South Australia’s Henley Surf Lifesaving Club (SLSC) is about to get a foodie makeover with celebrity chef Adam Swanson, the owner of Cheeky Chook, and Josh Harkin, the owner and operator of the popular Marion Bay Hotel on Yorke Peninsula, set to take over the club’s restaurant.
With a plan to open their doors in early December, this dynamic duo is gearing up to redefine the dining experience at Henley. In a strategic move, the Henley SLSC has subleased its upstairs restaurant and bar to Swanson and Harkin, with the plan to revamp the venue in time for the holiday season.
‘After more than a decade running the restaurant and bar upstairs at Henley SLSC, we as volunteers are pleased and relieved to hand over to the professionals Adam and Josh,’ Henley SLSC President Jim Plouffe said.
‘We picked Adam and Josh because of their combined decades of experience and the fact they are locals. They fit well with our club culture and the Square.’
This transition allows the club to sharpen its focus on its core mission: ensuring the safety of the beach-going public. ‘We should be concentrating on keeping the public on the beach safe, not a complicated hospitality business.’
The new takeover means that the club’s dining and bar services will be open six days a week, a shift from the inconsistent openings in the past. Since the club’s location features breathtaking coastline views, guests can comfortably enjoy their meals and bevvies while overlooking the ocean.
Chef Adam Swanson is looking forward to providing something new to the South Australian and local Westside community, combining the perfect picturesque scenery with delicious food.
‘Let’s face it—the Henley Surf Life Saving Club really is the best location and has the best views in Adelaide’, says Adam. ‘The surf club is an amazing community and organisation, and they’ve reached out to both myself and Josh, being professionals in the game, and we wanna make sure we do it right.’
Using all South Australian produce, including meat, fruit and, of course, the freshest of seafood, the food will be influenced by Adam’s Italian heritage and will have something for everyone to enjoy.
‘The new vibe will be very bistro and relaxed coastal, and we’ll be serving up all the classics but plated in a modern way.’
‘Whilst the menu is a bit under wraps at the moment, I can say that we will be offering a two-tiered seafood platter featuring fresh oysters, local SA prawns, lobsters and a variety of grilled and baked seafood’, says Adam. ‘I don’t want any battered seafood at all! Imagine that with a bottle of champagne and the sun setting—what else do you need?’
President Plouffe expressed hope that the club’s new offerings would attract more visitors and inspire them to explore other aspects of the SLSC.
‘The best part of the club is that even on windy or rainy days, you are safe and warm inside while watching the weather and the waves roll in from behind our massive windows.
‘We also hope that as more people come and experience Henley, they see what we do—such as our amazing Nippers’ program—and decide to sign up as club members.’
The newly revamped venue will also have a focus on functions, with Adam mentioning that the space is perfect for any special occasion, from birthdays to weddings and family gatherings.
‘The balcony holds up to 80 people, so it’s perfect for any event, and our functions menu will feature a variety of canapes perfect for this type of setting’, says Adam. ‘You can’t beat a beachside wedding!’
As Henley Surf Lifesaving Club embarks on this new chapter, beachgoers and passionate foodies have much to look forward to this Summer season. ‘I also think that this will be an amazing dining addition to Henley Square, as it becomes the go-to destination for all of Adelaide’, says President Plouffe.
Where: Henley Surf Life Saving Club, 246 Esplanade, Henley Beach, SA 5022.
Stay tuned for further info.
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