Wig & Pen opens at ANU School of Music

Iconic Canberra pub the Wig & Pen Tavern & Brewery officially opened the doors to its new home at the ANU School of Music’s Llewellyn Hall on Wednesday.

The addition of the pub, along with the recently announced $1 million refurbishment of the School of Music’s reception area, will transform the experience of the thousands of visitors who attend events at the School each year.

Head of the School of Music, Professor Peter Tregear, said that both developments will greatly improve the amenity of the city-side of ANU campus, and will help cement the place of Llewellyn Hall as a world-class cultural facility for the benefit of all Canberrans.

“There has been a global shift in the way we think of performing arts facilities like concert halls over the past two decades. This is reflected in the design of new civic arts precincts as well as in the redevelopment of cultural centres such as the Lincoln Centre in New York and South Bank Centre in London,” said Professor Tregear.

“The underlying principle is simple: arts centres should also be great community meeting places, and that’s what facilities like the Wig & Pen will help us achieve here in Canberra.” 

The opening of the Wig & Pen in its new location was eagerly anticipated by pub patrons across Canberra, and was attended by ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, who is also an ANU alumnus.

Llewellyn Hall is just a short stroll from the Wig & Pen’s former location on Alinga Street. The boutique microbrewery was forced to relocate due to redevelopment plans for Canberra House, its previous location.