Pub shipshape and ready for summer

AN iconic Hobart pub revered among sailors has been spruced up just in time for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

The historic Shipwrights Arms in Battery Point – originally built in 1846 and a drinking spot for sailors and locals alike – has undergone a multimillion-dollar redevelopment and will officially reopen to the public on Wednesday.

Father and son team Paul and Rob Jubb – who took over Shippies in 2019 – are promising customers “a contemporary feel with a menu to match” while staying true to the pub’s nautical roots.

New features include an alfresco dining area, cocktail lounge and private dining spaces with nautical touches scattered throughout, while the iconic public front bar remains unchanged.

“We embarked on this journey to restore the Shipwrights Arms to its former glory. Our objective through the whole process was to deliver new, fun spaces people can enjoy while holding on to our history and capturing portions of that throughout the renovation,” general manager Rob Jubb said.

“I think we saw an opportunity to kind of delve into a different market and take another step with the business. We’ve got a lot of local seafood on the menu and it’s a nice contemporary feel.”

Mr Jubb said they were bracing for the return of crowds that come with the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

“Bring it on. We’re ready for a big summer and, provided the weather stays good, we’re expecting a bumper season.”

Shippies co-owner Paul Jubb – who also owns popular waterfront venue Customs House – said he was confident tourists and locals alike would flock to Hobart’s waterfront watering holes this summer.

“We’ve got a great summer line-up – we’ve got the Sydney to Hobart, the Taste of Summer festival. So it’s looking pretty good,” Mr Jubb said.

“I think everyone will be pretty excited to come and basically not have any restrictions and be right back to like it’s 2019.”

Tasmanian Hospitality Association chief executive Steve Old said the Sydney to Hobart yacht race always drew in big crowds to the city.

“It does inject a lot of money into those waterfront venues and into the economy over only a short week-long period,” Mr Old said.

“I’ll be encouraging people to get out as much as possible and support their local hospitality venues and all those events that are around the waterfront.”