Meet Petar and Jessica Grulovic, the proud new managers of The Red Lion Tavern, one of New England’s most traditional pubs.  

Located just 15 minutes from Glen Innes along the New England Highway in New South Wales, the tavern has undergone refurbishment and reopened in September, following a tour of the Celtic nations by Petar and Jessica.

Petar said: “My mother was from Greenock, Scotland and her parents were Irish/Scottish. Jessica has Irish and Scottish roots from several generations back. I grew up an Irish dancer and Celtic culture has always been a big part of our performing lives.

“We are both high-school teachers and have been for over 15 years. When we lived in North Queensland previously, we ran a musical theatre academy and a musical theatre company.”

When the couple, who have three young children, came to Glen Innes for a holiday and happened across The Red Lion, opportunity knocked. 

“We came to Glen Innes for a brief holiday, touched base with the owners of The Red Lion, and soon became the new leasers of the building, and owners/managers of the business here,” Petar explained.

They relocated from Mackay and settled down in Glencoe, near Glen Innes, to open up their cosy little country pub with a Celtic twist.

 Over the past few months, Petar and Jessica have revamped the interior to give the pub a Celtic theme, with tartan carpets and country-style furniture to create an inviting atmosphere.

The couple share a passion for their Scottish and Irish heritage. 

Petar said: “We have always been passionate about all things Celtic. Having visited the Australian Celtic Festival as adjudicators for the Australian Celtic Dance Championships in 2016, 2017 and 2022, and as patrons in other years, we quickly developed an interest in all the Celtic Nations, including The Isle of Man, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany.

“From our first business discussions about The Red Lion, we immediately wanted to take the venue back to its Celtic roots and offer something different to any bar or restaurant in the region.

“We want people to walk in and feel like they’ve stepped into another country and back into another time,” Petar explained.

“And we want to make sure it’s a very comforting, welcoming, spacious area.”

The tavern treats guests to a wonderful array of Celtic-themed dishes. They have a rotating seasonal menu, which features a Celtic-inspired meal from each of the Celtic nations.

Previous and current dishes include Chicken Balmoral (Scotland), Beef and Guinness Stew (Ireland), Smoked Salmon Galette (Brittany), Queenie Linguine (The Isle of Man), Seafood Chowder (Cornwall) and Chicken and Leek Casserole (Wales).

“We also serve entrees and desserts inspired by the Celtic nations,” said Petar.

Beers on tap all come from Scotland (Tennent’s) and Ireland (Guinness/Kilkenny) and they also sell other Scottish, Irish and Australian beers. Their collection of Celtic Spirits (whiskies and gins) are exclusively from the Celtic nations. Most are imported and/or rare, and they are the only stockists in Australia for a large proportion of their whiskies and gins – including Welsh gins, Cornish whiskies and Manx spirits.

The distinctive building has an interesting history. 

Petar said: “It was originally known as a Celtic tavern, built in a region that was populated by many Scots, Irish, Welsh and Cornish who worked in agriculture, farming and mining.

“That building burnt down in 1967. The Red Lion Tavern, modelled after the Red Line Tavern in Scotland, was built in 1969 and has had many owners since.”

And now it’s got a wonderful team at the fore, so let’s raise a glass and say ‘Sláinte’ to Petar, Jessica and the Celtic tavern that’s reclaimed its heritage. 

You can contact The Red Lion Tavern at New England Highway, Glencoe, New South Wales, phone 0409 776 906, email redlion.glencoe@hotmail.com and online at Facebook.

*This story was published in the November 2023 edition of Anglo&Celtic magazine