The sounds of clinking glasses, thumping music and lively conversation will be replaced by the rattle of construction when four neighbouring venues in the east end close this year.
Among them, Grenfell Street garden bar Roxie’s will shut its doors for good on May 25 after 14 years and several iterations. The outdoor site began as a series of pop ups (including Little Miss Mexico, Little Miss Crab Shack and Dive Shop, and Superfish) before putting down roots as Roxie’s in 2017. Come winter, it will make way for the 29-storey development going up on the corner block next to the Crown and Anchor Hotel. Along with it, functions space Chateau Apollo will close at the same time.
While legislation was passed last year to “Save the Cranker” and ensure it remains a pub and live music venue into the future, its neighbours will be demolished to clear space for the much publicised student housing complex (now 10 storeys higher than originally planned) by developer Wee Hur Holdings.
Owner-operator Tom Skipper announced the closure dates in a series of Instagram posts last night. “Making the announcements has been bittersweet – it’s been great to finally give everyone some clarity, but it doesn’t make saying goodbye any easier,” Skipper tells Broadsheet. “These venues aren’t just businesses; they’re places where people have made lifelong memories, formed bands, met partners and found their community.”
“What began as a series of experimental pop-ups laid the foundation for some of the city’s most beloved venues,” he adds, “proving that even temporary spaces can leave a permanent mark on a city’s culture.”
As part of the deal struck by the premier in August, Wee Hur Holdings will also partially demolish and restore the Cranker’s live music room to make sound proofing upgrades. The pub must also close for the duration of construction next door.
Skipper’s multi-post announcement confirmed the Cranker would close in mid-July for around 24 months while the build takes place. Upstairs pasta bar Midnight Spaghetti will also close for that time.
A snippet of good news: the team is in the final stages of securing a temporary venue to “keep the spirit” of the Cranker alive over the next two years (this won’t include Midnight Spaghetti).
“It won’t be the same, of course,” Skipper acknowledges. “You can’t just copy and paste history – but we’re bringing as much of the old energy as we can.”
“For over 170 years, the Crown and Anchor Hotel has been a cornerstone of Adelaide’s music and pub culture. A place of unfiltered energy, of unbreakable tradition and unforgettable nights,” he wrote in a post.
“We are heartbroken to see Roxie’s, Midnight Spaghetti and Chateau Apollo close their doors. But we are determined to make these last few months unforgettable. To everyone who’s walked through our doors, played our stage, or stood on the footpath with a beer in hand, this isn’t goodbye, just a long intermission.”
