There’s finally a local watering hole on Prospect Road
Prospect Hotel & Cellars has opened along the shopping strip of Prospect Road with a “pub meets brasserie” offering.
Prospect has been begging for a community pub for years.
But when opening a local watering hole in an area that is bound by community, it’s important that the venue can cater to just that.
Marc Huber, Josh Voigt and Dale Wostikow – of Sideways Liquor, Bowden Cellars and the Adelaide Wine Markets – are Prospect locals themselves and understand the pub’s importance.
“I guess it’s something that we all recognised and we wanted,” Marc, formerly of Mismatch Brewing, says over a beer.
“Even before I met these guys – I’ve lived in the area for almost 20 years, and I always wondered why there’s never any pubs on this stretch of the road.
“And eventually I tried to open one with Mismatch, but it just came up to loggerheads.
“I had given up on the idea and then enter the boys: Josh and Dale.”
Prospect Council is aware of strong advocacy from the Women’s Christian Temperance Union – which commenced in the 1930s – against the granting of a hotel licence on Prospect Road, which Dale says “was able to block hotel license applications”.
From L–R: Josh Voigt, Marc Huber and Dale Wostikow
Before Marc joined, Josh and Dale were owners of Sideways Liquor and had a general and hotel licence for that venue. They were able to transfer that pub licence to what is now Prospect Hotel & Cellars in a new building across the road from Rosemont Hall.
“When the opportunity came up to purchase Sideways Liquor, which had the first [licence], we strategically knew that by getting that venue, which is a 40-person, small venue down the road there, that we could use that to create this [Prospect Hotel Cellars] in the future,” Dale says.
“So we bought that, sat on it, waited for this building to come along, transferred and then were able to create this.”
“Bottom line is, they’re not just good-looking boys. They’ve got brains on them too,” Marc laughs.
According to Marc, Josh and Dale, local councillors have wanted a pub on this street for numerous years.
“You can see that – it’s demonstrated on the street how progressive Prospect is now. It’s definitely an up-and-coming area. We definitely wanted to contribute a little part of that,” Marc says.
“We’re a big believer in that pubs are the heart of the community and I think since COVID, everything’s come back to suburbs rather than being in the city.
“Everybody I talk to here, I’d say 90 per cent of the people that came to the pub over the weekend, in the last few days, are all locals and it’s great to be able to say that.”
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What they wanted to offer at Prospect Hotel & Cellars was “something a little bit different” to the traditional and more of a “pub meets brasserie” offering.
“People are still looking for that comfort food and we offer that. We’ve got our pub classics and what you’d expect, but then we also wanted to offer people something they might not expect,” Marc says.
“That might be coming into here and getting the tuna tartare, or the brussels sprouts and stuff like that.”
Other menu options range from a wedge salad, pasta ‘alla gin’, different steak cuts like wagyu and scotch fillet – all led by executive chef Justin Penman, formerly of the Roxie’s, Chateau Apollo and Midnight Spaghetti group.
The grilled prawns
A mainly South Australian alcohol offering is something they’re all proud to present.
Josh says this gives the team “flexibility and versatility to offer something different” as they also have a cellar at the back of the venue where patrons are able to purchase takeaway bottles.
“We’ve always been staunch and firm believers that we are so lucky to exist in the state of South Australia so we feel a need and a passion to shine a light on those small-batch boutique brands that don’t necessarily get engagement or a huge marketing presence in other gigantic conglomerates retail sale out there,” Josh says.
“One thing we really want to lean into is representing and showcasing those really amazing quality wines that you can’t find anywhere else.
“So we’re here for that and happy to offer that across by the glass, through the front bar, as well as for takeaway retail here in the wine shop.
“We recognise Prospect would really appreciate a diverse offering. So we’ve branched out with our cellar and with our pub to have an offering of some more premium imported and domestic options, and not only South Australian.”
As for beer and spirits, the team offer “styles of products [they] know people will like”, but are also versatile.
Inside the Prospect Hotel & Cellars
The space is also versatile in its choice of interiors, with forest green walls and couches filling the space, designed by Natasha Banhalmi of Snow Studio.
“The idea was to have an earthy, homey feel,” Dale says. “The green walls and the ceilings were a bold choice that paid off.”
Prospect Hotel & Cellars is located at 85 Prospect Road, Prospect and is open from Sunday to Wednesday from 11am until 10pm, then Thursday to Saturday from 11am until late.
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