-up to Halloween and beyond.
For instance, every Thursday this month, Deadbeats Drive-In will run a horror movie on a 23-foot inflatable screen in the parking lot behind the building, according to Angell, who adds that 1986’s The Fly is one of his favorite flicks.
“We’ll be announcing other fun events for the month on social media,” he says, referring to Instagram @deadbeats_pvd and their Facebook page at DeadbeatsPVD.
And there’s always Monster Marg Monday, which runs throughout the year, in which customers can watch a monster movie while sipping specialty Margaritas made by Scarlett, who’s on Insta @scar_fox_64.
Deadbeats opened its doors in 2023 and quickly became a final destination spot, so to speak, for its themed drinks and craft brews and, as Angell puts it, “a kind of weirdo horror vibe.” The bar is chock full of horror memorabilia they’ve collected over the years.
Near the entrance sits Ronald McDonald. Some customers take selfies with the iconic bench statue. “I came by this original restaurant piece and kept it at home, until Courtney said she didn’t want the damn thing in the house anymore,” Angell relates.
These statues graced many a McDonald’s during the 1990s and 2000s, but then were removed due to vandalism, and for looking creepy — which made this particular one a perfect fit for Deadbeats.
After all, this is the dive where a big bat hangs from the ceiling, a longhorn skull adorns the wall behind the bar, giant mutated skulls abound, blacklight posters give an eerie glow to the place, and the cobwebs seem to have snared TV screens.
Since seeing is believing, you’ve got to hit the bathroom at Deadbeats. “We made it into a Rocky Point House of Horror dungeon,” Angell says. No surprise, a lot of selfies are taken there.
Angell said his favorite piece is the custom-made Large Marge Shrine in memory of the silly character from Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.
“If you get it, you get it,” he comments.
When marking the anniversary of the movie, which came out August 9, 1985, Deadbeats serves shots in skull-shaped glasses in tribute to Large Marge. Tell the bartender “Large Marge sent me” and you’ll get a complimentary shot.
On a related note, Deadbeats offers free play on its two pinball machines. “Don’t forget the free pickles,” Angell adds with a chuckle.
This time of year, pumpkin spice beers are a popular choice, Angell points out. “A lot of those cans are wildly themed,” he says. And no matter the season, cult-themed brews are a staple there.
“Elusian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale is one of my favorite beers,” he says. And for the hard stuff, Angell always enjoys a good Tiki cocktail.
Last July, the bar, along with As Above So Below Distillery of Santa Fe, NM, held a launch party for Elvira Mistress of the Dark’s new autumnal gin blend, and a small-batch vodka. ‘Twas a spooky success.
For Deadbeats, success easily came more quickly than a zombie’s walk or a Lovecraftian creature’s shamble. It swept the 2025 Motif Bartender Awards, winning Favorite Overall Watering Hole, Favorite Dive Bar, and Favorite Dive Bar Bartender. In addition, the bar hosted the February 2025 Motif Monthly Mixology Madness Competition.
“We’re working on a special Halloween cocktail,” Angell says, “And a special Day of the Dead cocktail, too.”
And you just get the feeling crawling up your spine that these concoctions will be gruesomely good, with accents of spooky and fun.