Speights Ale House Greymouth

About Speights Ale House Greymouth

Speight's Ale House Greymouth is a bar and restaurant in the heart of Greymouth, set inside 'The Brick House' - a Category 1 historic building opposite the railway station. Built in 1909 by the Government to house numerous Government Departments, the building was earthquake strengthened in 2007 and has been home to the Ale House ever since.

The kitchen serves southern modern pub fare with a generous hand: hearty, value-for-money servings of local fare, from seafood chowder and beer-battered Foveaux Strait butterfish to slow-cooked Canterbury pork belly, karaage donburi, tacos, burgers and platters for the table. Many meals are gluten free or can be altered to suit dietary requirements, and set menus and catering are available for larger groups.

The bar celebrates Speight's Brewery's award-winning traditional ales and beers, brewed with the finest southern ingredients and purest water since 1876 - Gold Medal Ale, Summit Ultra, Empire IPA, Triple Hop Pilsner and 5 Malt Old Dark, joined by guest taps and cider. An Alehouse Tasting Tray offers a sample of each, alongside Marlborough and Central Otago wines and a cocktail menu.

Owners John and Emma refurbished the space in 2017 with darker colour tones and soft leather seating, keeping the heritage character while making it warmer and more comfortable. A private function room, a kids' menu and a spot directly across from the railway station make it an easy, welcoming stop in Greymouth.

Speight's Ale House Greymouth: Southern Pub Fare and Classic Ales in a Historic Quayside Building

On Greymouth's Mawhera Quay, directly opposite the railway station, Speight's Ale House pours award-winning southern ales and hearty pub food from inside one of the town's most storied buildings. It is a bar and restaurant that wears its history comfortably - and feeds locals and travellers alike with a generous hand.

The Brick House

The building, known locally as 'The Brick House', is a Category 1 historic building constructed in 1909 by the Government to house numerous Government Departments. Over the years it accommodated officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Mines and Geological Survey, before falling vacant as departments contracted in size. Earthquake strengthening in 2007 gave it a new lease on life, and it has been the Speight's Ale House ever since.

In May 2017, new owners John and Emma invested in a significant refurbishment, introducing darker colour tones and soft leather seating. The result is a warmer, more comfortable room that revitalised the premises while paying homage to the heritage of the business, the building and the Greymouth area.

Southern fare with a generous hand

The kitchen describes its style as southern modern pub fare - hearty, value-for-money servings of local fare, each expertly matched to one of the tap ales. Favourites include the Seafood Chowder with toasted ciabatta, Blue and Gold (Foveaux Strait butterfish in a crispy beer batter) and the slow-cooked Canterbury Pork Belly on creamy kumara whip. The Coast Fried Platter, built for two, piles beer-battered fish, onion rings, crispy chicken, prawn twisters, samosas, poppers, spring rolls and pork wontons around criss-cross fries.

An 'Around the World' streak runs karaage chicken donburi, birria beef tacos and a pork banh mi through the menu, alongside burgers like the Smash Burger and the Streaking Angus. Salads range from a simple garden bowl to a falafel-and-quinoa Nourish Bowl, and desserts lean indulgent: New York baked cheesecake, the house Banoffee Pie and a gluten-, dairy- and refined-sugar-free Snickers biscuit. Many meals are gluten free or can be altered to suit dietary requirements, and there is a proper kids' menu.

The Speight's family on tap

The beer story began in Dunedin in 1876, when James Speights, with friends Charles Greenslade and William Dawson, bought an evacuated bottling and malt plant and set up his own brewery. By 1887, Speight's had grown to become the largest brewery in New Zealand. Today the Greymouth taps pour the whole family: Gold Medal Ale, Summit Ultra Lager, Empire IPA, Triple Hop Pilsner and the 5 Malt Old Dark, along with a seasonal craft beer. Guest taps add Panhead's Supercharger APA and Emerson's Hazed and Confused Cloudy IPA, with Speight's cider also on offer.

The easiest way to taste the range is the Alehouse Tasting Tray, which carries a sample of each beer. The drinks list rounds out with Marlborough, Central Otago and Hawke's Bay wines by the glass and bottle, a cocktail menu, and a solid line-up of low- and non-alcoholic options.

Functions, groups and a warm welcome

A private function room caters for small and large groups, with sharing menus, set menus, platters and grazing tables built around traditional favourites, healthy salads and desserts - perfect for celebrations, tour groups, meetings and get-togethers. The team will work with you to create a menu everyone will love.

The Ale House serves lunch from 12pm to 3pm daily and reopens for dinner from 5pm - until 8pm Monday to Thursday and 9pm Friday to Sunday - though the kitchen can close earlier, so phoning ahead is wise. Free guest Wi-Fi, Swanndri merchandise at the bar, and a location right opposite the railway station make it an easy stop in the heart of Greymouth.

Signature items

• Alehouse Tasting Tray
• Blue and Gold
• Coast Fried Platter
• Canterbury Pork Belly
• Karaage Chicken Donburi
• Our Favourite Banoffee Pie

Menu

Kids

• Chicken Nuggets and Chips — Classic kids' plate of nuggets with chips.
• Battered Fish Bites and Chips — Crispy battered fish bites with chips.
• Cheeseburger and Chips — Kids' cheeseburger served with chips.
• Pan Roasted Chicken Strips with Agria Potatoes and Gravy — Roasted chicken strips with potatoes and gravy.
• Ice Cream Sundae — Chocolate, caramel or strawberry; add to any kid's meal.

Wine

• Kopiko Bay Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) — Ripe gooseberry, guava and tropical melon flavours.
• Russian Jack Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) — Cut grass, lemon grapefruit and passionfruit on the finish.
• Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) — Gooseberry and capsicum, herbaceous with a long finish.
• Mt Difficulty Roaring Meg Sauvignon Blanc (Central Otago) — Vibrant and tightly textured with a clean citrus finish.
• Kopiko Bay Pinot Gris (Marlborough) — White pear aromas with spice and a balanced palate.
• The Ned Pinot Gris (Marlborough) — Fresh lemon and passionfruit, richer and tropical in style.
• Mt Difficulty Roaring Meg Pinot Gris (Central Otago) — Rock melon, pineapple and stonefruit; off-dry with lovely acidity.
• Kopiko Bay Chardonnay (Marlborough) — Soft pineapple and apricot with subtle oak.
• The King's Bastard Chardonnay (Marlborough) — White peach, grapefruit and sorbet; refined and elegant.
• Mt Difficulty Roaring Meg Riesling (Central Otago) — Ripe citrus, medium-dry with a backbone of natural acidity.
• Wither Hills Merlot (Hawke's Bay) — Dark plums, cigar box and chocolate; dense and warmly textured.
• Wither Hills Pinot Noir (Marlborough) — Juicy dark berries with subtle earthy undertones, fruit and spice.
• Mt Difficulty Roaring Meg Pinot Noir (Central Otago) — Central Otago pinot noir by the glass or bottle.

Sides

• Fries — Golden fries, small or large.
• Roast Agria Potatoes — With a lemon herb mayo.
• Onion Rings — Crispy golden onion rings.
• Side Salad — A small fresh salad.
• Garlic Butter — Steak and sides add-on.
• Mushroom Sauce — Creamy sauce add-on.
• Extra Sauce — Any extra sauce on the side.

Salads

• Garden Salad (GF/V) — Fresh garden greens with a sesame dressing.
• Nourish Bowl (GF/V) — Falafel, quinoa, edamame, roasted chickpeas, kimchi, hummus and tahini dressing.
• Thai Beef Salad — Marinated beef with crispy noodles, greens, almonds and sweet chilli lime dressing.
• Chicken Caesar Salad — Crumbed chicken, cos lettuce, soft egg, bacon, parmesan and croutons.

Desserts

• Cheesecake — New York baked cheesecake with berry coulis, vanilla ice cream and cream.
• Our Favourite Banoffee Pie — Caramel on biscuit crust with fresh banana, hokey pokey ice cream and cream.
• Ice Cream Sundae — Vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, nuts and chocolate, caramel or strawberry sauce.
• BB Snickers Biscuit (GF/DF/RSF) — Chocolate nut base, peanut butter and cashew caramel layers, with coconut ice cream.

Favourites

• Seafood Chowder — Creamy seafood chowder served with toasted ciabatta.
• Blue and Gold — Foveaux Strait butterfish in crispy beer batter with fries and salad; grilled on request.
• Ribeye Steak (GF) — 280g aged ribeye with mushroom sauce or garlic butter, fries and salad.
• Canterbury Pork Belly (GF) — 250g slow cooked belly on kumara whip with rich jus and sticky tomato and chilli jam.
• Chicken Parmigiana — Crumbed chicken schnitzel with Napoli sauce and mozzarella, salad and fries.
• Loaded Wedges — Wedges topped with melted cheese, bacon, sweet chilli sauce and sour cream.
• Coast Fried Platter (for two) — Fish, onion rings, chicken, prawn twisters, samosas, poppers, spring rolls, wontons and fries with sweet chilli and aioli.
• Prawn Linguine — King prawns with tomato, garlic, chilli and Italian parsley.

For The Table

• Sweet Chilli Pesto Bread — Ciabatta baked with garlic butter, sweet chilli and pesto; serves 4-6.
• Garlic Bread — Toasted garlic bread; serves 2-4.
• Tempura Prawns — Prawns with sweet chilli dipping sauce.

Around The World

• Fried Chicken Taco — Fried chicken, fresh salsa, slaw, coriander and sour cream in a corn tortilla.
• Birria Beef Taco (GF) — Slow cooked beef, cheese and onion in a corn tortilla with Mexican beef gravy.
• Karaage Chicken Donburi — Japanese fried chicken with kewpie mayo, teriyaki, sesame, rice and slaw.
• Spicy Karaage — Japanese fried chicken topped with a sweet sticky chilli sauce.
• Pork Banh Mi — Vietnamese baguette with marinated pork, carrot, cucumber, sriracha mayo and chilli.
• Marlborough Green Lipped Mussels (GF/DF on request) — Mussels in coconut cream and chilli reduction with toasted ciabatta.

Bottled & Canned

• Speights Mid Ale — Mid-strength bottled Speight's.
• Speights Summit 0% — Zero-alcohol version of the Summit lager.
• Steinlager Classic — Bottled lager.
• Corona — Bottled lager, served chilled.
• Mac's Freeride Pale Ale 0.5% — Very low-alcohol pale ale.
• Zeffer Crisp Apple Cider — Apple cider in a can.
• Zeffer Alcoholic Ginger Beer — Ginger beer in a can.

Speight'S On Tap

• Alehouse Tasting Tray — A sample of each Speight's beer to taste the whole family.
• Speight's Gold Medal Ale (4%) — Ale with grassy undertones and the full flavour of Speight's malt and hops.
• Speight's Summit Ultra Lager (4.2%) — Full-flavoured lager with 75% less carbs; great with seafood and spicy dishes.
• Speight's Empire IPA (5.5%) — Brewed with generous Kohatu hops for spicy aromas and a clean bitterness.
• Speight's Triple Hop Pilsner (4%) — Cascade, Green Bullet and Nelson Sauvin hops; citrus, crisp, lightly malty.
• Speight's 5 Malt Old Dark (4%) — Dark ale with roasted malt character and a hint of chocolate.
• Speight's Seasonal Craft Beer — A rotating seasonal pour from the Dunedin brewery.

Guest Taps & Cider

• Panhead Supercharger APA (5.7%) — Tropical hops with balanced bitterness and a light malt base.
• Emerson's Hazed and Confused Cloudy IPA — Guest-tapped hazy, cloudy IPA.
• Speight's Cider — Cider from the Speight's family on tap.

Burgers & Sandwiches

• Smash Burger — Beef, cheddar, pickles, onion and chef's special sauce, with fries.
• Streaking Angus Burger — 180g patty, aged cheddar, streaky bacon, onion rings and BBQ sauce, with fries.
• Vegetarian Burger — Vegetarian patty, tomato, onion, lettuce, sweet chilli and vegan mayo, with fries.
• Steak Sandwich — Grilled sirloin on focaccia with onion marmalade, swiss cheese and dijonnaise.
• Hawaiian Royale — Crumbed chicken, cheese, bacon, pineapple, lettuce and special sauce, with fries.

Non-Alcoholic Drinks

• Lemon Lime & Bitters — Lemon, lime and bitters.
• L&P — Soft drink.
• L&P Ginger Beer — Ginger beer soft drink.
• Fanta — Soft drink.
• Almighty Blood Orange Sparkling Water — Blood orange sparkling water.
• Red Bull — Energy drink.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Speight's Ale House Greymouth located?

At 130 Mawhera Quay in the heart of Greymouth, directly opposite the railway station, inside the historic 'Brick House' built in 1909.

What are the opening hours?

Lunch is served 12pm-3pm daily, with dinner from 5pm - until 8pm Monday to Thursday and 9pm Friday to Sunday. The kitchen may close earlier than these times, so it is worth phoning ahead.

Can I make a reservation?

Yes. Fill in the reservation enquiry form on the website, call 03 768 0667 or email [email protected]. Enquiries are confirmed via email or phone call.

Are there gluten-free or dietary options?

Many meals are gluten free or can be altered to suit dietary requirements - just let staff know. All food is prepared in the main kitchen, so traces of allergens may remain.

Can the Ale House host functions or large groups?

Yes. There is a private function room for small and large groups, with set menus, sharing menus, platters and grazing tables. The team will work with you to create a menu everyone will love.

What beers are on tap?

The full Speight's family - Gold Medal Ale, Summit Ultra, Empire IPA, Triple Hop Pilsner and 5 Malt Old Dark - plus a seasonal craft beer, guest taps from Panhead and Emerson's, and cider. Try the Alehouse Tasting Tray for a sample of each.

Is there Wi-Fi?

Yes, free guest Wi-Fi is available. The network is 'alehouse-guest' and the password is 'greymouth'.

Tips

• {"body":"The kitchen may close earlier than the posted hours and pauses between lunch (12-3pm) and dinner (from 5pm), so phone 03 768 0667 to check before arriving.","title":"Ring ahead for the kitchen"}
• {"body":"The Alehouse Tasting Tray includes a sample of every Speight's beer - the easiest way to taste the whole family.","title":"Try the tasting tray"}
• {"body":"The private function room suits small and large groups, with set menus, sharing menus and grazing tables - enquire and the team will tailor a menu.","title":"Planning a group?"}
• {"body":"The Ale House sits directly opposite Greymouth's railway station on Mawhera Quay, with free guest Wi-Fi for visitors.","title":"Handy central spot"}

Good to know

• {"wifi":"Free guest Wi-Fi - network 'alehouse-guest', password 'greymouth'.","family":"Kids' menu with mains and ice cream sundaes.","dietary":"Many meals are gluten free or can be altered; food is prepared in one kitchen so traces may remain."}