Adelaide’s suburban pubs and bars are experiencing a revival

Growing numbers of South Australians are staying away from the city and going to their local for a meal or a drink. Find out why.

The classic suburban pub is enjoying a “revival”, with growing numbers of South Australians looking for value closer to home on an ordinary night out.

Food and beverage spending has surged outside the CBD, business owners and industry groups say, as people continue to work from home after the pandemic.

Cheaper transport costs and the “community feel” of suburban and regional venues are other key factors luring people away from the city for post-work meals and drinks.

Adelaide hotelier Greg Maitland says consumers have been “reintroduced to their local pub” during Covid – and they’ve kept coming back.

“The pandemic was the turning point,” he said. “We’ve had this uptick and it’s just maintained and grown since then. Covid kept everyone away from the bigger crowds in the city and people didn’t want to travel too far, so now they’re staying local.”

The owner of GM Hotels Group, which includes the Pier Hotel, The Paradise Hotel and The Whitehorse Inn, Mr Maitland says his venues have experienced “double-digit” growth year on year in food and beverage sales over the past three years.

Hotelier Greg Maitland. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Friends Jacqui Chibnall, Wendy Cahill and Kirsty Monssen toasting the new year at the revamped Christies Beach Hotel. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Publican Anna Hurley says people are moving away from higher-end restaurants and bars in the city and enjoying the “sense of community” present at suburban venues.

“A lot of people who might have spent that bit of extra money going to a nicer restaurant are trading down – and that’s not in a disparaging way – but they’re spending a little bit less,” said Ms Hurley, from the Hurley Hotel Group.

“At a suburban pub, the costs are lower, you don’t have to pay for parking, and I think we’re benefiting from that.”

Mr Maitland says cost-of-living pressures have forced patrons to look for better value when going out for a meal.

“People are more comfortable spending around their area and pubs have always provided – and still continue to – deliver good value,” Mr Maitland said.

“It’s not restaurant prices.

“You can get a really good quality meal... and at a reasonable price.”

Arkaba Hotel's Sporty's Bar reopened last year after a $10m renovation. Pics: Supplied

Port Lincoln Hotel. Picture: Supplied

The Hurley Group’s venues include the recently renovated Arkaba Hotel, Marion Hotel, Kensington Hotel, Torrens Arms, plus regional pubs such as the Port Lincoln Hotel and Pretoria Hotel. Many of their hospitality businesses feature a sports bar, restaurant, gaming area, and bottle shop.

“Customers are liking that full-service hotel. It’s all in the one spot – and if you’re not going to the city for work any more, it does make sense to stay in the suburbs,” Ms Hurley said.

RD Jones Group operations director Luke Donaldson said patrons had become “really passionate” about their local venues.

“Our pubs play a really important part in the community with sporting clubs and sponsorship, and we try to provide a really high quality experience in the suburbs,” he said.

RD Jones Group is behind a wide range of hospitality businesses across the state from The Moseley in Glenelg to The Gully in Tea Tree Gully, The Woodcroft Hotel, the Cove Tavern and The Yankalilla Hotel.

Mr Donaldson said they’ve completed major revamps of several pubs in recent years, including the Christies Beach Hotel and the Midway Tavern in Elizabeth Downs, with Settlers Tavern in Ingle Farm next up.

“We did some renovations when venues were shut (during Covid) which probably made them feel like the smaller bars in the city and you can get that same experience closer to home,” he said.

“Then you don’t have to pay for an Uber or a taxi, which saves people quite a bit of money.”

The Moseley Bar and Kitchen. Picture: Dean Martin

Jacqui Chibnall, Wendy Cahill and Kirsty Monssen enjoying a drink at the revamped Christies Beach Hotel. Picture: Kelly Barnes

The Yankalilla Hotel. Picture: Supplied

Australian Hotels Association SA chief executive Anna Moeller said suburban and regional venues had experienced a huge boost in trade as people became “more acquainted” with their nearby pub.

“We have seen the revival of the local – there has been a noticeable behavioural shift,” she said.

“Covid drove people to those places, they liked what they saw, and have been going back even after the end of the pandemic.

“That has been amplified by workers continuing to work from home even now Covid is done.”

While the trend was mostly positive for business owners, Mr Maitland said hospitality operators on the whole were still doing it tough.

“We’re not making a lot more money. We’ve had substantial increases in cost – from electricity to produce – they’re all through the roof since Covid,” he said.

“We’ve needed the uplift so it’s been good.”

Ms Hurley said smaller venues were still struggling despite the positive signs for the sector going forward.

She added that maintaining a “vibrant” CBD was important for hospitality and local tourism.

“As more people work from home I think the vibrancy of the CBD is at risk and that would be a pity for us as a community and for tourism in Adelaide,” Ms Hurley said.

Events are the key to bringing people back to the city, Ms Moeller said.

“There’s been a shift away from CBD venues and because of that, events are more important than ever for the city,” she said.

“When there’s a sporting event at Adelaide Oval or a big concert or a festival, (pubs and bars in) the city and North Adelaide do very well.”