Heritage Adelaide pub Crown and Anchor purchased by developer

IT’S one of Adelaide’s beloved live-music scenes, but not for much longer. The Crown and Anchor Hotel will change — and its “days are numbered” — after a SA developer bought the heritage-listed Grenfell St icon.

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THE Crown and Anchor Hotel’s “days are numbered” after South Australian developer Karidis Corporation purchased the heritage-listed hotel on Grenfell Street.

Karidis Corporation, which already owns land adjacent to the hotel — home to the Crab Shack and Little Miss Dive Shop — purchased the Crown and Anchor in September from the Fahey Group, which owns a number of Adelaide hotels.

Famed Adelaide live-music venue Crown and Anchor on Grenfell Street has been sold to a developer.

Rumours have been circulating for weeks regarding the future of the site and industry sources say the Crown and Anchor will continue as business as usual for some time.

But ultimately a Karidis Corporation development worth $50 million is set to go ahead next door and will include apartments, retail and office space — impacting on the hotel.

Adelaide City council confirmed plans for a high-rise apartment next to the Crown and Anchor Hotel had been received, but demolition of the heritage-listed hotel would not be supported.

“Development plans for the site next to the Crown and Anchor have been approved by DAC, but no plans in relation to the Crown and Anchor itself have been lodged.” a spokesman said.

“The owners of the Crown and Anchor are taking over the Little Miss Miami/Crab Shack site and will be operating it in a similar fashion.

“The Crown and Anchor is heritage-listed so demolition of the hotel is unlikely to be supported by council. Council has not been notified of any intentions for the site.”

One industry source said it would be a huge blow to Adelaide’s live-music scene.

“It’s been such a big supporter of live music so it’s going to be hard,” they said.

“It will operate as business as usual but its days are numbered which is a very sad proposition.”

Other sources say the site will be safe for years to come saying that the development will take “years to get legs”.

Former owner of the Crown and Anchor for more than five years Kevin Gregg said the deal with Mr Kiridis was “amicable” and that to run a live music venue next to apartments would be difficult.

“We decided after amicable discussions with Gerry that we would sell it,” Mr Gregg said.

“Inevitably apartments are going to be built there —. He approached us and it was a prudent decision to make to sell to him.”

This picture shows why the Crown and Anchor’s days are numbered — the pub is at the bottom right. The tower is an artist’s impression of the Karidis Corporation’s proposed apartment block.

“History tells us that it has always been difficult when you have residents living right alongside you — the operations of the hotel have to adapt. Particularly for a hotel that is truly a live music venue.”

In 2013, Mr Karidis said his business would support the Crown and Anchor.

He said soundproof glass would prevent any noise issues with the pub.

“We are very supportive of the pub and every business in the area,” he said.

Australian Hotels Association General Manager Ian Horne said the gentrification of Australian capital cities was often identified as a key reason for the demise of city-based pubs and particularly those that focus on live music.

“The expectations of affluent Baby Boomers and career-minded executive couples are increasingly at odds with what a pub needs to provide to its audience to remain viable,” he said.

“There needs to be a political will to preserve iconic pubs and the cultural contribution they make when faced with the ambitions of future developments.

“Pubs and live music go hand-in-hand but their long-term viability is considerably more complex than just “banning” adjacent development.”

Mr Horne said even despite best efforts to continue live music at the hotel, it would be difficult.

“Double glazing only goes so far,” he said.

“History tells us that local government and the government agencies that monitor noise complaints also favour the residence despite the hotel’s ‘first occupancy’ status.”