The King’s Head Hotel in Adelaide under contract leaving both building and apartment development in limbo

The ongoing drama surrounding the beleaguered King’s Head Hotel continues as plans for a 16-storey apartment block hit a snag.

The $70 million plans for a 16-storey building included 117 “contemporary rooms”, a penthouse apartment, a shop at ground level and a hotel function area on the first floor. Picture: Keryn Stevens

After months of speculation over its future, Adelaide’s beleaguered King’s Head Hotel could have a new owner with the site currently in the process of being sold.

Plans for a 16-storey apartment block – undertaken as a joint venture between Catcorp Pty Ltd and former King’s Head Hotel site owner Patrick Marcucci – had been approved in July of 2022.

Despite the approvals, which included retention of the state heritage-listed building, the site sat untouched with the project never breaking ground.

Currently listed as under-contract, the move leaves both the future of the hotel and the development in limbo.

Plans for the development never broke ground and the heritage-listed King’s Head Hotel now under contract. Picture: Emily Olle

The historic King’s Head, which opened its doors on King William St in 1876, was purchased for $3.25 million in 2022 after taking a significant hit during the Covid pandemic.

Planning consent application for the 53-metre tall apartment block was submitted by Cucci Investments, of which Mr Marcucci is also a director, and Future Urban in 2022, with developers at the time expecting construction to begin in January 2024.

The $70 million plans included 117 “contemporary rooms”, a penthouse apartment, a shop at ground level and a hotel function area on the first floor.

In 2023, 1834 Hotels signed on to manage the new hotel, dubbed Ramada by Wyndham, upon its opening.

At the time Mr Marcucci said the new venture would give the hotel “a new life”.

Signage on the venue slated the hotel’s opening for December 2024 — however, the site has remained untouched since the block behind the venue was demolished.

1834 Hotels Chief Executive Andrew Bullock previously said the company was contracted to manage the site, and that Mr Marcucci had previously confirmed to him the target was to open “late 2025 to early 2026”.