‘After an afternoon on Brighton Pier they’d all race off for a feed of scampi,’ I remarked to my wife. We were discussing Brighton, the East Sussex version. Not the Adelaide or even the Melbourne suburb.
‘What is scampi?’ she asked, not unreasonably.
I paused and considered. ‘Fishy stuff. Crumbed.’ Piscatorial insights have never been in my (fishing boat) wheelhouse.
Claire was not about to accept such an enfeebled reply. ‘Right, but what is it exactly?’
‘Err,’ I mumbled. ‘Dunno. Scampi is just scampi.’
I gave up and opened my phone. Dublin Bay Prawn or Norway Lobster. Not only these but it’s also a ‘seafood delicacy,’ I volunteered.
The Largs Pier is a place to ponder big questions such as this. Even non-gastronomic ones. My wife, Claire and I were here for our monthly Mystery Pub excursion. It was my choice. I had an aged Sparkling Ale in front of me and Claire had a brandy.
We had wandered through the pub. It’s regal and opulent with high ceilings and views out into the flat gulf. There’s a restaurant and another bar named Dixon’s (being the middle name of Jimmy Barnes, the main screamer for Cold Chisel). It’s a popular wedding venue too.
Big question #2 then emerged while contemplating our current context, I then took my turn to quiz Claire. ‘What’s the difference between a jetty and a pier?’ Our relaxing hour in the pub was transmogrifying into an episode of It’s Academic. We should’ve worn our Kapunda High School blazers. That may have prompted comment from strangers.
I explored the question. ‘So, why isn’t this the Largs Jetty Hotel? And why isn’t the Moseley Square pub called the Pier?’
Claire had an answer. ‘I think a pier has entertainments on it like rides and stalls and assorted amusements.’ I’m unsure why she responded in a grammatical style reminiscent of a Wikipedia entry.
‘Right,’ I nodded. Who knew that going to the pub could be so instructive? I vowed to do this again soon. Perhaps I should keep the drink receipts and use them at tax time as a self-education deduction.
The wintry sunset slanted in across our table and outside under the wide veranda, some young tradies were making an enthusiastic start to their weekend. Dotted about the pub, faux-1920’s artworks gave the place an appropriately jaunty, seaside atmosphere.
Our second and final round of drinks included a Pirate Life South Coast Pale Ale or PLSCPA, as nobody abbreviates it. It was crisp and confident, while Claire had a white wine of indeterminant variety and style and she didn’t seem to mind. We didn’t want our visit to suffer from too much information.
The Largs Pier (Jetty) Hotel is an arresting, grand old esplanade boozer. It has mobs of beers on tap and offers a wide menu.
There’s no immediate plans to serve scampi.
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About Mickey Randall
Now whip it into shape/ Shape it up, get straight/ Go forward, move ahead/ Try to detect it, it's not too late/ To whip it, whip it good
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Scampi? A Kalgoorlie barmaid.
Don’t you love the locals on travel shows who boast about their town/region/city being ‘famous for their seafood.’ Apart from the Aral Sea, tell me a coastal place that can’t scare up a fillet or crustacean?
Thanks PB.
I reckon I’ve only ever been there twice Mickey. First time about 40 years ago after a running meet and last time back in March this year for a family meal. Would be a must visit on my pub crawl idea by boat along the Adelaide coast. A lovely, imposing building. A pleasant little read as usual Mickey.
Would love to have seen Cold Chisel there
Thanks Daryl. I still reckon your pub crawl by boat idea has got (sea) legs. As the folk on twitter say: Tell me the name of a more attractive pub in Adelaide. I’ll wait.
Smokie- I wonder if seeing Chisel at the Largs Pier is a bit like Bulldogs fans who claimed to be behind the goals when Libba kicked his infamous point in the ’97 prelim. A number far larger than the truth would actually suggest!
Love the South Australianess of the decals on the taps. How does the Aged Sparkling Ale go? Very well I suspect.
Hey Mickey, looking at the title of this piece, I never realized the Largs pier (jetty) had a pub on the end of it. But then I was able to read it and found, as per usual, I had the wrong end of the stick. Anyway a nice article and I have some fond memories of Largs Bay, especially of it’s kiosk which serves excellent fish and chips and, of course, fishing from the jetty for yellow fin whiting.
Luke- I reckon Sparkling Ale is that rare beer which is better out of a bottle although the aged version is only on tap. Worth a look but not as a regular cup.
Fisho- Largs functions as an old-world village where it seems perpetually 1955. That’s why I’m so fond of it.
Thanks.
We used to visit Largs with the eldest Swishter who was knee high to Mick Nunan when we lived in SA. Fish and chips and a playground, what more could you want? Only ever went to the pub once, can’t remember who the band was.
We always make a point of going down there whenever we are back home – this fish and chips is pretty ordinary these days, but the jetty is as long as it ever was.
Swish- the band wasn’t the Ken Oath Ockerstra?
To anyone who wants to listen. Coopers Sparkling Ale (aka the red label) is the absolute best aperitif drink when in doubt as to what to have before dinner.
Agree entirely Daryl. It’s also the best dessert drink!
Think Ken Oath was mainly at the Findon Hotel? (Any little girls like a boiled lolly?)