Speight's Ale House

bar — Fernhill · Queenstown

About Speight's Ale House

Speight's Ale House Queenstown sits on the corner of Stanley and Ballarat Street, in a Category 2 Historic building originally built in 1883 as the former Lake County Council Chambers. The Ale House itself was born in September 2002, serving Speight's award-winning traditional Kiwi ales and beers alongside classic Kiwi pub food.

In March 2023 the Ale House suffered an extensive fire that put it out of action, but it reopened exactly 18 months later with a new lease of life to carry on serving the same food and beer. The menu offers generous, hearty value-for-money servings of Kiwi-style pub fare, crafted with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and caters to gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan needs.

On tap, the Ale House pours the full Speight's range - Gold Medal Ale, Dry Hop Pilsner, Old Dark, Hazy Pale Ale, Summit Ultra and Cloudy Apple Cider - alongside Guinness and Mac's Ginger Giant. It's described as the best restaurant and bar in Queenstown, open daily from 11am until late.

Speight's Ale House Queenstown: Historic Home of Kiwi Pub Food and Award-Winning Ales

On the corner of Stanley and Ballarat Street in central Queenstown, Speight's Ale House occupies a Category 2 Historic building originally constructed in 1883 as the former Lake County Council Chambers. The Ale House itself opened in September 2002, bringing Speight's award-winning traditional Kiwi ales and beers together with classic Kiwi pub food for locals and visitors alike.

Rebuilt After Fire

In March 2023, the Ale House suffered an extensive fire that put it out of action. True to form, it rose again exactly 18 months later, reopening with a new lease of life to carry on doing what it does best - pouring a perfectly poured beer with a big smile.

Generous, Locally Sourced Pub Food

The menu is built around generous, hearty value-for-money servings of traditional Kiwi pub fare, crafted with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Small plates and starters include a seasonal soup of the day, sweet sticky squid, and a seafood chowder served with Speight's bread. The Ale House Classics section covers the Fergbutcher Sausage & Mash, made with locally made sausages, and a beef schnitzel topped with caramelised onions and Ale House gravy, while From the Garden brings the Blue & Gold - blue cod in a Speight's Gold Medal Ale beer batter - and a slow cooked Shearers Lamb Shank. From the Grill, diners can order a Southern Man sirloin steak or a 300g Cavalcade ribeye, both served with a choice of house-made sauce.

Burgers and Dietary Options

The burger menu includes a Speight's Beef Burger with smashed patty and house made tomato relish, a beef brisket burger, a buttermilk chicken burger, and a veggie burger made with a vegetable, quinoa and lentil patty. The kitchen caters to gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan needs throughout the menu, and asks guests to flag any allergies with their server.

A Full Range of Speight's Beers

On tap, the Ale House pours the full Speight's range - the Gold Medal Ale with its grassy undertones, a Dry Hop Pilsner brewed with Citra hops, the roasted malt Old Dark, a Citra and Galaxy hopped Hazy Pale Ale, the lower-carb Summit Ultra lager, and Cloudy Apple Cider from Hawke's Bay apples. Guinness and Mac's Ginger Giant round out the drinks list.

Visiting Speight's Ale House

Speight's Ale House Queenstown is open daily from 11am until late, at the corner of Stanley and Ballarat Street. Tables can be booked directly through the website, and the team can be reached by phone or email for enquiries.

Signature items

  • Blue & Gold
  • Fergbutcher Sausage & Mash
  • Shearers Lamb Shank
  • Cavalcade Ribeye
  • Speight's Beef Burger
  • BBQ Pork Ribs

Menu

Sauces

  • Ale House Gravy — House-made sauce
  • BBQ Sauce — House-made sauce
  • Aioli — House-made sauce
  • Creamy Mushroom — House-made sauce
  • Sriracha Mayo — House-made sauce
  • Peppercorn — House-made sauce
  • Garlic Butter — House-made sauce

Burgers

  • Buttermilk Chicken Burger — Crispy chicken thigh, house made slaw, sliced tomato, pickled onion, sriracha mayo
  • Veggie Burger — Vegetable, quinoa and lentil patty, lettuce, tomato, cheese, pesto aioli
  • Speight's Beef Burger — Smashed beef patty, cheese, lettuce, pickles, house made tomato relish, aioli; add bacon or meat patty
  • Beef Brisket Burger — Slow cooked BBQ brisket, pickled cabbage, cheese, pickles, house made BBQ sauce, aioli

Desserts

  • Trio of Ice Creams — Choice of 3 Chateau ice creams on a bed of crumble, served with berry compote
  • Chocolate Brownie — Warm chocolate brownie served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce
  • Apple Crumble — Served with hokey pokey ice cream and custard

From The Grill

  • Grilled Lamb Rump — Marinated with rosemary and garlic, seasonal veg, crispy potatoes, red wine jus
  • Southern Man Steak — 200g sirloin steak served with salad and chips, choice of sauce; upgrade to mash and veg
  • Cavalcade Ribeye — 300g prime ribeye steak served with salad and chips, choice of sauce; upgrade to mash and veg

From The Garden

  • Blue & Gold — Blue cod in a Speight's Gold Medal Ale beer batter, served with chips, garden salad, homemade tartare sauce
  • Caesar Salad — Cos lettuce, bacon, croutons, soft boiled egg, Caesar dressing; add chicken
  • Pumpkin & Feta Filo — Roast pumpkin, feta, spinach, caramelised onions wrapped in filo, served with smashed potatoes, garden salad, basil pesto
  • Shearers Lamb Shank — Slow cooked lamb shank, mashed potato, seasonal vegetables, Ale House gravy; add a second lamb shank

Sides & Add Ons

  • Mashed Potato — Side
  • Caramelised Onions — Side
  • Garden Side Salad — Side
  • Streaky Bacon — Side
  • Steamed Seasonal Veg — Side
  • Classic Yorkshire Pudding — Served with gravy
  • Golden Chips — Served with ketchup and aioli
  • Fergbutcher Sausage — Add-on, add cheese and bacon option
  • Wedges — Served with sweet chilli and sour cream, add cheese and bacon option
  • Onion Rings — Side
  • Smashed Potatoes — Served with aioli and parmesan
  • Fried Egg — Add-on

Ale House Classics

  • Fergbutcher Sausage & Mash — Locally made sausages topped with caramelised onions, mashed potato, peas, Ale House gravy, Yorkshire pudding
  • Fish of the Day — Fresh daily from Harbour Fish, ask your server for today's special
  • Chicken Parcel — Chicken, bacon, cream cheese in a filo parcel topped with mango chilli sauce, served with smashed potatoes and salad
  • BBQ Pork Ribs (Main) — Slow cooked pork ribs in house made BBQ sauce, served with coleslaw and chips
  • Grilled Pork Cutlet — Served with smashed potatoes, seasonal greens and a maple 'n' mustard jus
  • Beef Schnitzel — House crumbed sirloin beef steak, caramelised onions, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, Ale House gravy

Small Plates & Starters

  • The Ale House Loaf — Locally baked Speight's bread, plain, garlic butter or cheesy garlic (half or whole loaf)
  • Mac'n'Cheese — Classic mac and cheese
  • Seasonal Soup of the Day — Chef's special soup served with Speight's bread
  • Sweet Sticky Squid — Served on a bed of coleslaw with house made teriyaki sauce
  • Zucchini & Corn Fritter — Served with sriracha aioli
  • BBQ Pork Ribs (Starter) — Slow cooked pork ribs in house made BBQ sauce, served with coleslaw
  • Fried Chicken — Served with sriracha mayo and pickled red onion
  • Seafood Chowder — Classic seafood chowder with a slice of Speight's bread
  • Pasta of the Day — Chef's pasta selection of the day, vegetarian options available

Frequently asked questions

Where is Speight's Ale House Queenstown located?
On the corner of Stanley and Ballarat Street, Queenstown, New Zealand.
What are the opening hours?
Open daily from 11am until late.
What is the history of the building?
It's a Category 2 Historic building built in 1883 as the former Lake County Council Chambers; the Ale House opened there in September 2002.
Did the Ale House ever close?
Yes, a fire in March 2023 put it out of action, but it reopened exactly 18 months later.
Does the menu cater for dietary requirements?
Yes, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options are available - please let your server know of any allergies.
What Speight's beers are on tap?
Gold Medal Ale, Dry Hop Pilsner, Old Dark, Hazy Pale Ale, Summit Ultra and Cloudy Apple Cider, alongside Guinness and Mac's Ginger Giant.
Can I book a table?
Yes, tables can be booked directly through the website.

Tips

  • {"body":"Blue cod battered in Speight's Gold Medal Ale, a signature way to enjoy the beer in the food.","title":"Try the Blue & Gold"}
  • {"body":"The full Speight's range is on tap, from the Gold Medal Ale to the Hazy Pale Ale and Cloudy Apple Cider.","title":"Ask about the beer range"}
  • {"body":"Tables can be reserved directly through the Speight's Ale House website.","title":"Book ahead"}
  • {"body":"The Ale House sits in an 1883 Category 2 Historic building, once the Lake County Council Chambers.","title":"Note the building's history"}

Good to know

  • {"dietary":"Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options available; please let your server know of any allergies"}