Image: Shifty Lizard
Two months after the closure of a Willunga favourite, a team of locals has stepped in to save their beloved brewery, and it’s reopening this week!
Shifty Lizard has been a cult favourite, bringing a twist to the usual fare of the region. Known for their locally brewed beers of all shapes, sizes, and flavours, the microbrewery was a spot beloved by locals to kick back and relax on weekends, getting together and supporting the community. So when they announced that they were closing their doors earlier in September, it’s fair to say locals were heartbroken.
Luckily, this heartbreak hasn’t lasted long, with a family of Shifty Lizard regulars diving into the world of hospitality for the first time to take over the venue.
New owner Melanie McKibbin and her family are Willunga locals who had a permanent Friday night booking at Shifty Lizard. “It was getting to the stage where, if you didn’t book two weeks ahead, you couldn’t get in,” said Mel.
“We got the heads-up that Shifty was closing, and I suggested to my husband and some friends that I’d be keen to see the numbers. I chatted with my husband and said, ‘I’m really keen to get the numbers’. And he was like, ‘You’re serious?’ I said, Yes. I don’t even drink beer, but this was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.”
Mel has experience working in business, but never hospitality, so they’re keeping as much of the crew on board as possible to make sure the Shifty lives up to its potential.
“I’ve never worked in hospitality. I didn’t even work at McDonald’s when I was a kid,” she said. “Throughout this transition process, we reached out to the head brewer and former manager to see if they’d be on board, and they were both keen.
“The plan is not to change anything, it’s working, so we’ll get in, keep it moving, and learn as we go. My husband will be the brewer’s helper, as well as working with the Taphouse manager, and I’ll handle the business side, accounts and sales. We’ll reassess everything in the new year and go from there.”
The new team are planning to continue keeping it local. “We want it to be the beer brand people think of when they come to the Fleurieu. We already use local suppliers, and we just want to get into every possible venue that sells alcohol in the southern region, and beyond.”
Mel says they’ll continue to build on the Shifty’s cool, family-friendly brand. But for now, the focus is to open this spot, that’s been so dearly missed, back open for the regulars.
The Shifty Lizard is now back up and running, reopening the doors on Thursday. “We already have bookings for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We’ve reached out to all our regulars to book directly with us before opening to the public on OpenTable. We want to look after the locals first, they’re the ones who’ve kept us going.”
So whether this is a favourite of yours, or a place you missed the first time round, as the weather gets warmer and the Shifty Lizard reopens the doors, there’s no better time to head towards McLaren Vale, and enjoy a brew or two in spot beloved and saved by the locals.
Shifty Lizard
When: Thursday 12pm to 8pm, Friday 12pm to 9pm, Saturday 12pm to 8pm, Sunday 11am to 7pm
Where: 33 High Street, Willunga, SA, 5172
For more information, click here.
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