An old pirate-themed Bank Street bar will be swapping rum for Guinness, with a new group of owners preparing to transform The Caribbean Bar into a lively Irish pub.
The Kerrone Bar is set to open following a complete revamp of the existing venue, with owners Aoife O’Connell, Seamus McHugh and Anthony Nguyen planning to maximise and double its capacity to make the most of its prominent CBD location.
Their vision for the space is a warm and social Irish pub where people can meet friends, listen to live music and settle in over a well-poured pint.
“It’d be hard to walk past us and not want to come in,” Aoife said.
The team are knee-deep in the revamp and are keen to introduce their new space into Adelaide’s nightlife scene.
“Full steam ahead now.”
The idea has been on Seamus’s mind for years, with the owners believing Adelaide has been missing a central Irish pub since the closure of the iconic PJ O’Brien’s in 2017. Rather than creating somewhere exclusively for Adelaide’s Irish community, the trio wants The Kerrone Bar to feel welcoming to anyone who steps through the door.
“Our vision is to build somewhere people from all walks of life can come and receive a warm welcome. It will be more like a social pub where you can meet your friends and have a good pint of Guinness.”
And that’s what it’s all about: The Guinness.
“I really think the Guinness is going to be one of the focal points … a real selling point”
The owners want to combine the comfortable and familiar atmosphere of a traditional Irish pub with the energy of Bank Street, which sits between Hindley Street and North Terrace, in the heart of Adelaide’s nightlife precinct.
“It’ll be a relaxed environment, but we’re in an absolutely great location, so it’ll be vibrant as well,” Aoife said.
The sounds of live Irish music will also fill the venue, with solo performers helping create a space that feels just as suited to casual after-work drinks as it does to a lively night in the city.
“We’re going to have some live music as well, just creating a good atmosphere.”
The old Caribbean Bar will undergo an extensive renovation before reopening as The Kerrone Bar, with further details about its drinks, food and entertainment offerings expected to be announced closer to opening.
The Kerrone Bar
Where: 26 Bank Street, Adelaide
When: Opening Spring 2026
For more information keep an eye on their social media pages.
