Speight's Ale House Timaru

About Speight's Ale House Timaru

Speight's Ale House Timaru is Timaru's first gastro pub and a favourite with locals, famous for its Chicken Parcels, Blue Cod and Aged Rib-Eye. Whether it's live sport on the big screen, a beer or two with friends, or relaxing in the sunny beer garden, the Ale House has something for everyone.

The pub is housed in Timaru's Landing Service building, built between 1870 and 1876 from solidified lava (bluestone) after a devastating 1868 fire forced new brick-and-stone building regulations on the town. It's the last remaining of the original three Landing Service buildings, and the only one known to still stand in the Southern Hemisphere. Originally a warehouse where boats were unloaded via steam-powered skids, it became redundant once Timaru's breakwater was built in the late 1870s, later served as a wool store until the 1980s, and was restored by the Timaru Civic Trust from 1989 after being saved from demolition.

As a Speight's Ale House, the venue pours the full family of Speight's beers, brewed in Dunedin since 1876 by founders James Speight, Charles Greenslade and William Dawson. Guests can try the whole range via an Ale House Tasting Tray, sampling everything from the original Speight's Gold Medal Ale to the Triple Hop Pilsner and the Craft Range, some of which are still fermented in traditional kauri gyles.

Speight's Ale House Timaru: Craft Beer in a Historic Bluestone Building

Speight's Ale House Timaru holds the title of Timaru's first gastro pub, and it's a favourite with locals for its Chicken Parcels, Blue Cod and Aged Rib-Eye. Whether the drawcard is live sport on the big screen, a beer with friends, or simply relaxing in the sunny beer garden, the Ale House is built to have something for everyone.

A Building With a Story

The Ale House occupies Timaru's Landing Service building, constructed between 1870 and 1876. Its story starts with disaster - in December 1868, a fire that began in a furniture factory on a hot north-westerly day tore through 39 wooden buildings in central Timaru. In response, the Borough Council mandated that new buildings in the business district be built of brick or stone, which is why the Landing Service building was constructed from solidified lava, or bluestone. It's the last of the original three Landing Service buildings, and the only one known to still stand in the Southern Hemisphere.

From Warehouse to Wool Store to Pub

Originally a warehouse, the Landing Service building was used to unload boats rowed in from ships, hauled up on skids by steam engine. Once Timaru's first breakwater was completed in the late 1870s, ships could berth directly in the harbour and the Landing Service became redundant. The building was then used as a wool store until the 1980s, when it was slated for demolition to make way for a car park. The Timaru City Council instead passed control to the Timaru Civic Trust in 1989, who restored it to what it is today.

Speight's Heritage on Tap

As a Speight's Ale House, the pub pours the full family of Speight's beers, brewed in Dunedin since 1876 by founders James Speight, Charles Greenslade and William Dawson. The trio brewed their first batch before they'd even secured their lease or brewing licence, and by 1887 had built Speight's into New Zealand's largest brewery. A gold medal-winning ale at the 1879 Sydney International Exhibition led to the naming of "Speight's Gold Medal Ale" in 1893. Today's range spans the classic Gold Medal Ale and Triple Hop Pilsner through to the Craft Range - Distinction Ale, Pale Ale, Porter and Pilsener - three of which are still fermented in traditional kauri gyles, a method used by only one other brewery in the world. Guests can try the whole line-up with an Ale House Tasting Tray.

Food From Sharing Plates to Steak

The kitchen runs a lunch and dinner menu built around small plates like buffalo wings and chilli lime mussels, hearty mains including the Sugar Cured Lamb Salad, Seafood Chowder and a 250g prime striploin steak, and burgers from a beer-battered fish burger to a vegan No Meat Cheeseburger. For groups, shared mains serve up to four people - among them The Big Lamb, a 1kg slow cooked lamb shoulder, and The Big Fish, loaded with hot smoked salmon, beer battered fish, coconut chilli mussels and popcorn prawns.

Visiting Speight's Ale House Timaru

Speight's Ale House Timaru is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:30am until late, closed Mondays, at 2 George Street, Timaru, in the historic Landing Service building.

Signature items

• Chicken Parcels
• Blue Cod
• Aged Rib-Eye
• The Big Lamb
• Speight's Beer Battered Fish + Chips
• Ale House Tasting Tray

Menu

Mains

• Mussel Pot — Steamed mussels in chilli lime coconut broth with fries
• Asian Roast Pork — Chilli soy pulled pork, steamed white rice, herb cucumber garnish, fried shallots
• Pasta of the Day — Rotating daily pasta special
• Sugar Cured Lamb Salad — Seared rare cured lamb, mesclun, roasted beetroot and pumpkin, feta, balsamic dressing
• Chimichurri Cauliflower — Spiced cauliflower, chickpeas, chimichurri, lemon, yoghurt
• Seafood Chowder — Seafood in a creamy fish stock with fresh herbs and vegetables, grilled ciabatta
• Chicken Parcels — Chicken, bacon, apricot and brie stuffed filo pastry, topped with aioli
• Fish + Chips — Speight's beer battered fish fillet, homemade tartare, choice of fries or potatoes and salad or vegetables
• Steak — 250g prime striploin cooked to your liking, choice of side and sauce
• Salmon — Hot smoked salmon fillet, pea risotto, shaved parmesan
• Roast Chicken — Lemon and thyme roasted chicken thigh, potatoes, fresh salad

Sides

• Onion Rings — Beer battered fried onion rings
• Parmesan Fries — Fries coated in parmesan cheese, aioli, tomato sauce
• Plain Fries — Served with aioli and tomato sauce
• Potatoes — Triple cooked gourmet potatoes
• Greens — Fresh leaves, mandarin, herbs, dressing
• Kale + Green Beans — Sauteed greens

Breads

• Ale House Loaf — Garlic butter or plain, half or whole loaf
• Breads — Toasted ciabatta with beetroot and yoghurt dip, hummus

Small Plates

• Buffalo Wings — Fried chicken wings coated in buffalo sauce
• Mussels — Steamed mussels in chilli lime coconut broth with toasted ciabatta
• Ribs — Maple bourbon glazed baby back ribs
• Popcorn Prawns / Prawns — Tempura prawns with chilli herb peanut salsa or chilli soy salsa
• Mexican Corn — Spice rubbed corn cobs with bang bang mayo
• Squid — Salt and pepper coated squid with chilli lime mayonnaise
• Calamari — Coated calamari rings with lemon aioli

Burgers (Lunch)

• Fish Burger — Crumbed dory fillet, mesclun, cheese, pickle, tartare, toasted brioche bun, fries
• Louisiana Chicken — Louisiana chicken tenders, smoked aioli, slaw, gherkin, cheese, toasted brioche bun, fries
• Beef Burger — Angel Bay Angus pattie, cheese, pickles, mesclun, caramelised onion jam, mustard, aioli, tomato sauce, toasted brioche bun, fries
• No Meat Cheeseburger — Vegan 'No Meat' pattie, cheese, pickles, mustard, aioli, tomato sauce, toasted brioche bun, fries

Shared Mains (For Up To Four)

• Meat Platter — Honey soy coated chicken wings, maple bourbon baby back ribs, onion rings, pickles, fries
• The Big Bird — 1kg lemon thyme roasted chicken, jus, agria potatoes, baby carrots, grilled corn, fresh salad, grilled ciabatta
• The Big Lamb — 1kg slow cooked lamb shoulder, jus, agria potatoes, baby carrots, grilled corn, fresh salad, grilled ciabatta
• The Big Fish — Hot smoked salmon, beer battered fish, coconut chilli mussels, popcorn prawns, toasted ciabatta, grilled corn, fries, tartare sauce
• The Big Meat — Asian pulled pork, hot honey chicken wings, baby back ribs, pickles, Mexican corn, onion rings, fries, grilled ciabatta

Frequently asked questions

Where is Speight's Ale House Timaru located?

At 2 George Street, Timaru, in the historic Landing Service building.

What are the opening hours?

Tuesday to Sunday, 11:30am until late. Closed Mondays.

What is the Ale House known for?

Its Chicken Parcels, Blue Cod and Aged Rib-Eye, alongside the full range of Speight's beers.

Can I try all the Speight's beers?

Yes, via an Ale House Tasting Tray with a sample of each beer.

Why is the building historically significant?

It's the last remaining of Timaru's three original Landing Service buildings, built from bluestone between 1870 and 1876, and the only one known to still stand in the Southern Hemisphere.

Are there vegetarian or vegan options?

Yes, including the No Meat Cheeseburger and Chimichurri Cauliflower, with vegan options available on request.

Are there shared meals for groups?

Yes, shared mains such as The Big Lamb and The Big Fish are designed for up to four people.

Tips

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• {"body":"Shared mains like The Big Lamb and The Big Fish are built for up to four people.","title":"Go big for a group"}
• {"body":"It's the last surviving Landing Service building in the Southern Hemisphere.","title":"Ask about the building's history"}
• {"body":"Live sport is shown on the big screen.","title":"Watch the game"}

Good to know

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