Crown & Anchor’s two-year closure expected from April 2025
A new development application has been lodged for a student accommodation tower next door to the Crown & Anchor, with the pub’s proprietor expecting to be in a temporary new home from late April next year.
Crown & Anchor proprietor Tom Skipper told InDaily that he is in the final stages of negotiations for a potential temporary home for the pub when it closes early next year.
It comes as a development application has been verified by the State Commission Assessment Panel for the construction of a multi-storey student accommodation development next door to the East End pub.
The application – which confirms the “retention and continued use of the Crown and Anchor Hotel building as a Hotel” – was lodged on October 11 by Anchor Urban Development, a joint venture company of the site’s new owner Wee Hur Holdings.
SCAP is now in the process of assessing the application, with an outcome expected imminently.
Earlier this year, the state government announced a historic deal to save the Crown & Anchor Hotel, which was under threat of being demolished to make way for a Wee Hur Holdings student accommodation tower.
The state government then passed special-purpose legislation to protect the Crown & Anchor from being demolished and to confirm its continued use as a pub and live music venue.
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The legislation was passed with amendments from Greens MLC Robert Simms, adding clauses that give the Crown & Anchor the same protections as state heritage places from any future “demolition by neglect”.
The legislation also designates the entire Adelaide CBD as a ‘live music venue area’, granting protections to certain live music venues which will be selected by Planning Minister Nick Champion at a later date.
Planning Minister Nick Champion, Premier Peter Malinauskas, Adelaide MP Lucy Hood, Save the Cranker board members Patrick Maher and Christina Slater and SA Greens MLCs Robert Simms and Tammy Franks at the Crown & Anchor. Photo: David Simmons / InDaily
As part of the state government’s agreement with Wee Hur Holdings, SCAP will approve the development within 10 days.
The landlord will then give Skipper six months to vacate the venue, after which the developer will have two years to build its tower.
The pub will undergo renovation and significant soundproofing to its band room, and Skipper has first right of return to the venue on completion of the build.
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Skipper told InDaily he anticipates receiving the six-month notice to vacate on or from 28 October, making the business’ last occupancy day in the historic venue approximately 28 April 2025.
This gives the proprietor some certainty as he seeks to lock down a temporary home for his businesses, which – in addition to the Crown & Anchor – include restaurant Midnight Spaghetti, for-hire space Chateau Apollo and popular bar Roxie’s.
The latter two venues will be demolished to make way for the new student accommodation tower.
Skipper told InDaily in August that if a temporary home was not found the business and dozens of jobs would not survive the two-year closure.
Skipper said he has been “actively exploring all options” for the pop-up Crown & Anchor, but would not name any of the venues he is considering.
“While we are in final negotiations for a potential temporary location, I’m not able to provide further details just yet,” he said.
“There are still some processes to complete before we can make any formal announcements.
“That said, I remain optimistic about the future of the Crown & Anchor and the support we’ve received from the Save the Cranker Group and the pub’s stakeholders throughout this journey.”
News on the pop-up front is expected sometime next week.
In the meantime, CityMag hit the streets of Adelaide last month to find some vacant venues that could house the Crown & Anchor:
