Peter Rabbit extends its Hindley Street warren as it turns ten
The Hindley Street cafe that helped kick-start the area’s rejuvenation will celebrate a decade of operating in 2025, and has opened a second venue focussing on the events arm of the business.
When James McIntyre opened Peter Rabbit on Hindley Street in 2015, the city’s west end looked different.
“It was a very exciting time,” James says.
“We saw a great opportunity down there.
“By then, the hospital had been announced and was getting built, UniSA was starting to expand down that way, the plans for Pridham Hall was drawn up, and the uni health precinct across the road in North Terrace was underway as well, so we could see that it was a big dynamic shift happening, so we were happy to get down there and hope for the best.”
The licensed café opened just two years after the former Weatherill state government introduced the small bar license that shaped the city’s contemporary nightlife and fueled nearby venues on Peel and Leigh Steet.
“That small bar license is probably what actually got us over to taking the leap,” James says.
“It just seemed to make everything more streamlined and having that alcohol aspect as part of a cafe is important.”
You might like
In 2015, Peter Rabbit took over the corner slice of land at the intersection of Liverpool and Hindley Streets, which was formerly a concrete-heavy and badly maintained public park. This picture: Tess Milford-Behn
James and his team at Peter Rabbit knew early on that a bar offering and capacity to host events was important to the business, and wanted to create a special venue for people to celebrate.
The size, the garden being subject to weather, and the interruption of café trade limited the functions they could host at the original site, which is why they jumped on the opportunity to expand their event offering with a second space at the end of 2024.
McGregors can cater for cocktail functions of up to 150 guests or sitdown dinners for 40. This picture: Chloe Morris
McGregors is just down Hindley Street and filled a venue that has been empty since 2016 – formerly the BBQ Inn restaurant and Hungry Hippo Board Game café.
The space boasts a large indoor area, beer garden and street-side seating with a “potting shed vibe” that is an extension of Peter Rabbit’s character.
“The building itself has plenty of character, its heritage veranda and timber windows internally have exposed brick and some large fireplaces and we just saw it as a beautiful building to expand into,” James says.
Inside McGregors. This picture: Chloe Morris
Subscribe for updates
Peter Rabbit’s events calendar was filling up, and James says most of the events they didn’t book were due to the date being booked out already, giving them the confidence to expand despite the challenges facing the hospitality industry.
“We saw it as an opportunity for growth,” James says.
“Events compared to casual dining, I think, is a lot more trackable. You can plan better, you can budget better, you can staff easier.
“So it’s an appealing side of the business, especially if it’s a challenging environment.”
So far, McGregors has hosted Christmas parties, first birthdays, engagements and bridal showers.
“I think events always have a place,” James says.
“I think everyone is looking for an excuse to celebrate those important milestones and I guess if you can afford to celebrate them, they’re the ones you will be able to pull together for.”
James says in the past 10 years he’s seen the west end of the city change “drastically” but that as Peter Rabbit has grown up, it’s just as loved.
“The venue as a garden, and as any other garden does, just gets better with time,” he says.
“We love that end of town and 10 years makes you feel old, for sure.
“I guess, we’re bordering on an institution now, it’s such a long time we’ve been down there, and so many fantastic people have come through, from employees to obviously patrons as well so we’re very thankful for everyone that has supported us over the years.”
Peter Rabbit is located at 244 Hindley Street and is open from 7:30am ‘til 3pm on weekdays and 8am ‘til 3pm on weekends.
McGregors is located at 196 Hindley Street and is available to book for private events via the Peter Rabbit website.