Port Admiral Hotel new heart of Port Adelaide after being snapped up by city hotel owners

The owners of a popular city pub have snapped up the iconic 174-year-old Port Adelaide hotel – just in time for Port Adelaide to boom.

Alex Fairgrieve and Simone Douglas at the Port Admiral Hotel in Port Adelaide. Picture: Matt Loxton

The iconic Port Admiral Hotel is set to be the heart of Port Adelaide after being confirmed yesterday that eight submarines will be built in the area as part of the AUKUS deal.

The popular hotel was snapped up by The Duke of Brunswick owners Simone Douglas and Alex Fairgrieve almost two months after it was announced it would close its doors.

The publicans said they are excited to be part of the new “Port” that is set to be booming after the recent AUKUS announcement.

“It’s a really exciting time for the Port,” Ms Douglas said.

The pair said they are looking forward to serving “knock-off drinks” to those working on the submarine construction.

“There’s nothing better than to have a nice cold pint after work,” Ms Douglas said.

Ms Douglas and Mr Fairgrieve said they will open the 174-year-old pub as soon as licence transfers are complete.

“We weren’t actually in the market for a new venue necessarily, but sometimes the perfect match comes along,” Ms Douglas said.

The Port Admiral Hotel will open its doors as soon as possible. Picture: AAP/Mike Burton

“It’s such a beautiful old building that really suits our general style of operation.

“It’s super exciting for us.”

A new Facebook page was made for the pub on Monday with a post announcing that it will open as soon as possible.

“Alex and I are probably enjoying our last relaxing evening on the balcony at home for a while,” the post reads.

“We will be opening the doors as soon as all the licence transfers are complete.

“If you know any great hospo peeps that want a change of scenery send them our way.”

Ms Douglas said the Facebook page already had over 700 followers which is a “fairly good indication of the love the Port has” for the hotel.

The co-owner said they have been spending a lot of time at the venue trying to work out the best way to develop it.

“Alex and I have kind of started just a little bit of that transformation,” she said.

Ms Douglas said the current bottle shop will be transformed into a casual drinking or dining space, with the balcony expected to be open seven days a week.

“It’s such a great spot to sit and watch the world go by,” she said.

The front bar at the Port Admiral Hotel. Picture: AAP / Mike Burton

Like the The Duke of Brunswick, the menu will be completely gluten free to provide another “safe space” for those struggling with coeliac disease.

“(It will) give people who are diagnosed with coeliac disease, who are down in the northwestern suburbs, a place to call home,” Ms Douglas said.

The co-owner, who has coeliac disease, said she understands how important it is to have an allergy-friendly venue.

“That’s our niche … and the community really gets behind it,” she said.

The venue will also be pet friendly and staff will undergo Auslan training so they can communicate with deaf patrons.

“We’re also currently in talks with guide dogs to do something similar for the visually impaired.”