Speight's Ale House Invercargill

About Speight's Ale House Invercargill

Speight's Ale House Invercargill is the southernmost outpost of the iconic Speight's brand, nestled proudly on Invercargill's main street at 38 Dee Street. Opened in 2006, this character-filled venue occupies a lovingly renovated historic building dating back to the early 1900s, blending heritage charm with contemporary hospitality. Under the stewardship of host Shanan Te Maiharoa, a true southern character born and raised in the region, the ale house has become a beloved gathering place for locals and visitors alike. The venue celebrates southern identity through every element—from the award-winning Speight's beers brewed with finest-quality southern ingredients to the hearty, locally-sourced menu that showcases Southland's culinary best. The atmosphere is vibrant and welcoming, featuring live sports on screens and regular live music and entertainment that transform the space into a lively nightspot as the sun sets. Whether you're seeking a satisfying meal paired with an exceptional beer, live entertainment, or simply the warmth of southern hospitality, Speight's Ale House delivers an experience that captures the spirit and character of Invercargill. The team prides itself on providing memorable service, great food, and great beer served with distinctive southern style.

Speight's Ale House Invercargill: Southern Hospitality Meets Award-Winning Ale

Nestled in the heart of Invercargill on the region's main street, Speight's Ale House stands as the southernmost outpost of New Zealand's iconic Speight's brand. Housed in a character-filled building that dates back to the early 1900s, this venue has been lovingly renovated into a vibrant modern ale house while maintaining the architectural charm and heritage that define the space. Since opening in 2006, it has become an essential gathering place for locals and a must-visit destination for travellers passing through Southland.

The Heart and Soul: Shanan Te Maiharoa

At the centre of this venue's warmth and authenticity is Shanan Te Maiharoa, a true southern character born and raised in the region. Her passion for hospitality and deep understanding of what matters to the community shine through in every aspect of the ale house. Shanan's team shares her commitment to delivering not just great food and beer, but a genuine connection with every guest. This isn't corporate hospitality—it's the kind of service that makes visitors feel like they've stepped into a friend's home, complete with lively conversation, familiar faces, and the kind of warmth that defines southern Kiwi culture.

Award-Winning Beers, Brewed in the South

Speight's Brewery has long been synonymous with quality, brewing award-winning traditional ales using only the finest southern ingredients and pure water. The range on offer includes classics like the Gold Medal Ale with its distinctive grassy complexity, the hoppy Hazy Pale Ale bursting with Citra and Galaxy hops, and the rich, roasted Old Dark. For those seeking lighter options, the Summit Ultra Low Carb Lager delivers full flavour with 75% less carbs, while the Speight's Cider and Emerson's London Porter round out a thoughtfully curated beverage selection. Every beer tells a story of southern brewing tradition and quality craftsmanship.

Hearty Southern Fare

The menu celebrates Southland's culinary identity with dishes that honour local ingredients and time-honoured pub traditions. The Roaring Stag—tender venison leg with red-wine jus and roasted root vegetables—represents the game-cooking heritage of the region. The Blue and Gold showcases fresh local blue cod, beer-battered until golden and served with chunky house-made tartare. The Southern Seafood Chowder, served in a toasted farmhouse cob loaf, bursts with an abundance of Southland's finest seafood in a rich, creamy broth.

For meat lovers, the Pig Hunter Ribs are slow-cooked until fall-off-the-bone tender and glazed with a rich hoisin and sesame sauce. The Speight's Carbo—a house favourite—combines penne pasta with chicken, bacon, and mushrooms in a creamy white-wine garlic sauce. Burgers feature prominently, from the juicy Lamb Burger with mint sauce and beetroot relish to the Southern Chicken Burger, crispy and topped with ranch dressing and house slaw.

More Than Just a Meal

What sets Speight's Ale House apart is the complete experience. The space transforms throughout the day—a lunch and brunch destination where you can grab Eggs Benedict or a hearty Full Breakfast, a dinner venue for serious food and drink, and as the sun sets, a vibrant nightspot with live sports on screens and regular live music and entertainment. Groups gather here to celebrate, families enjoy the kids' menu, and solo diners perch at the bar with a Speight's and a plate of Bang Bang Shrimp or Popcorn Chicken.

Southern Hospitality at Its Finest

Dining at Speight's Ale House is about more than sustenance—it's about connection. Shanan and her team pride themselves on creating a space where every guest feels welcome, whether you're a regular who's been coming for years or a first-time visitor discovering Invercargill's hospitality. The vegan menu ensures plant-based diners aren't left behind, dietary requirements are respected and accommodated, and the atmosphere remains consistently warm and inclusive. As the tagline says: you come for the atmosphere and stay for the hospitality.

Signature items

• The Roaring Stag
• Southern Seafood Chowder
• Speight's Carbo
• Blue and Gold
• Pig Hunter Ribs
• Lamb Burger

Menu

Sides

• Fries — Golden-fried potato fries
• Beer Battered Fries — Crispy beer-battered potato fries
• Mashed Potatoes — Creamy mashed potatoes
• Side Vegetables — Steamed seasonal vegetables
• Onion Rings — Crispy battered onion rings
• Mac 'n' Cheese — Creamy macaroni and cheese
• Wedges — Seasoned potato wedges

Vegan

• Ciabatta Garlic Loaf — Freshly baked ciabatta brushed with garlic oil and herbs
• Chickpea Soup — Hearty lemon-infused chickpea and seasonal vegetable soup
• Red Lentil Curry — Slow-cooked red lentils with aromatic spices and seasonal vegetables

Brunch

• Full Breakfast — Two eggs, breakfast sausages, beans, hash browns, mushrooms, bacon, toasted baguette
• Eggs Benedict — Poached eggs on English muffins with spinach, bacon, hollandaise, paprika
• French Toast — Golden fried bread with banana, bacon, maple syrup or rhubarb berry compote

Salads

• Chicken Salad — Coated chicken with bacon, slaw, red onion, crispy shallots, cashews, Asian dressing
• Roast Vege Salad — Roasted kumara, pumpkin, chickpeas on greens with feta, cucumber, tomato, cashews
• Crispy Calamari & Citrus Slaw — Golden-fried calamari on house slaw, mesclun, cucumber, ginger-lime vinaigrette

Burgers

• Lamb Burger — Juicy lamb patty with aioli, mint sauce, house slaw, tomato, beetroot, onion jam
• Beef Burger — Double beef patties with melted cheese, pickles, slaw, aioli, BBQ sauce
• Southern Chicken Burger — Crispy southern-fried chicken, bacon, ranch dressing, house slaw, tomato
• Blue Cod Burger — Beer-battered local blue cod with house slaw, tomato, red onion, beetroot, tartare
• Vege Burger — House vege patty with chilli jam aioli, slaw mix, tomato, beetroot
• Steak Burger — Speight's Summit cooked to your liking with choice of sides and sauce

Desserts

• Slice of Heaven — Smooth creamy cheesecake, daily flavour varies
• Crackin' Good Brûlée — Golden caramelised crème brûlée with silky vanilla custard
• Brownie Points — Rich fudgy chocolate brownie served warm with ice cream
• Cromwell Comfort — Apple and mixed berry crumble with vanilla ice cream and anglaise
• The Classic Split — Banana, ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream throwback
• Sundae Session — Ice cream sundae with choice of sauce, cream and toppings
• Southern Mess — Crushed meringue, whipped cream, vanilla ice cream with cherry and pear compote

Beverages

• Speight's Gold Medal Ale — Traditional ale with hints of grassy tones and full Speight's malt and hop complexity
• Speight's Hazy Pale Ale — Hop-forward hazy beer with lighter malt profile, Citra and Galaxy hops
• Speight's Old Dark — Roasted malt with hint of chocolate, balanced with extra hops
• Speight's Summit Ultra Low Carb Lager — Full-flavoured lager with 75% less carbs, crisp hop bitterness
• Speight's Cider — Well-balanced fresh full-bodied cider with dry finish
• Emerson's London Porter — Dark, dry, mellow porter with hint of sweetness and coffeeish notes

Mains - Meat

• The Roaring Stag — Tender venison leg with mash, red-wine jus, pickled cabbage and pear
• Pork Belly — Twice cooked pork belly on creamy mash with roasted root vegetables and five-spice jus
• Roast Pork — Classic Sunday roast with roast potatoes, pumpkin, kumara, peas and onion gravy
• Pig Hunter Ribs (1kg) — Full kilo of fall-off-the-bone ribs in house BBQ glaze with salad and fries

Mains - Seafood

• Blue and Gold — Fresh local blue cod in Speight's batter, cooked until golden, served with fries and tartare
• Green Curry Mussels — Plump New Zealand mussels in fragrant green curry and coconut cream with steamed rice
• Oven-Baked Salmon — Tender salmon fillet with buttermilk herb crème, lime-glazed potatoes, almond salad
• Blue Cod Burger — Beer-battered local blue cod with house slaw, tomato, beetroot, tartare in toasted bun

Mains - Pasta & Rice

• Speight's Carbo — Penne pasta with chicken, bacon, mushrooms in creamy white-wine garlic sauce with cashew pesto
• Midnight Pasta — Pork belly, chorizo, prawns, corn, peas, sundried tomato with garlic, chilli and olive oil
• Chorizo & Tomato Risotto — Creamy risotto with tomato, chorizo, spinach, topped with roasted almonds and crispy chorizo

Starters & Small Plates

• Ale House Malthouse Loaf — Warm loaf with garlic butter, perfect for sharing or indulging solo
• Soup of the Day — Chef's choice seasonal ingredients, served piping hot with toasted baguette
• Southern Seafood Chowder — Abundance of Southland's finest seafood in rich creamy broth, served in farmhouse cob loaf
• Southern Chicken Tenders — Golden southern-style chicken tenders with fries and salad, choice of sauces
• Chicken Parcels — Roast chicken, bacon, sundried tomato in cream cheese, wrapped in crisp filo pastry
• Pig Hunter Ribs — Slow-cooked pork ribs stacked high in rich hoisin and sesame glaze
• Bang Bang Shrimp — Six crispy-coated shrimp tossed in mild Sriracha and sweet-chilli mayo
• Popcorn Chicken — Golden-fried bite-sized chicken pieces with K-Pop-style sauce

Frequently asked questions

What makes Speight's Ale House special?

It's the southernmost Speight's Ale House in New Zealand, located in a historic 1900s building on Invercargill's main street. Hosted by true southern character Shanan Te Maiharoa, it combines award-winning Speight's beers with hearty southern fare and genuine hospitality.

Do you have live entertainment?

Yes. We feature live sports on screens during the day and transform into a vibrant nightspot with regular live music and entertainment as the sun sets. Perfect for a night out or casual gathering.

What's your most popular dish?

The Southern Seafood Chowder and The Roaring Stag (venison) are signature dishes loved by our guests. The Speight's Carbo pasta and fresh Blue and Gold blue cod are also house favourites.

Do you accept reservations?

Yes, we welcome reservations. You can book online at our reservations page or call us at 03-214 5333 for group bookings and special occasions.

Do you cater to dietary requirements?

Yes. We have a dedicated vegan menu, vegetarian options, and we accommodate gluten-free requests. Please inform your waitstaff of any dietary requirements when ordering.

What beers do you serve?

We pour award-winning Speight's beers including Gold Medal Ale, Hazy Pale Ale, Old Dark, Summit Ultra Low Carb Lager, plus Speight's Cider and Emerson's London Porter. All brewed with finest southern ingredients.

Is there a kids' menu?

Yes, we have a dedicated kids' menu featuring smaller portions of popular dishes, ensuring children enjoy the Speight's experience alongside the rest of the family.

Tips

• {"body":"Order The Roaring Stag or Southern Seafood Chowder to experience signature southern fare. Pair with an award-winning Speight's beer for the full experience.","title":"Try a signature dish"}
• {"body":"Visit in the evening for live music and entertainment, or during the day for live sports on screens. It's more than just a meal—it's an experience.","title":"Come for the entertainment"}
• {"body":"Whether celebrating, catching up with friends, or team outings, Speight's Ale House is spacious and welcoming for groups of any size. Make a reservation for larger parties.","title":"Perfect for groups"}
• {"body":"Don't just stick to one—Speight's brews award-winning traditional ales using finest southern ingredients. Try the Hazy Pale Ale or Gold Medal Ale to experience the range.","title":"Explore the beer selection"}
• {"body":"Soak in the atmosphere of this historic 1900s building. Shanan and her team ensure every guest feels the genuine southern hospitality Invercargill is known for.","title":"Heritage and warmth"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Family-friendly with kids' menu and dedicated children's portions available","dietary":"Vegan menu, vegetarian options, and gluten-free accommodations available"}