Speight's Ale House Palmerston North

About Speight's Ale House Palmerston North

Speight's Ale House Palmerston North has been a Grey Street fixture since November 2008, when owners Tim and Bernice Adlam — both originally from the deep South — brought a taste of Southern hospitality to the Manawatu CBD. True to the Speight's name and to the original Ale House that opened in Dunedin in 1999, the kitchen's brief has always been hearty, value-for-money servings of quality fare, while the taps pour ales brewed to specifications and standards that date back over 100 years.

The menu is built on Ale House classics: seafood chowder, the famous Southland blue cod caught in Foveaux Strait, lamb shanks, steaks, burgers and bangers and mash, alongside salads, pasta and vegetarian options. Every meal can be matched to one of the tap ales, and a guest tap of Emerson's craft beer — shipped directly from Dunedin — keeps things interesting for beer lovers. An extensive range of wines, spirits, coffees and non-alcoholic drinks rounds out the bar.

Whether it's a long dinner, drinks and snacks in the bar, a set-menu function or platters with friends, the Ale House describes itself as generous to a fault — an iconic venue for both locals and visitors to Palmerston North.

Speight's Ale House Palmerston North: Southern Hospitality, Famous Blue Cod & Century-Old Ales in the CBD

On Grey Street, in the heart of Palmerston North's CBD, Speight's Ale House has been part of the city's social fabric since November 2008. Owners Tim and Bernice Adlam both hail from the deep South, and they brought that Southern brand of hospitality north with them — generous plates, proper beer and a welcome that turns first-timers into regulars. The venue bills itself as generous to a fault, and a must-do for both locals and visitors to Palmerston North.

A Taste of the South

The Ale House story began in Dunedin in 1999, when the original Speight's Ale House challenged its chefs to produce hearty, value-for-money, delicious food. That brief still shapes the menu here: Ale House classics like seafood chowder, blue cod, lamb shanks, beef steak, burgers and bangers and mash, served in portions that suit a real hunger. Behind the bar, the tap ales are brewed to specifications and standards that date back over 100 years.

The Famous Blue Cod

If one dish defines the place, it's the Southland Blue Cod. The kitchen is rightly proud of it: caught fresh in Foveaux Strait — one of the roughest and often treacherous stretches of water in New Zealand — then snap frozen and delivered directly to the Ale House. Battered and served as Blue & Gold with fries, salad and tartare sauce, it's the dish the team pairs with a cheeky Speight's Pilsner for what they call deliciousness personified. A mini battered version stars on the bar snack menu too.

What's on the Plate

Starters lean towards sharing: baked camembert with caramelised cinnamon apples and bacon walnut praline, Moeraki green-lipped mussels in thai green curry sauce, salt and pepper calamari, and a Bluff chowder of assorted fish, shellfish and bacon in a homemade clear stock. Salads run from Caesar to Thai beef, while lighter plates take in Ophir corn fritters, Grandma's lambs fry and James Speight's porter sausage and mash.

The classics section is where the South shines brightest — the Shearer's Lamb Shank with mint glaze, Frank Oliver's slow-roasted spareribs, confit pork belly with cider jus, Cherry Chicken over kumara mash, and a slow-cooked lamb shoulder with burnt butter hummus and hasselback potatoes. Grill fans choose between The Stockman's Steak, a 300g Angus Pure rump, and The Boucher's Cut — a 300g scotch fillet or porterhouse with beer-battered onion rings. Desserts stay true to form: creme brulee, sticky date pudding, baby pavlova and Mrs Brown's feather-light cinnamon oysters. A Wee Mates Meal Deal keeps younger guests happy with a main, dessert and drink for kids 12 and under.

From the Tap

Beer is taken seriously here. The Speight's range pours year-round — Gold Medal Ale, 1876 Legacy, Triple Hop Pilsner, Old Dark and a Hazy Pale Ale — joined by a guest tap of Speight's wee Cousin: Emerson's craft beer shipped straight from Dunedin, with drops like Super Quench and Juicy Gossip in the rotation. Not a beer drinker? An extensive range of wines, spirits, cocktails, coffees and non-alcoholic drinks is also available, and the staff will happily match any meal to a tap ale.

Built for Gatherings

Where good company meets great food is the house line, and the venue is set up for exactly that — a full dinner out, or simply drinks and snacks in the bar. Set menu options and package deals cater for groups, while the function menu stretches from Malthouse, Woodlands and Southern Ocean platters to canapes like pork bao buns and blue cod sliders, plus grazing boards that can snack up to 50 people (all ordered 72 hours ahead). Stuck for a gift? Meal vouchers are available on request at the bar.

Plan Your Visit

Find the Ale House at 27 Grey Street in Palmerston North Central. Bookings can be made online or by phone on 06 355 3482, and set menus for groups should be booked at least 48 hours in advance. Come hungry — generosity is rather the point.

Signature items

• Blue & Gold (Southland Blue Cod)
• The Shearer's Lamb Shank
• Speight's Tap Ales
• The Stockman's Steak
• Bluff Chowder
• Baked Camembert

Menu

Grill

• The Stockman's Steak — 300g Angus Pure rump with fries, salad greens and a sauce of your choice
• The "Boucher's" Cut — 300g Angus Pure scotch fillet or porterhouse, portobello mushrooms, onion rings, bearnaise

Sides

• Steamed Vegetables — With butter and parsley
• Creamy Mash Potato — A comforting scoop of mash
• Caesar Side Salad — Cos, croutons, parmesan, anchovy bacon, caesar dressing

On Tap

• Speight's Gold Medal Ale — House ale, 4.0%
• Speight's 1876 Legacy — Heritage-line ale, 4.0%
• Speight's Triple Hop Pilsner — Hoppy pilsner, 4.0%
• Speight's Old Dark — Classic dark ale, 4.0%
• Speight's Hazy Pale Ale — Hazy pale ale, 4.5%
• Emerson's Super Quench (Guest Tap) — Pacific pilsner shipped direct from Dunedin
• Emerson's Day Tripper (Guest Tap) — Low-carb hazy IPA, 5.6%
• Emerson's Grilled (Guest Tap) — West Coast IPA, 5.6%
• Guinness — The classic Irish stout, 4.2%
• Mac's Ginger Giant Gingerbeer — Ginger beer, 5.0%
• Kirin Hyoketsu Lemon — Liquorous lemon pour, 6.0%

Desserts

• Crème Brulèe — Baked vanilla custard, caramelised sugar, seasonal fruit compote
• Farmhouse Cheesecake — Ask for today's selection
• Baby Pavlova — Fresh fruit, whipped cream, ice cream, passionfruit syrup
• Hot Chocolate Chip Skillet Biscuit — Freshly baked, with ice cream and peanut chocolate sauce
• Sticky Date Pudding — Salted butterscotch sauce and ice cream
• Boysenberry Knickerbocker Glory — Boysenberries, vanilla ice cream, meringue and cream
• Mrs Brown's Cinnamon Oysters — Two feather-light cinnamon sponge cakes, cream filled
• Whiskey Coffee — Irish whiskey, drambuie and baileys
• Baileys & Hot Chocolate — A warming nightcap

Cocktails

• The Splice of Life — Midori, Malibu, pineapple and cream
• Bombay Breeze — Bombay Sapphire, cranberry, lemon and soda
• Pooh Bear — Honey vodka, ginger beer and lemon
• Southern Sunrise — Tanqueray gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon and soda
• Passionaritta — Jose Cuervo Gold, Cointreau, passionfruit and lemon
• Ale House Pink Gin — Pink gin, soda, lemonade and mint
• The Whakatipu — Feijoa vodka, lime, cucumber and egg white
• Espresso Martini — Espresso, vodka, Kahlua, simple syrup and chocolate
• Rosebud — Vanilla vodka, cranberry, pineapple and passionfruit
• Virgin Rosebud — The alcohol-free take: cranberry, pineapple and passionfruit
• Mojito Soda — Mojito mint syrup, mint, lime, lemon and soda
• Juicy Crush — Apple, cranberry and orange juice

Bar Snacks

• Big Uns — Served with tomato sauce and aioli
• Chicken Dumplings — House-made dumplings with soy sauce
• Spicy Potato Wedges — With sour cream and chilli sauce on the side
• Buffalo Chicken Wings — Wings in buffalo sauce
• Honey Soy Chicken Wings — Wings in a honey soy glaze
• Potato Wedges Bacon & Cheese — Wedges topped with bacon, cheese, sour cream and chilli sauce
• Chicken Pate — With port wine jelly and ciabatta
• Mini Battered Blue Cod & Fries — A snack-size serve of the famous blue cod
• Southern Cheese Rolls — With pickled onions and aged cheddar
• Salt and Pepper Calamari — Panko crumbed, with lime and chipotle mayo
• Baked Camembert Wheel — Roasted apple, cinnamon, bacon, maple syrup, ciabatta
• Goats Cheese Balls — Bite-size goats cheese balls
• Vegetarian Spring Rolls — Made in-house, served with sweet chilli sauce
• Pork Belly Bites — Bite-size pork belly pieces
• Malthouse Platter — Pate, soft cheese, relishes, pickles, olives, veggie sticks, salami, ham and chicken

Salads & Pasta

• Caesar Salad — Cos lettuce, bacon, anchovies, croutons, parmesan dressing and poached egg
• Shamrock Chicken Salad — Moroccan chicken, spiced Israeli couscous, avocado, grapes, cumin yoghurt dressing
• Thai Beef Salad — Marinated thai beef, roasted cashews, crispy noodles, thai dressing
• Goats Cheese Salad — Goats cheese balls, spiced Israeli couscous, avocado, grapes, cumin yoghurt dressing
• Pasta of the Day — Chef's creation each day — ask staff for details

Starters To Share

• Garlic Bread Loaf — Hot baked loaf with plain or garlic butter
• Edamame Bean Bowl — Steamed edamame beans seasoned with salt and pepper
• Pan Fried Chicken Dumplings — House-made chicken dumplings with soy sauce
• Baked Camembert — Camembert wheel, caramelised cinnamon apples, bacon walnut praline, toasted ciabatta
• Moeraki Mussels — Green-lipped mussels in thai green curry sauce with grilled ciabatta
• Salt and Pepper Calamari — Panko crumbed, with lime and chipotle mayo
• Ale House Pate — Chicken pate with port jelly and toasted ciabatta
• Bluff Chowder — Homemade clear stock with fish fillets, shellfish, bacon, vegetables, fennel and dill

Wee Mates Meal Deal

• Wee Ones Platter — Chicken, sliced ham, carrots, raisins, fresh fruit, rice crackers and cheese
• Fish & Chips — Battered tarakihi with fries
• Crumbed Chicken — Crumbed chicken with fries
• Junior Burger & Chips — Beef patty, cheese, lettuce, tomato, fries
• Battered Hotdog & Chips — Mini battered hotdogs with fries
• BBQ Pork Spare Ribs & Chips — Spare ribs, BBQ sauce, fries
• Speight's Ale House Sausage & Mash — Sausages, potato mash, peas, onions, gravy
• Half Pint Ice Cream Sundae — Vanilla ice cream, lollies, your choice of berry, chocolate or caramel sauce

Burgers & Light Meals

• Castle Street Chicken Burger — Crispy chicken, bacon, pickle, cheese, japanese mayo, fries
• The Vege Burger — Quinoa and chickpea patty, beetroot relish, cumin yoghurt dressing, fries
• Cardrona Beef Burger — Beef patty, bacon, egg, beetroot relish, caramelised onions, fries
• Ophir Corn Fritters — With bacon, tomato coriander salsa, rocket, sour cream and sweet chilli
• Grandma's Lambs Fry — Lamb's liver, bacon, caramelised onions, gravy and potato mash
• James Speight's Porter Sausage & Mash — Porter sausages, potato mash, peas, caramelised onion gravy
• Beef Schnitzel — Crumbed schnitzel with fries, salad and Ale House gravy or mushroom sauce

Function Platters & Canapes

• The Malthouse Platter — Toasted ciabatta with pate, soft cheese, dips, pickles, salami, ham and chicken
• The Woodlands Platter — Medium-rare rump, pork belly bites, wings, sausage bites, wedges and sauces
• Southern Ocean Platter — Blue cod bites, calamari, battered prawns, green-lipped mussels, fries, thai-style sauce
• Good old Basic Platter — Fryer favourites: spring rolls, samosas, spicy wedges and dipping sauces
• Pork Bao Buns — Pork belly, hoisin, leek, cucumber and coriander in a steamed bun
• Beef Yorkies — Braised beef short rib in Yorkshire pudding, bearnaise, pickled red onion
• Blue Cod Sliders — Pan-fried blue cod, preserved lemon mayo and watercress in a slider bun
• Vegetarian Bruschetta — Tomato, basil and feta, or mushroom, thyme and shaved parmesan
• Roast Beef and Buns — Roasted rump with an assortment of pickles
• Ploughman's Grazing Boards — Cheeses from blue to brie, dips, pate, fruit, biscuits, pretzels, pickles and relishes

Speight'S Ale House Classics

• Southern Man's Breakfast — Fried eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, grilled tomato, potato rosti
• Blue & Gold — Battered Southland blue cod, fries, tartare sauce and tomato sauce
• Market Fresh Fish of the Day — Chef's creation from the day's fresh catch
• Cherry Chicken — Pan-roasted bacon-wrapped supreme, kumara mash, cherry olive salsa, cherry pan sauce
• Confit Pork Belly — Walnut apple sausage roulade, roasted kumara, braised red cabbage, cider jus
• The Shearer's Lamb Shank — Braised lamb hind shank, potato mash, seasonal vegetables, gravy, mint glaze
• Frank Oliver's Spareribs — Slow-roasted pork spareribs, BBQ sauce, salad and spicy wedges
• Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder — Burnt butter hummus, hasselback potatoes, beets, sicilian pesto, lamb jus

Frequently asked questions

Where is Speight's Ale House Palmerston North?

At 27 Grey Street, Palmerston North Central, within the CBD precinct of Palmerston North.

Can I book a table?

Yes — book online via the website or call 06 355 3482. Group set menus must be booked at least 48 hours in advance and confirmed 24 hours ahead.

What's the story with the blue cod?

The Southland blue cod is caught fresh in Foveaux Strait, snap frozen, and delivered directly to the Ale House — served battered as Blue & Gold with fries, salad and tartare sauce.

Is there a kids' menu?

Yes — the Wee Mates Meal Deal for children 12 and under includes a main, dessert and a drink, with options like fish & chips, junior burger and sausage & mash.

Are there vegetarian options?

Yes — the Vege Burger, Goats Cheese Salad, Ophir Corn Fritters, vegetarian spring rolls and more appear across the menu.

What beers are on tap?

The Speight's range (Gold Medal Ale, 1876 Legacy, Triple Hop Pilsner, Old Dark, Hazy Pale Ale) plus an Emerson's guest tap shipped from Dunedin. Bottled beers, wines, spirits, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks are also available.

Do they cater for groups and functions?

Yes — set menus with package deals, plus platters, canapes and grazing boards; platters and canapes must be ordered 72 hours prior to the event. Meal vouchers are available at the bar as gifts.

Tips

• {"body":"The Southland blue cod is caught in Foveaux Strait, snap frozen and delivered direct — the kitchen suggests pairing Blue & Gold with a cheeky Speight's Pilsner.","title":"Order the blue cod"}
• {"body":"Group set menus need booking at least 48 hours in advance and confirmation 24 hours out; platters and canapes require 72 hours' notice.","title":"Book set menus ahead"}
• {"body":"The Emerson's guest tap — Speight's wee Cousin — ships in from Dunedin, with pours like Super Quench and Juicy Gossip; ask staff what's on.","title":"Ask about the guest tap"}
• {"body":"Meal vouchers are available on request at the bar if you're looking for the perfect present.","title":"Gift a meal"}
• {"body":"The venue is set up for group outings, whether a full set-menu dinner or drinks and bar snacks around the table.","title":"Go with a crowd"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Wee Mates kids' meal deal (main, dessert & drink) for ages 12 and under","dietary":"Vegetarian options across the menu, from the vege burger to goats cheese salad"}