Port Adelaide Hotel re-opens
After two years and a $1 million makeover, Port Adelaide’s oldest building, the 168-year-old Port Admiral Hotel has finally re-opened.
The landmark hotel has been closed for 10 years after falling into disrepair and languishing derelict
Owners Alison Sloley and Adam Freeman and new tenants Crispian Fielke, Angus Henderson and Stewart Wesson from the new Port Local team have put it through a massive renovation and the new look hotel opened its doors for the public this week.
Guests that turned up for the VIP opening included Premier Jay Weatherill, Deputy Premier John Rau, Mayor Gary Johanson and Port Adelaide MP Susan Close.
“We saw the opportunities in the Port and the potential that was there (in the hotel),” Ms Sloley told the Adelaide Advertiser.
“We thought that corner (Commercial Rd and St Vincent St) was holding the Port back a lot.
“It is a long-term investment and we are confident in the rejuvenation of the Port as long as it is managed. Traffic management is going to have to be worked out because that area is going to be quite congested — as long as that is looked after I think that area will be an important part of the Port.”
She said renovating it was no easy task. As she said, there was “not one right angle” in the place.
Mr Fielke, the entrepreneur behind city bars Clever Little Tailor and Pink Moon Saloon and Mr Henderson from local restaurant Low & Slow – both of them Port Local members – got the keys in July and they have spent the last four months fitting it out, giving it a new front bar, saloon, beer garden, outside terrace and a bottle shop.
Mr Fielke said it’s exciting to see The Addy, as the locals call it, open for business again.
“We are hugely excited, there is a lot of emotion because it is a significant part of the Port,” Mr Fielke told the Adelaide Advertiser.
by Leon Gettler, November 8th 2017
