The British Hotel Port Adelaide

The British Hotel is a restaurant, pub and function venue in Port Adelaide, offering all-day dining from 12pm until late. Its menu is described as straightforward pub food made with quality ingredients, with classic favourites alongside fresh seasonal specials. The drinks list includes local wines from South Australian vineyards, as well as house cocktails and familiar classics. Weekly specials give diners another reason to visit, including schnitzels on Tuesday nights and burgers on Wednesdays. Families are catered for too, with a kids-eat-free offer running on Sundays and Mondays when an adult main meal is purchased, subject to the venue’s terms and conditions.

The dining room brings together the building’s heritage character and a contemporary pub setting, with exposed brickwork and outdoor seating. It is suitable for a casual meal, whether you are stopping in for lunch, meeting friends for dinner or gathering with family. The dining room can accommodate groups of up to 20, while the venue’s broader function spaces provide options for larger celebrations. The restored Cellar Room is an intimate setting for private dinners, small gatherings and celebrations, seating up to 20 people for a sit-down meal. Original stonework and soft lighting give it a distinctly historic atmosphere.

For bigger events, the street-level Function Room can seat up to 60 guests or host 80 people in a cocktail-style arrangement. It is described as bright, modern and fully accessible, making it suitable for birthdays, corporate functions and milestone occasions. The Upstairs Function Room offers a more private event setting, with its own bar, a P.A. system, presentation screens and a wrap-around balcony overlooking Port Adelaide. These spaces make the hotel a practical choice for everything from family celebrations to live entertainment and workplace functions.

The venue’s history is closely tied to Port Adelaide. It has held a licence since 1847 and is described as the oldest continuously licensed hotel in the district. The current building’s two-storey façade and balcony date from a major rebuild commissioned by Sir Henry Ayers in the late 19th century. It was also known as McGrath’s British Hotel for much of the early 20th century, when Esther McGrath became South Australia’s first independent female hotel licensee. After a period of decline and closure, the hotel was restored and reopened in 2010, later receiving a City of Port Adelaide Enfield Heritage Award. Today, The British Hotel combines that maritime and local history with a relaxed dining room, family-friendly offers and flexible spaces for groups.