If you're in Margaret River, check into the area's most iconic pub Settlers Tavern for a dose of WA hospitality... not to mention a juicy steak and a cold bevvy or two.
Established in the 1970s for Margaret River's burgeoning surf culture, Settlers Tavern remains a must-visit destination for locals and tourists alike.
For the past 14 years it has been owned and operated by Rob and Karen Gough who through their passion for food, wine and entertainment have earned the Tavern awards for WA's Best Regional Hospitality Venue, Best Regional Pub Dining and Best Live Music Venue in recent years.
With a commitment to fostering local live music and supporting the region's immense wealth of talent, Settlers Tavern recently hosted a WAMFest regional live music showcase featuring Blue Child Collective, ASKYA and Emjay Angeni.
What makes Settlers Tavern iconic?
[Rob Gough] It has to be the people, and the experiences, and memories that have happened here over the years. It can be pretty mind-blowing. Rock stars, babies, love stories, business ventures, laughter, and a whole lot of real life stuff.
But, as they say: “What happens at the Tavern, stays at the Tavern.”
Can you tell us a little bit about the history of Settlers Tavern?
Settlers Tavern was built in 1977 to serve the emerging surf culture, as a less conservative alternative to the Margaret River Hotel. Early on, it became a haven for musicians and salt of the earth people, which has continued for over 40 years. We guess there’s been about 10,000 gigs and a whole heap of great stories along the way.
How has it changed (or stayed the same) over the years?
The world has change a lot in 40 years, but the Tavern has stayed true to its roots.
It’s been described as the essence of Margaret River distilled. It’s a big responsibility, to keep it real, while keeping it going forward, but the biggest change is probably the food. We serve up to 1,200 meals a day, but share the space with everything that goes on in a romping, stomping live music venue, bar and restaurant.
Tell us a little about the menu and drinks selection?
It’s not exactly what you’d expect from your average tavern. We work with great local producers, free-range meats, line-caught fish, and Manjimup truffles when they’re in season.
We also have two, big American-made BBQ pits that pump out Texas-style beef brisket, pulled pork and lamb ribs every day. Our oysters are shucked-to-order, everything is made in-house. There are plenty of options including gluten-free, vegan and kid’s meals too.
Being in Margaret River, you must boast an impressive wine list?
Our wine list features over 600 selections and has been internationally acknowledged as one of Australia’s best. It’s always been a passion for us and we’re pretty lucky to be in one of the most exciting wine regions in the world.
We mainly focus on family-owned producers, with sustainable farming practices from all around the globe. Our by-the-glass list features over 25 selections, including rare vintage wines.
Can you name some bands and artists who have played at Settlers Tavern recently?
Tijuana Cartel, Thundamentals, Pierce Brothers, Ash Grunwald, Peter Garrett, British India, Birds Of Tokyo, Butterfingers, OKA, Amber Lawrence and Travis Collins, plus some great local WA talent like the Ten Cent Shooters, Southern River Band and Dave Mann to name just a few. We’re also looking forward to Ed Keupper, Phil Jamieson and Dead Letter Circus in the next few weeks.
How does Settlers Tavern encourage and support local music and emerging acts?
We stage up to 250 gigs a year and many of these are local and emerging acts.
Our entertainment team is led by entertainment coordinator Jon Godden and marketing manager Tash Birch, who put great energy into supporting our local talents. We’ve also sponsored the Margaret River Primary School music programme for over ten years, raising thousands of dollars to support the development of our local youth.
What's the best way for an act to get a gig at Settlers Tavern?
Email Jono at
