Brothers Brian and Conor Buckley know a good beer garden. The duo are behind the constantly heaving Picabar and South Freo favourite Percy Flint – two spots where an outdoor table is considered hot property. So when they bought the former Ruinbar site, the first order of business was putting in a killer al fresco space.

Now, with a zhooshed up interior and a significant outdoor expansion, the historic space on the corner of Beaufort and Newcastle streets has reopened as The Leadlight.

“The beer garden is the superstar,” Brian tells Broadsheet. “It has a bunch of different areas perfect for groups, plenty of trees, an outdoor fireplace and good food, booze and tunes. Hopefully it proves to be a welcome addition to Northbridge where outdoor space is in relatively short supply.”

Never miss a Perth moment. Make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter today.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

The kitchen, under the command of Picabar’s self-taught chef George Maxwell, has also expanded with the adjoining Pretty Good Pizza site serving as a commercial kitchen to help keep The Leadlight’s 300 diners fed and happy.

Together with head chef Stefano de Pieri of Victoria’s famed Stefano’s, Maxwell has created an Italian-leaning menu that takes inspiration from American bistros. There’s a veal schnitzel; a sirloin served with curly fries and a rich bearnaise sauce; fiery Nashville chicken; and a bistro burger elevated with dry-aged Black Onyx beef.

“The goal is to keep the menu rotating where we can,” Maxwell tells Broadsheet. “We’re just trying to use good, local produce, like the White Rocks veal that we use for the schnitty. It’s a really great WA product.”

The new owners haven’t looked to reinvent the wheel. Fans of Pretty Good Pizza will be pleased to know that its team of dough slingers are also behind the pass with six different pizzas on the menu, as well as panuzzi – pizza-sandwich hybrids.

“You basically take a stretched pizza, fold it in half and fill it with whatever you want,” says Maxwell. “We’re going to keep them rotating but we’re working on a version of Brian’s steak sandwich from Picabar with fresh chimichurri.”

Brian adds, “I’d never had a panuzzo before but the conti panuzzo [filled to the brim with antipasto and mozzarella] is fucking unbelievable.”

Like any self-respecting pub, there are tap beers aplenty – 18, to be precise – ranging from Swanny D to a slew of West Australian craft beers. Wines are predominantly from local producers, and all sit under the $15 mark.

“We’re aiming to overdeliver on the booze and food side of things, but at the end of the day we’re a neighbourhood pub for Northbridge,” says Brian. “It’s the sort of place that anyone can walk in, everyone will feel welcome, and everyone will leave having had a good time.”

The Leadlight
165 Beaufort Street, Northbridge
No phone

Hours:
Mon closed
Tue to Sun midday–midnight

@theleadlightperth