Pirate Life adds $1m fire pit, kitchen to Port Adelaide success story

A state-of-the-art fire pit and kitchen are among the latest big ticket additions for the growing Port Adelaide success story.

Antimo Iannella

@antimoiannella

2 min read

January 29, 2022 - 3:40PM

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There’s more to Port Adelaide’s Pirate Life Brewery than a good frothie.

The Australian brewing success story has just launched a new state-of-the-art $1m kitchen – complete with a 5x1.5m fire pit – at its SA headquarters as it looks to attract food lovers to its ever-expanding taphouse.

Co-founder Michael Cameron said the development was the next step in the venue’s evolution, with plans to increase dining capacity to almost 1000 people by next summer.

“We’ve spent the last three years operating out of a food truck and the business has been growing, so it was time to put a proper kitchen into place,” he said.

“It’s also opened up a bit more room in the beer garden. We'll do a lot of summer music and art events because we have such a big space.”

Pirate Life head chef Rocky Oliveira in their new $1 million state of the art kitchen, complete with fire pit. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Pirate Life brewery and taproom in Port Adelaide, South Australia

Pirate Life brewery and taproom in Port Adelaide, South Australia.

Led by head chef Rocky Oliveira, the menu will be far from typical brewpub fare, with dishes including scotch fillet, grilled yuzu squid and crispy garlic leeks, alongside favourites such as chicken katsu sandos and Mayura beef burgers.

“The kitchen will help us steer away from the great iconic schintzel and let us do a few different things,” Cameron said.

Launched in Hindmarsh seven years ago by Cameron and his son Jack, Pirate Life has expanded rapidly with brewhouses in SkyCity Adelaide and Perth.

There’s also a plan to open a venue just outside of Melbourne’s CBD by October.

But Cameron said much of the focus remained on building the business in Port Adelaide, which he hoped would become a must-visit food and beverage destination on par with the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale.

“There’s a massive opportunity for growth. A lot of tourists and South Australians have never been to Port Adelaide so we’re working with the council to help promote the Port as a bit of a destination,” he said.