Speight’s Ale House Palmerston North has served the Grey Street CBD precinct since November 2008. Its owners brought a southern background to the venue, and that influence appears in both the hospitality and the menu's preference for hearty, recognisable food. It functions as a proper restaurant as well as a beer house, accommodating a full meal, drinks and snacks in the bar, or an organised group. The approach is generous and unfussy, with enough structure for dinner but the relaxed character expected of a local ale house.
The starter list supports a table that wants to order communally. Baked camembert combines soft cheese with fruit and bacon, while green-lipped mussels, salt-and-pepper calamari and chowder offer different expressions of seafood. Chicken pâté with toast supplies a richer choice, and dumplings or wings keep things casual. This is useful in an ale-house setting because the opening round can match the occasion: a single substantial starter before a main, or several contrasting plates spread across the table while the first drinks arrive.
Hearty classics define the centre of the menu. Southland blue cod gives the venue a strong regional reference, joined by chicken, confit pork belly, a braised lamb shank and slow-roasted spareribs. The grill moves through rump, porterhouse and Scotch fillet, with sauce and side combinations completing each steak. Salads, burgers and vegetarian choices prevent the offering from becoming exclusively meat-heavy. Even so, the core appeal remains clear: generous pub cooking built around seafood, slow braises and substantial cuts from the grill.
Speight's tap ales and an Emerson's guest tap connect the food directly to the bar, while wine, spirits, coffee and alcohol-free drinks make the venue workable for a wider group. Desserts such as pavlova, sticky date pudding and crème brûlée give a full dinner a proper ending. Set menus and function packages add planning support for celebrations or work gatherings. The result is a versatile local: diners can stop for a snack and a beer, settle in for steak and dessert, or organise a larger occasion around the same southern hospitality.
Address: 27 Grey Street, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand
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Speight's Ale House Palmerston North Menu
Starters to Share
Garlic Bread Loaf
hot baked/ plain butter/garlic butter.
Edamame Bean Bowl
steamed edamame beans, seasoned w salt & pepper
Pan Fried Chicken Dumplings
house-made chicken dumplings / soy sauce
Baked Camembert
baked camembert wheel / caramelised cinnamon apples / bacon walnut praline / toasted ciabatta
Moeraki Mussels
green-lipped mussels/ thai green curry sauce/ grilled ciabatta bread.
Salt and Pepper Calamari
salt and pepper panko crumbed with lime and chipotle mayo
Ale House Pate
chicken pate/ port jelly/ toasted ciabatta bread.
Bluff Chowder
homemade clear stock/ assorted fish fillets/ shellfish/ bacon/ vegetables/ fennel/ dill
Salads & Pasta
Caesar Salad
cos lettuce/ bacon/ anchovies/ croutons/ parmesan cheese/ parmesan cheese dressing and poached egg.
Shamrock Chicken Salad
moroccan chicken/ spiced Israeli couscous/ salad/ avocado/ grapes/ cumin yoghurt dressing.
Thai Beef Salad
marinated thai beef/ salad/ roasted cashews/ crispy noodles/ thai beef salad dressing.
Goats Cheese Salad
goat’s balls (cheese) / spiced Israeli couscous/ salad/ avocado/ grapes/ cumin yoghurt dressing.
Pasta of the Day
chef’s creation each day. Please ask our staff for details
Burgers & Light Meals
Castle Street Chicken Burger
crispy chicken/ bacon/ onions/ pickle /cheese/ tomato/ lettuce/ japanese mayo/ fries.
The Vege Burger
quinoa/chickpea burger patty/ beetroot relish/ cheese/ courgette/ red pepper/ cumin yoghurt dressing/ fries
Cardrona Beef Burger
beef patty/ bacon/ egg/ cheese/ beetroot relish/ lettuce/ tomato/ caramelised onions /fries
Ophir Corn Fritters
corn fritters/ bacon / tomato/ coriander salsa/ rocket garnish /sour cream and sweet chilli sauce.
Grandma’s Lambs Fry
lamb’s liver/ bacon/ caramelised onions/ gravy/ potato mash.
James Speight’s Porter Sausage & Mash
porter sausages/ potato mash/ peas/ caramelised onion gravy
Beef Schnitzel
crumbed beef schnitzel/ fries/ salad/ Ale House Gravy or mushroom sauce.
Speight’s Ale House Classics
Southern Man’s Breakfast
fried eggs/ bacon/ sausage/ mushrooms/ grilled tomato/ potato rosti
Blue & Gold
battered Southland Blue Cod/ iceberg lettuce/ buttermilk dressing/ fries/ tartare sauce & tomato sauce
Market Fresh Fish of the Day
chef’s creation for today’s fresh catch. Please ask our staff for details
Cherry Chicken
pan roasted chicken supreme/ herb stuffing/ bacon wrapped/ kumara mash/pumpkin fresh cherry olive salsa/cherry pan sauce.
Confit Pork Belly
walnut apple sausage roulade/ mustard fruits / roasted kumara / braised red cabbage/cider jus
The Shearer’s Lamb Shank
braised lamb hind shank/ potato mash/ seasonal vegetables/ gravy/ mint glaze
Frank Oliver’s Spareribs
slow roasted pork spareribs/ BBQ sauce/ salad/ spicy wedges
Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder
braised lamb shoulder/ w burnt butter hummus / hasselback potatoes / crumbed sweet breads / beets / topped with sicilian pesto and lamb jus
Grill Section
The Stockman’s Steak
300g Angus Pure Rump/ fries / salad greens/ with either mushroom sauce / roasted garlic butter /green peppercorn sauce
The “Boucher’s” Cut
300g Angus Pure Scotch Fillet or Porterhouse/ mustard potato mash/ portobello mushrooms /beer-battered onion rings/ bearnaise sauce and with house-made beef jus
Sides
steam vegetables
with butter and parsley
creamy mash potato
caesar side salad
cos lettuce/ crouton/ parmesan/ anchovy bacon with caesar dressing
Desserts
Crème Brulèe
creamy baked vanilla custard / caramelised sugar / seasonal fruit compote
Farmhouse Cheesecake
cheesecake/Ask for today’s selection.
Baby Pavlova
fresh fruit/ whipped cream/ ice cream/ passionfruit syrup.
Hot Chocolate Chip Skillet Biscuit
freshly baked/ served with ice cream/peanut chocolate sauce.
Sticky Date Pudding
salted butterscotch sauce/ ice cream.
Boysenberry Knickerbocker Glory
boysenberries/ vanilla ice cream/ meringue/ and cream.
Mrs Brown’s Cinnamon Oysters
two small/ feather-light cinnamon sponge cakes/ cream filled.
Whiskey Coffee
irish/ drambuie / baileys
Baileys & Hot Chocolate
Wee Mates Meal Deal
Main, Dessert, & Drink $17.00 (T&C’s: Must be 12 years or younger)
Wee Ones Platter
chicken / sliced ham/ carrots/ raisins/ fresh fruit/ rice crackers and cheese
Fish & Chips
battered tarakihi/ fries
Crumbed Chicken
crumbed chicken/ fries
Junior Burger & Chips
all beef patty/ cheese/ lettuce/ tomato/ fries.
Battered Hotdog & Chips
mini battered hotdogs/ fries
BBQ Pork Spare Ribs & Chips
spare ribs/ BBQ sauce/ fries
Speight’s Ale House Sausage & Mash
potato mash/ peas/ onions/ sausages/ gravy
Half Pint Ice Cream Sundae
vanilla ice cream | selection of lollies /your choice of/ berry/ chocolate/ caramel sauce/ cream.
Sharing Plates & Bar Snacks
Palmerston North
Big Uns
w tomato sauce and aloli
Spicy Potato Wedges
w sour cream and chili sauce on side
Potato Wedges Bacon & Cheese
topped Sour Cream & Chili Sauce
Edamame Bean Bowl
Southern Cheese Rolls
Pickled Onions and Aged Cheddar
Goats Cheese Balls
Vegetarian Spring Rolls
Pork Belly Bites
Chicken Dumplings
w Soy Sauce
Buffalo Chicken Wings
Honey Soy Chicken Wings
Chicken Pate
w port wne jelly / ciabatta
Mini Battered Blue Cod & Fries
Salt and Pepper Calamari
Baked Camembert Wheel
Roasted Apple / Cinnamon /Bacon/ Maple Syrup /Ciabatta
Malthouse Platters
A selection of homemade paté, soft cheese, relishes, pickles, olives, vegetable sticks, salami, champagne ham and seasoned chicken.
Chardonnay
glass / bottle
Kopiko Bay
The Ned
The Kings Series, Bastard
Spy Valley
Sauvignon Blanc
glass / bottle
Kopiko Bay
The Ned
Roaring Meg
Man O War Estate
Hot Drinks
Coffee L'Affarre
Short/ Long Black, Flat White Latte, Cappuccino, Mochaccino
Tea
English Breakfast | Earl Grey | Japanese Lime Green
Hot Chocolate
Iced Chocolate /Coffee
On Tap Now
Alc%
Gold Medal Ale
Speight’s, 4.0%
Speights 1876 Legacy
Speight’s, 4.0%
Triple Hop Pilsner
Speight’s, 4.0%
Old Dark
Speight’s, 4.0%
Bottled Beers
bottle
Speight’s Mid Ale
2.5%
Speights Summit Zero
0.0%
Steinlager Classic
5.0%
Steinlager Pure
5.0%
Gin
Gordons
London Dry | Pink
Bombay Sapphire |Bombay Bramble
Malfy
Original | Orange| Limone| Rosa
Tanqueray
London Dry| 10 | Roots
Whiskey
John Walker
Red |Black
Bushmills
Blackbush | 10 yr
Canadian Club |Glenkinchie 12 yr
Cocktails
Bombay Breeze
Bombay Sapphire, Cranberry, Lemon, Soda
Pooh Bear
Honey Vodka, Ginger Beer, Lemon
Passionaritta
Cuervo Jose Gold, Cointreau, Passionfruit, Lemon
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- Hot chocolate Typical in Palmerston North: $5.80 $6.50
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