Palmer Hospitality to open venue at former Stone’s Throw site

The group behind 2KW and Paloma Bar is planning a new venture after agreeing to buy the former home of a failed venue.

Stone's Throw before it was cleared out by liquidators. Picture: Nick Clayton

The group behind venues including 2KW, Fishbank and Paloma Bar and Pantry will open a new bar and restaurant in Norwood after agreeing to acquire the former home of Stone’s Throw.

A group of investors led by Palmer Hospitality Group’s Martin Palmer expects to take over the property later this month, and will have a blank canvas to design a new fit-out following the financial collapse of Stone’s Throw late last year.

A new name for the venue is yet to be decided, but Mr Palmer said it would be given a new look and feel, and was hopeful it would open its doors by September.

The main bar in Stone’s Throw before the venue was cleared out by liquidators. Photo: Nick Clayton

“We see The Parade as a desirable location for a bar and restaurant,” he said.

“It’s a good high street location, The Parade is a hub of eating and drinking – all of those things attracted us to it and obviously the building’s got some old world charm.”

Stone’s Throw fell into liquidation in October after racking up unsecured debts of close to $1.2m.

The venue’s owners blamed COVID-19 and stalled lease negotiations for the company’s demise, but liquidator Andrew Langshaw from DuncanPowell later suggested the venue was likely to have been trading insolvent for more than two years before its collapse.

Kitchen equipment, furniture, white goods and other equipment were all auctioned off as part of the liquidation process, leaving Palmer Hospitality the chance to put its own stamp on the “empty shell” that remains.

Martin Palmer operates a long list of venues across Adelaide and in regional areas. Picture – Emma Brasier

Palmer Hospitality operates a long list of pubs, bars and restaurants across Adelaide and in regional areas, including The Highway, The Warradale, the Morphett Arms and the McLaren Vale Hotel.

Mr Palmer said while the group’s CBD venues were slow to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, suburban and regional venues were trading well.

“Regional areas generally are good, the suburbs have been pretty good but the city has been tough for sure,” he said.

“A lack of tourists, lack of people working in the city – the city’s been tougher but it’s showing some signs of improvement.

“Places like Fishbank and 2KW – there were a lot more people in from interstate for the (Adelaide) Festival and Fringe.

“I haven’t lost any faith in the city – it will come back.”