Port’s Commercial Hotel reveals new look after $100,000 facelift

PORT Adelaide’s longest-running pub unveiled a revamped new look, the latest in a string of watering holes in the area getting a new look.

• Port Admiral Hotel reopened after $1 million renovation
• Ambassadors Hotel at centre of landlords, liquidators dispute
• Why are so many hotels being built in Adelaide?
• 2018 Advertiser Food Guide: Top bars, restaurants and cafes

THE new-look Commercial Hotel — the longest-running pub in the Port — is the latest in a string of watering holes to be given a new life.

Just weeks after the Port Admiral unveiled its $1 million makeover, brothers Nick and Alex Watson have opened the doors to their revamped bistro — the star of their $100,000 transformation of the Commercial.

The trendy small bar and eatery now has its own house beer — Watson Bros 1841 draught made in collaboration with SA craft brewer Prancing Pony — and a new German-inspired menu.

The menu, a nod to the Watsons’ German roots, contains “everything from sauerkraut to bratwurst”.

Mr Watson said with so many hotels in the Port, they were trying to carve out their own niche.

Alex and Nick Watson have freshened up one of the original and oldest Port Adelaide pubs, The Commercial Hotel. Picture: AAP/Morgan Sette

The Watson brothers took over the hotel in 2015 and have taken it from “an old-school Port Adelaide pub” with set drinkers to a chic bar.

“Our vision for the hotel is to be to be a pub for everyone, where everyone feels welcome — it doesn’t matter if you’re a lawyer or a tradie,” Mr Watson said.

“I think that is exactly where the Port is going, I envision this (Commercial Rd North) to be the food hub of Port Adelaide.

“You’ve got Italian, you’ve got Greek, you’ve got American, you’ve got traditional pub down the road (Port Admiral Hotel) and German here — it’s great.”

Alex and Nick Watson outside the Commercial Hotel. Picture: AAP / Morgan Sette

The brothers have given the pub a whole new decor and installed a new beer system with 13 taps as well as a new kitchen, doors, solar power system and coffee machine.

They also renovated the upstairs function room.