Dog and Duck Alehouse on Hindley St to reopen

John Meek (right) with business partner David O’Connell inside the Dog and Duck, which they will reopen. Picture: Tricia Watkinson Source: News Corp Australia

THE owners of Hindley Street favourites the Woolshed and the Black Bull have added the Dog and Duck Alehouse to their property portfolio.

John Meek and business partner David O’Connell have bought the licence of the once hugely popular pub and plan to reopen the venue on July 3 pending approvals.

The venue shut its doors in February, with former proprietor Wally Hogdens blaming the State Government’s controversial 3am lockout laws.

Mr Meek, who has spent $1 million refurbishing the Woolshed and Black Bull in the past 18 months and said he and Mr O’Connell were “very keen on keeping Hindley St alive”.

“Having venues closed up and down the street does no one any favours,” he said.

The Dog and Duck, on Hindley St, closed in February. Picture: Campbell Brodie

“The more venues that close the less likely people are going to come into the area at all.

“And if Hindley St goes then there isn’t anywhere that is going to replace it.”

The pair plan to do a minor refurbishment of the bar before it reopens.

“It’s not something that is going to cost a lot because it was redone (by the previous owner) a few years ago but we are making a few changes to make it work a bit better,” Mr Meek said.

Despite remaining upbeat about the future of Hindley St, Mr Meek warned the Government not to move the lockout to 2am.

“I think that would be pretty devastating to all venues,” he said.

“Adelaide deserves to have night-life and late-night areas for people to go and have a drink with their mates.”

The Government is reviewing the 3am lockout and Police Commissioner Gary Burns wants it brought forward to 2am to further reduce aggression in the street.

A Late Night Code introduced in October 2013 prevents patrons from entering venues after 3am and anyone who leaves a pub or club after that time from re-entering.

Licensed venues are banned from providing free-drink promotions in pubs and clubs after 4am while drink marshalls, CCTV and metal detectors are also mandatory.

The results of a review into the legislation have not been publicly released.

The venue will keep the Dog and Duck Alehouse name when it reopens.

Source:  The Australian - 8th June 2015