Crown & Anchor temporary closure date set
East End pub The Crown & Anchor will close mid-year for 24 months, while its neighbours have just three months until they close for good to make way for a student accommodation tower.
Historic pub and live music venue The Crown & Anchor will close for approximately two years from mid-July – a period described by the hotel’s proprietor Tom Skipper as “a long intermission”.
The 24-month pause will enable Singaporean landowner Wee Hur Holdings to build its planned 29-storey student accommodation tower on the land next to the historic pub, which was saved from demolition last year following public outcry over the developer’s original plans.
Special-purpose legislation was passed to protect the Crown & Anchor from ever being demolished and to confirm its continued use as a pub and live music venue.
But hospitality venues Roxie’s and Chateau Apollo will be razed to make way for Wee Hur’s project. The pub’s closure will also accommodate the build and the venue’s band room will also be renovated over that time.
A render of the reworked tower proposed for next to the Crown & Anchor on the Grenfell St/Frome St corner. The original plan aimed to gut the hotel and build directly above it. Image supplied by State Government
Skipper confirmed that Roxie’s and Chateau Apollo would close on 25 May.
He said Roxie’s – which began as Adelaide’s first pop-up bar 14 years ago – had “evolved, adapted and thrived”.
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“From Little Miss Mexico to Crabshack and Superfish it’s been one hell of a ride. But all good things must come to an end, and on May 25, 2025, we’ll say farewell,” Skipper said.
“When Singaporean developer Wee Hur purchased our block, we knew change was coming. While the Cranker has been saved thanks to a landmark agreement, the reality of the redevelopment means that Roxie’s – along with Cheateau Apollo – must make way for a new student accommodation tower.
“So, there’s one last summer to make memories. Let’s send Roxie’s off the only way we know how – with good drinks, great music and a party that won’t be forgotten.”
Italian restaurant Midnight Spaghetti – which lives on the top floor of the Crown & Anchor – will also close in mid-July, with the 24-month closure of the pub “forcing Midnight Spaghetti to close its doors till then”.
“Unlike the Cranker, there is no immediate plan for a relocation – meaning this could be a long goodbye and hiatus,” Skipper said.
“For the pasta lovers, for the late-night diners, and for everyone who made this place what it was – thank you.”
Skipper confirmed he was in “the final stages” of finding a temporary pop-up venue for the Crown & Anchor “to keep the spirit alive”.
“We’ll have more news on that very soon,” he said.
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Save the Cranker board member Patrick Maher said the announcement of the pub’s imminent closure “was the beginning of the next phase of the development”.
“We knew this was coming but that doesn’t make it any easier. Now is the time to rally around the bar staff at Chateau Apollo, Roxie’s and Midnight Spaghetti, and the Cranker. Many of them are finding out when they’ll be losing their jobs. It’s a tough week so make sure to thank them and be kind to them,” he said.
“Everything is proceeding in the same order as arranged, and there have been no surprises about the progress of the development. Save the Cranker has worked hard to bring the community’s concerns to the fore.
“Even though the closure is temporary, two years might seem like a long time. None of the people who love the Cranker will relax until we walk back into the same old place in 2027 – right down to the toilet graffiti.”
Stem Bar & Restaurant on Hindley Street will close in March. Photo: Katie Edwards.
Hindley Street restaurant to close
Popular West End restaurant Stem also announced yesterday it was closing on 2 March after six years of operation, noting it had “been increasingly difficult to remain viable”.
“We have had to make the difficult decision to gracefully retire and close the restaurant,” Stem said.
“Please join us during these last few weeks for a final celebration of excellence in food, wine and hospitality.”
It also follows the closure of CBD burger joint Jumbo Smash, which announced in January that its “business model wasn’t sustainable” after opening in mid-2024.
“Jumbo was a form of creative expression and a space to gather community through food, music and events,” Jumbo Smash said.
“And in this sense, culturally the concept was a win, a place we wanted to hang out – for that, we are very proud of what we were able to achieve.
“Thank you to those that embraced our staff, suppliers, artists and everyone in between.”