Hobart Hope and Anchor Hotel: Shannon Ruffels and team say goodbye

A popular duo has called last drinks at a historic Hobart hotel, the oldest continuously licensed pub in Australia. Its prominent new owner reveals his plans for its future >>

Alrounder Monica McIntyre and venue manager Shannon Ruffles celebrate the sale of the Hope & Anchor Tavern. Picture: Chris Kidd

IT’S with mixed emotions that Shannon Ruffels and her team call last drinks at Hobart’s historic Hope and Anchor Hotel, the oldest continuously licensed pub in Australia.

As the venue manager she’s proud of the hotel’s success and the 13 staff who are like family.

“I’m sad that it’s coming to an end on our side of things but it’s been an incredibly successful business and it’s been really good to be a part of that,” Ms Ruffels said.

“We have a very large tourist trade and you get to meet people from all over the world. They come in and this becomes their local when they come on holiday.

“They love the fact that it is the oldest, that’s the thing that draws people here but the service, food and drinks is what gets them to keep coming back.”

Hobart alderman John Kelly will take over the reins of the hotel from next Wednesday and plans to renovate it.

Hope and Anchor Tavern has been sold to John Kelly known for redeveloping heritage style buildings. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Monica McIntyre has worked at the pub since moving to Tasmania from Brisbane 18 months ago.

“It’s the reason I stayed in Tasmania, the people quickly became my family,” she said. “I’ve worked in hospitality for 10 years and this has been my favourite job.”

Both she and Ms Ruffels will miss their colleagues and supportive patrons.

“We’re a very close-knit group of people,” Ms Ruffels said.

“And there’s all of the wonderful people that come through the doors, you get to meet so many different characters, get to hear so many different stories.”

The Covid pandemic, she said, was a challenging time without the tourist trade.

“The government didn’t do a whole lot so there was obviously a period of time where it was very hard.”

Ms Ruffels, who will have a couple of weeks’ break, wishes Mr Kelly well with his renovations but disputes he has to “rescue” the hotel.

“It’s an incredibly successful business with magnificent staff and magnificent clientele that come here regularly and there’s nothing about the place that needs to be rescued.

“It just needs to be continued to be loved the way that it is at the moment.”

A farewell party on Saturday night attracted many locals and even some interstate visitors.

Originally published as Hobart Hope and Anchor Hotel: Shannon Ruffels and team say goodbye