The Wheatsheaf Hotel

By Franz Scheurer

Driving along the backstreets in the western suburbs of Adelaide, you might pass an ordinary looking watering hole in Thebarton called the Wheatsheaf Hotel. Expect a couple of Holden utes, maybe even an old panel van or a battered Kombi, a smattering of Falcons and Commodores and a Harley Davidson or two, parked outside, conveying the message that this is a working man’s pub.

Once inside you’ll be surprised by an almost art deco fit-out with comfortable, sat-in furniture and a rustic but trendy feel. Looking around you’ll find a very eclectic gaggle of customers. All shapes and sizes, all kinds of attire, seemingly covering the whole social and professional spectrum.

There’s an odd occurrence near the end of the bar, where a slender, elegant suit-clad gentleman is obviously arguing heatedly with a 7 foot, 18 stone, tattoo-covered biker, and it seems he’s winning the argument. Ambling over, and shamelessly listening in, I discover that they argue about the difficulty of producing a chocolate flavoured beer when the high fat content in the chocolate prevents the forming of a perfect head. Nearby a couple of sunnie-clad, spiked-hair blondes nod in agreement whilst sipping a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and a guy, looking like the local plumber with mud on his overalls, is obviously in raptures over a particularly good expression of a 20 year old Talisker. Something strike you as odd here?

Not like any suburban pub that I know!

This might have something to do with the passion for exceptional booze of publicans Emily and Jade. There are more than 50 different beers, in excess of 40 well-chosen wines, many of them by the glass, and at least a couple of dozen special Single Malts, listed on blackboards behind the bar. This is a serious place of alcohol worship, a temple to quality and rarity, and the pilgrims arrive in a steady stream to pay homage.

Emily’s experience running some of the best pubs in Adelaide is a matter of record, and there’s probably no one in Australia with even half of Jade’s beer knowledge. It’s a brilliant combination and the drinkers are the winners. Another nice touch is the fact that there are no pokies. Entertainment is provided by regular live music and old fashioned conversation.

If you live in Adelaide, you’re very lucky to have a pub like this; if you’re visiting Adelaide, go and have a beer, wine, or whisky there and experience what you’re probably missing out on in your own city.

This has to be my favourite Aussie pub!

The Wheatsheaf Hotel

39 George Street

Thebarton

South Australia

Tel.: 08 8443 4546