Watts & Ward

What Watts & Ward does

Watts & Ward is a prohibition-style craft cocktail lounge located at 200 S Blount Street in Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded circa 2017, the venue operates as a walk-in speakeasy with no reservation requirement, serving an adult 21+ demographic seeking an elevated, conversation-friendly bar atmosphere. Its name references the Watts Act of 1903 and Ward Law of 1905 — North Carolina state statutes that preceded national Prohibition — anchoring the brand to authentic regional history. The bar stocks over 200 bottles including rare whiskies, small-batch gins, and artisanal amari, and crafts cocktails using house-made syrups, hand-cut ice, and seasonal ingredients. The menu is segmented into House Classics, Bartender's Creations, Classics, Barrel-Aged Cocktails, Zero Proof cocktails, a curated wine list, and a rotating local/imported beer selection, with cocktails priced between $8 and $30.

The business model is fundamentally a single-site physical retail operation. Revenue is generated through on-site à la carte beverage transactions at the bar counter and through private event bookings processed via a third-party platform (Tripleseat). Private event capacity is structured across four distinct spaces — Mud Room (40-50 guests), Study Room (50-60 guests), Parlor Room (100-110 guests), and Full Venue Rental (up to 300 guests) — each with a two-hour minimum and minimum room fees applied to the tab. There is no digital product, no online ordering, no delivery capability, and no mobile application. Watts & Ward is a branded venue within the Hibernian Hospitality Group, a privately held hospitality operator running 20+ unique concepts across Raleigh and Charlotte including Raleigh Beer Garden, Morgan Street Food Hall, Peggy's Whiskey, and SYN Cocktail Bar. The lounge is staffed by approximately 8 employees and operates Tuesday through Sunday.

The primary customer segment is local and visiting adults seeking craft cocktails in an intimate speakeasy environment, with a secondary segment of corporate and private event hosts. Distribution is exclusively physical — walk-ins plus Tripleseat-routed event bookings — and the venue relies on organic discovery, its website, and social media for marketing. The gtm_motion is direct-to-consumer with no B2B sales infrastructure beyond the event inquiry pipeline.

Name

Watts & Ward

Legal name

Watts & Ward

Website

https://wattsandward.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Watts & Ward is a prohibition-style craft cocktail lounge in Downtown Raleigh, NC, serving walk-in patrons with house-made cocktails across four private event spaces, operating as a venue within the 20+ location Hibernian Hospitality Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cocktail Lounge / Bar Hospitality

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGAIAD

Cocktail Lounges & Speakeasies

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Nightlife & Live Music Venues (Clubs, Bars)

SECONDARYTHAFAEAE

Cocktail Bars & Speakeasies

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Bars, Pubs & Nightlife Venues

SECONDARYCRANACAD

Cocktail Bars & Lounges

Consumer Products & Retail/Tobacco, Alcohol & Cannabis Retail/On-Premise Alcohol Retail (Bars, Pubs & Taprooms)

Keywords

• Craft cocktail lounge
• Speakeasy bar
• Private event venue
• Prohibition cocktail bar
• Downtown nightlife bar

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. On-site Beverage Sales: Direct cash-and-carry sales of craft cocktails, wine, beer, and zero-proof alternatives at the physical bar counter. Transactions are one-time per visit with no subscription component. Average cocktail prices range from $8-$30 depending on spirit quality and preparation complexity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Watts & Ward operates a walk-in prohibition-style speakeasy cocktail lounge in Downtown Raleigh, NC, serving handcrafted cocktails made with premium spirits, house-made syrups, and seasonal ingredients against a backdrop of 200+ bottles, rare whiskies, and small-batch spirits. The venue also offers private event hosting across four distinct spaces (40-300 guests) for corporate events, celebrations, and full venue buyouts.

Product overview

Watts & Ward is a prohibition-style cocktail lounge in Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, operating as part of the Hibernian Hospitality Group. The core offering is handcrafted cocktails served in a 1920s-inspired speakeasy atmosphere. The product portfolio centers on craft cocktails organized into signature house classics, bartender creations, time-tested classics, barrel-aged cocktails, and zero-proof alternatives, complemented by curated wine, beer, and ready-to-drink options. Private event hosting is a secondary offering with four distinct spaces: the Mud Room (40-50 guests), Study Room (50-60 guests), Parlor Room (100-110 guests), and Full Venue Rental (up to 300 guests). The venue stocks over 200 bottles including rare whiskies, small-batch gins, and artisanal amari. Walk-ins are welcome with no reservations required.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Craft Cocktail Program Handcrafted cocktail program featuring premium spirits, house-made syrups, and fresh seasonal ingredients. Menu includes signature originals (House Classics), bartender creations, classic cocktails, barrel-aged cocktails, and zero-proof options. Cocktails range from $8 (ready-to-drink) to $30 (premium barrel-aged).
• Wine Selection Curated wine list available by the glass ($12) or bottle ($45-$250), including red wines (Mumbo Jumbo Cabernet Sauvignon, Franciscan Pinot Noir, New Dawn Red Blend), white wines (Napa by Napa Chardonnay, Mud House Sauvignon Blanc, Terra D'Oro Pinot Gris), and sparkling options (De Luca Prosecco, Segura Viudas Sparkling Rose, Veuve Clicquot Brut, Dom Perignon Brut).
• Beer & Cider Selection of local and international beer and cider including Mango Tango Foxtrot (Clayton, NC), Wicked Weed Pernicious (Asheville, NC), Magnifico Chinotto Citrus (Raleigh, NC with Delta 9 THC), Guinness, Bold Rock Cider, Dogfish Head Seaquench Ale, Modelo Especial, Sam Adams Just The Haze IPA (non-alcoholic), Michelob Ultra, and Miller Lite. Priced $5-$8.
• Mud Room Private Event Space Private event space accommodating 40-50 people with a 2-hour minimum. Features blue accent lighting, velvet seating, and a brass-tiled bar in a vibrant, contemporary atmosphere. Includes private bar, lounge seating, and minimum room fees applied to tab.
• Study Room Private Event Space Vintage library-themed private event space for 50-60 people with a 2-hour minimum. Features floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, tufted leather seating, and warm ambient lighting with a tin ceiling. Includes private bar, lounge seating, and minimum room fees applied to tab.
• Parlor Room Private Event Space Main event space accommodating 100-110 guests with a 2-hour minimum. Features exposed brick, Chesterfield sofas, and industrial-chic details. Includes full bar access, private bar, lounge seating, and minimum room fees applied to tab.
• Full Venue Rental Exclusive access to the entire basement speakeasy for up to 300 people with a 2-hour minimum. Features multiple bars, distinct atmospheres across all rooms, and complete privacy for the ultimate private event experience. Includes private bar, lounge seating, and minimum room fees applied to tab.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hibernian Hospitality GroupcoreOthersWatts & Ward is part of the Hibernian Hospitality Group, a hospitality management company operating 20+ unique venues across Raleigh and Charlotte, NC. The group includes beer gardens, cocktail bars, food halls, whiskey bars, and diverse nightlife concepts including Raleigh Beer Garden, Botanical Lounge, Morgan Street Food Hall, The Station, Peggy's Whiskey, SYN Cocktail Bar, and The Bar at Optimist Hall.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/watts-&-ward

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Watts & Ward