Festoon lights overhead, gum leaves fluttering in the breeze, and refined modern meets old-school pub. These are the things we’ve come to expect from the Stanley Bridge Tavern. Now, the picturesque Verdun venue is getting two major updates with a brand-new nature playground, and a revamped beer garden.
The two new spaces have come at the opportune time, too. Spring has set in and summer’s starting to whisper, and Stanley Bridge Tavern’s new space is perfect for family lunches, dinners, and lazy afternoons in the dappled sunshine.
The new nature playground has been designed with discovery and sensory play in mind, the majority using natural materials like logs, rocks, plants, and water instead of traditional plastic equipment. It blends seamlessly into the Tavern’s new beer garden, so parents can watch their kids climb, balance, and explore.
“The playground’s going to be absolutely bananas once we get through this windy weather,” Cini Gapper, Administration and Services Manager at Stanley Bridge Tavern told us on a very wet and windy day this October. “It’s looking great. We’ve just put all new furniture out there, and it’s feeling really fresh.”
The beer garden’s facelift, includes sleek new furniture throughout, a lighter layout, and open spaces that really take advantage of the setting. Plus, a giant chess set has been added, for the benefit of kids and adults alike.
Cini says the team is also looking ahead to the summer season, with plenty of outdoor service from the on-site caravan bar.
A seasonal menu update is also on the horizon, launching early November under new Head Chef Ashley Spiniello. Spiniello, who’s been with the Tavern for several years, has stepped into the role with a fresh take on the seasonal menu. Rest assured, though, the kitchen’s much-loved pub classics are here to stay.
What’s on at the Tavern at the moment? Wednesdays it’s steak night, where you’ll get a $30 bone-in sirloin with chips and jus. Every Thursday is schnitty night, where you can grab a chicken or beef schnitzel with salad and chips for $20 from 5:30pm. The venue is also set to host a Deviation Road Wine Masterclass on Wednesday 29 October from 6pm, led by Hamish Laurie of Deviation Road. The event is an intimate evening tasting signature sparkling wines alongside Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, while hearing firsthand about the craft and philosophy behind the wines.
With dappled sunlight, rolling lawns, and a relaxed, country feel, Stanley Bridge Tavern’s outdoor area has the potential to be one of the Hills’ most popular spring/summer spots. There’s something for everyone, the old-school pub lovers, beer garden fanatics, families, and even the upscale diners.
Stanley Bridge Tavern
Where: 41 Onkaparinga Valley Rd, Verdun
When: Sunday – Thursday 11am – 10pm, Friday – Saturday 11am – 11pm
For more information, click here.
