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Thirsty’s Dockside Tavern could be serving Durban diners again in 2027, roughly two decades after its original run ended.
According to a report by IOL, Brett Michielin and original partner Bob Humphreys have secured a lease and are targeting March or April 2027 for the reopening, subject to licensing.
For those who remember watching ships pass over a drink or a meal, the name needs little introduction. For younger Durbanites, the proposed reopening could offer a first encounter with a venue that was once part of the city’s harbour life.
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A piece of Durban’s harbour history
Thirsty’s opened in September 1995 at the old King’s Gun Battery, with Humphreys, Tony Dickinson and Tony Bolt behind the business.
Its position at the harbour entrance gave customers a close view of the shipping traffic. That setting was central to its appeal, but the expansion of the port eventually brought its original run to an end.
A December 2006 report recorded the planned closing date as 14 January 2007, ahead of demolition work to accommodate the widening of the harbour entrance. A reopening in early 2027 would put its return around 20 years later.
A location near water is central to the pair’s plans, although the new address has not yet been confirmed.
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A boost for Durban’s hospitality scene
Thirsty’s announcement comes at a time when several developments are putting Durban’s dining, leisure, and tourism offering back in the spotlight.
eThekwini Municipality recently announced that Mojo’s Carwash & Shisanyama is heading to South Beach, after the Durban-born business signed a lease for the City-owned property at 17 Erskine Terrace.
Mojo’s started as a car-wash operation in Chesterville before growing into a social destination combining food, entertainment and shisanyama. It later expanded to Davenport in Glenwood, with its planned South Beach location extending its reach to the beachfront area.
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The move comes as the City plans a multi-million-rand development along Lower Marine Parade, which is expected to bring established hospitality businesses into the area.
Meanwhile, the iconic Southern Sun Elangeni and Maharani on Durban’s Golden Mile is undergoing a major transformation. The hotel group has announced a R250-million refurbishment programme, with work having started in July and upgrades scheduled to continue over the next three years.
Also on the cards is a R1-billion Durban amusement park planned for the former Funworld site, bringing massive investment to Durban’s seafront location.
READ: Durban’s Golden Mile to get R70m beachfront redevelopment
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