Nambour’s Stalwart Brewing Co’s Alehouse closes due to Covid-19

A popular brewhouse which had grand plans to invigorate Nambour’s night-life has bowed out but its owner is hoping another microbrewery will pop up in its place.

The owner of a Nambour microbrewery forced to close after being decimated by the pandemic says “in another time” the business would be a runaway success and hopes another will take its place.

Nambour’s Stalwart Brewing Co’s Alehouse closed on February 6 – less than two years since it opened – and was the third hospitality venue to close in 2022.

Surveyor turned brewer Adam Tomlinson unveiled the alehouse at the old Club Hotel site in July 2020 with plans to eventually emulate Ocean St vibes in the historical town.

However, the Omicron wave combined with 18 months of painful lockdowns, staff shortages, supply chain issues and stress took its toll.

Adam Tomlinson ready for the opening of Stalwart Brewing Alehouse in 2020. Picture: File

The news comes after Maroochydore restaurants Ocean Ended and Woodhouse Barbecue were forced to close in January.

“Opening a business like this in the pandemic, with all the restrictions, it was just devastating to a small hospitality joint,” Mr Tomlinson said.

“When they brought in that no vax no entry rule, our patronage dropped immediately.

“People’s psyche changed. Whether to come out or not.

“The outlook for us wasn’t good. And it was a hard decision, real hard. But we don’t know what happens in the next three months, six, 12 months.”

Mr Tomlinson said his sole focus would now shift to the Stalwart brand in a bid to sell his range out of more and more bottle shops and pubs.

He said it would be great if another microbrewery took up a lease at the alehouse to continue what he started.

“It would be great to see it carry on, it’s all ready to go,” he said.

“We did try our best and in another time it would have been a success.

“I’m really proud of what we accomplished and we had so many loyal customers.”

In 2020, Mr Tomlinson shared his dreams to use the venue to turn Nambour’s tired entertainment precinct into Maroochydore’s buzzing Ocean St.

Adam Tomlinson said January had been terrible for business from the Omicron wave. Picture: File

“I would love to see that CBD section along Currie St be set up like Ocean St. I think it could be more beautified and with slower speed zones, have more bars,” Mr Tomlinson said at the time.

More than 25,000 confirmed Covid-19 infections have swept across the Sunshine Coast and Noosa from the Omicron wave which has been brutal for the hospitality sector.

Industry leaders such as Tony Kelly and Dirk Long had predicted the hammer blow to come in early January.

Mr Long, who co-owns Mooloolaba Wharf, said earlier it was only a matter of time before more restaurants closed.