Historic Adelaide pub the Colonel Light Hotel has closed down – less than a year after it reopened with a Bright flourish.
The pub first opened in 1847, as Hotel George, making it one of the oldest in Adelaide. It is listed on the state heritage register.
It offers a public bar area, wine and cocktail bar, and large upstairs function area, with spaces for dinner shows.
It closed in 2017 after operators Dare N Hotels & Entertainment were declared insolvent.
But at the start of 2022, 65-year-old Brock Phillips, aka Tullula Bright, acquired the business and after five-years in the dark resumed trading under the new name of Tullula Bright at Colonel Light.
Bright wasted no time promoting its new look, hosting the Queer As festival and drag shows. They pledged the family-friendly venue would embrace Adelaide’s art scene and be an “entertainment centre”.
Adelaide CBD venues have reportedly been doing it tough, already leading to recent closures, with operators citing the COVID shutdowns, the staff shortages, and reduced foot traffic as many CBD workers continue to work from home.
Phillips announced on social media that after “discussions with my advisers and the landlord” the decision had to be made to again close the Colonel.
PubTIC was unable to contact Phillips prior to publication.
