Hotel Tivoli and Elephant British Pub on the market

What was once one of Adelaide’s best-known live music venues and a pub loved by uni students are on the market – see the details here.

A pioneering live music venue and a British pub popular with uni students have hit the market in Adelaide’s east end.

New operators are being sought to take over The Elephant British Pub off Rundle St, while the Hotel Tivoli building on Pirie St is being offered for sale as an opportunity to convert the state heritage-listed property into offices or showroom space.

The Tivoli was one of Adelaide’s leading live music venues in the 1970s and 1980s, hosting everyone from Nick Cave to legendary band Cold Chisel, before its closure around eight years ago.

The Hotel Tivoli building on Pirie St is for sale.

McGees Property’s James Juers, who’s selling the property, said it was time for a new owner to create a new vision for the historic building.

“Everybody knows The Tivoli – it’s an iconic building with a rich history,” he said.

“But the venue has been closed for some time now and we believe it’s time for someone new to breathe new life into the building.

“It might be people working in real estate, marketing firms, architects or other creative groups who see the potential to create a really special space for their staff.

“A lot of money was spent on a major refurbishment when the apartments were developed behind the heritage building, and it now offers 1200sq m of really impressive spaces.”

The grand ballroom of the Hotel Tivoli. Picture: Russell Millard

Offers around $2m are expected for the property, including the heritage-listed ballroom, which according to heritage documents is one of the last of its kind in South Australia.

Meanwhile the current operators of The Elephant, Sydney-based Metro Hospitality Group, is seeking to sell the business to a new operator.

McGees Property’s Grant Clarke said the venue was currently trading three days a week due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.

He expects a new operator to put their own stamp on the venue.

WHO OWNS SA’S PUBS? EXPLORE THE INTERACTIVE MAP

The Elephant British Pub is for sale.

Inside The Elephant British Pub, which is on the market. Supplied by McGees Property

“The current operators have had struggles with the trading restrictions and so they’ve decided to pass on the baton after 20 years,” he said.

“The current on-premises licence has a capacity for 545 people, and it’s 3am four nights a week – that’s quite a valuable asset in that precinct and there are multiple opportunities.

WHO OWNS SA’S PUBS? EXPLORE THE INTERACTIVE MAP

“Whether it’s reinvigorated as an English pub is one thing, but there’s also an opportunity for someone to grab it and create their own new theme. It could be an entertainment venue upstairs, and a traditional bar or university pub downstairs, or you could have karaoke.”

Mr Clarke said there was an opportunity to upgrade the 500sq m of building space within the venue, which opened in 1998 and was last renovated in 2016.

“There’s a lease in place and the landlord will consider rental incentives on any upgrade proposals submitted.”