Hospitality

Former AFL legend turned hotelier, Mark Ricciuto is part-owner of some fine South Australian hotels and taverns – The Alma; The Port Lincoln Hotel; and, The Hackney Hotel & Function Centre. Ex-Adelaide Crows player and captain, Mark has successfully turned his hand to the hospitality industry.

A savvy businessman and investor, he’s part of a number of ventures that has seen the reinvigoration and successful development of hospitality landmarks, including:

Alma Tavern

Purchased in October 1999, Mark, together with former teammate Simon Goodwin, and friends Peter and Jenny Hurley, have turned the Alma Tavern in Norwood into a landmark of the Eastern Suburbs. With a recently refurbished upstairs function room, and the award winning Skybar beer garden, the Alma’s ample function facilities and restaurant cater for anything from a meal out with friends, to a Xmas function. With a big screen and TAB facilities, it has become a hub to watch live sport, while live entertainment in the evening from Friday through to Sunday make it a popular night spot.

Port Lincoln Hotel

After two years of planning and design with Simon Goodwin and the Hurley Group, the award winning Port Lincoln Hotel was completed in late 2007. Close to themagnificent natural beauty of the Eyre Peninsula, the Gawler Ranges and Australia’s Seafood Frontier, this hotel offers the perfect getaway. Consisting of 111 rooms and suites, Sarin’s Restaurant, Sharky’s Bar, Lucky Bart’s Goldrush Gaming Lounge and large scale function and conference facilities, the Port Lincoln Hotel is setting the tourism industry alight. It picked up a number of awards in 2011, including: AHA National and State Best Tourism Initiative; AHA State Most Outstanding Community Service & Achievement; SATC Silver Award for Deluxe Accommodation; and, Advantage SA Best Large Business on the Eyre Peninsula.

The Hackney Hotel

The latest acquisition of Mark and the Hurley Group’s, the recently renovated Hackney Hotel was purchased in April 2012 alongside Crows stars Nathan Van Berlo and Bernie Vince. Generations of Adelaide people will have a strong connection with the Hackney in decades gone by, and it is the group’s intention to revive it and bring it back to its glory days! Driving past the Hackney Road icon does not do it justice, you have to pop in for a drink or a meal to see its true size. Specialising in functions with a number of different sized rooms catering from an intimate dinner to a wedding reception, popular front bar (Zoo Bar), beer garden and restaurant mean it’s perfect for a drink after work or a meal with friends. It will be sure to become a beneficiary of football’s move to Adelaide Oval, given its close proximity.