The Holdy Launch

Holy ship! The Holdy has undergone major renovations under new owners and is now set to sail.

On Wednesday night, The Adelaidian was invited to an exclusive launch that did not disappoint.

From the delicious cocktails and nibbles, inarticulate street art on the walls and live tunes, The Holdy has reinvented itself as the place to be this winter and beyond.

Located on Brighton Road, The Holdy’s fresh nautical and grunge vibes weave throughout its interior and food and drink menus.

R D Jones recently took over The Holdy and Operations Manager Luke Donaldson and his wife Danielle have overseen the renovations, after being involved in the pub for the past three and a half years.

The renovations started in January with a revamp of the beer garden and street bar, followed by the rest of the venue, with the launch of the new restaurant space two weeks ago.

At the launch, Mr Donaldson thanked everyone who had contributed to The Holdy’s fresh new look including Studio 9 architects, artist John Engelhardt and a range of interior designers.

He said the new face of The Holdy has certainly exceeded his expectations in restoring the character and comfort back into The Holdfast Hotel.

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Cocktails at The Holdfast Hotel.

The street art lining the walls of the ‘street bar’ lovingly produced by talented artist, John Engelhardt is second to none.

With visuals usually reserved for the thick tattooed arms of pirates, his breathtaking designs have taken The Holdy’s nautical theme to the next level.

With a menu inspired by cuisine from all over the world including Greek, Indian and Asian, the diverse selection promises to be a winner in the colder months.

Guests were treated to delicious nibbles including bao buns, spring rolls, bahn mi, tostadas, duck pancakes, meat balls and cheese, porchetta, gnocchi, Balinese chicken and rice, Singapore crab and finally, churros.

Can we just say the vegetable gnocchi was out of this world! We could’ve eaten a bathtub full of it. With creamy cheese sauce, soft pillows of gnocchi, crumbly feta and crispy kale, we think it will be a crowd favourite.

Launch guests were also offered a range of drinks including Able Tempest Pinot Noir Chardonnay, Rose Mount Little Berry Sauvignon Blanc, Fickle Mistress Pinot Noir and five delicious cocktails.

The cocktail list reflected The Holdy’s nautical vibes with names such as Navy Strength Lemonade, Strawberry Salty Dog and Smooth Sailor.

Patti Matos, an airbrush artist of 14 years ensured guests had aquatic-inspired designs inked on their skin, whilst alternative trio, The Up Town Seeds belted out tunes to entertain the crowd and ensure the drinks kept flowing.

It’s all hands on deck as The Holdy continues to impress the public for years to come. Do yourself a favour and head to the west side, grab yourself a cocktail and say ‘ahoy’ to the friendly bar staff.

 

Launch photos: Taylah Minchington

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