Last cocktails for owners of West End hospo institution
A West End bar that pioneered Adelaide’s thriving small bar scene in the city’s vibrant Leigh Street has hit the market for the first time in 14 years.
West End bar Udaberri – a pioneer of the small bar licencing regime – is for sale for the first time as its owners step away after 14 years at the helm.
The Leigh Street institution is synonymous with the reformation of South Australia’s liquor licensing laws in 2013 under the Weatherill Labor government and was one of the very first to open under the new regime.
Groundbreaking new Small Venue Liquor Licences have been transformational for the city’s CBD, for the first time owners could open bars in smaller spaces around the city and create unique drinking spots.
Now Udaberri – that was inspired by pintxos bars in Spain’s Basque Country – has hit the market after more than a decade of serving its famous cocktails, patatas bravas and Basque cheesecake.
Owners Rob Dinnen and Ben Walsh have listed the bar at 11 Leigh Street for sale through McGees Property.
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Dinnen told InDaily he would miss the space he’s called home for the past 14 years, but was ready to start a new chapter with his wife met through the business Lieke van der Hulst, who has a PhD in wine science, and their three-year-old daughter.
He also recently completed a degree in environmental science — a field he was keen to pursue after travelling and some time off.
“Whenever I’m in the bar and working, I just love the energy and passion, and I will miss that massively,” Dinnen said.
He said starting Udaberri 14 years ago was difficult; the licence framework at the time meant it could only open unless they were armed with a hotel licence or became an entertainment venue.
“There was no real small venue licence, and we spent a substantial amount of money on legal fees just trying to see where we could fit in,” Dinnen said.
“After that, the Labor government at the time, with us and a lot of other venue owners, worked to establish the Small Venue Licence, which really changed the face of Adelaide hospitality.
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“It was a really big time of change.”
Dinnen said he was impressed at how the Small Venue Licence had added “different flavour” to Adelaide’s hospitality scene.
“Instead of having a generic venue set up around food and drinks, many more concept venues have opened,” he said.
“We look at some of the bars that I love around us – La Buvette and specialist cocktail bars like Maybe Bae – it’s much more plausible to have a real focus and lots of different types of venues rather than just going to a pub.
“It’s been a labour of love. We love how everyone’s got on board and supported it. It’s been a fantastic journey.”
McGees Property’s Grant Clarke said the listing was “a remarkable chance to take on a pioneering venue that holds a true place of distinction among the Adelaide CBD’s nightlife venues”.
“Udaberri is easily operated, and very profitable,” Clarke said.
Spruiking its assets Clarke said the venue was in a prime West End position in the bustling Leigh and Peel Street laneways hub and was often filled with punters from the 64 major sporting and concert events held annually at Adelaide Oval, including 29 AFL games per season, and 79 major conventions at the nearby Adelaide Convention Centre.
