Spotlight On: The Common

The Common lives on Resort Place, and is fairly unassuming from the outside. But park up and step inside, and you’re in a very special place. Locals know it, and so do visitors in the know. There’s a lot to love about this particularly uncommon place.

Here’s why.

Tony Breen managed The Common for five years before the previous owners made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Now, he’s making sure punters are well fed and hydrated every day of the week.

Tony says The Common should have been named ‘The Local’, as it is the local watering hole for the entire community of Gnarabup and Prevelly.

“It attracts people of all ages, as it has many different areas, including a sit down restaurant, a pool table, a playground, big screen TVs, board games and a lively deck in the sunshine,” he says. “There is truly something for everyone.”

‘Something’ includes Chase the Ace, wine and jazz evenings, burger nights and Sunday Sessions, which start up again in October.

“Our Sunday Sessions include $5 tacos, $10 cocktails and a selection of live and electronic music to end your week off right,” Tony says. “We also will be having a Grand Final Sliderfest, where the big game will be shown, with the sound cranked, and a selection of different sliders the kitchen has come up with.”

The Common’s kitchen is renowned locally for incredible dishes, packed with flavour and designed to sate big hungers.

“Our food sizes are always generous, ‘American’ sized, so no one ever leaves hungry,” Tony says.

There’s loaded fries, made with Mexi cheese, fresh salsa, guacamole, with pulled pork, marinated steak or chicken for meat lovers. Plus, all-star favourites like truffle prosciutto pizza, spicy buffalo chicken tenders, slow cooked pork tacos and a mouth-watering spicy beef burrito.

If you’re not a meat eater, try the portobello mushroom burger, a big hearty salad or loaded nachos, as well as other deliciously good dishes made with discerning vegan and vego’s in mind.

Then there’s the Common Pounder, made with a Margaret River wagyu patty, American cheese, bacon and The Common Mac sauce. And of course cult favourite, the Mother Clucker, starring spicy fried chicken, Buffalo-hollandaise sauce, pickles and all the trimmings.

Tony and the kitchen love to change up the menu with new and tasty dishes for people to enjoy. They also do takeaway, so call up if you’d prefer to eat at your accommodation in your PJ’s.

No matter what day you’re in Margaret River, it’s well worth paying The Common a visit – for cosy red wines by the fire, or for a cold beer on the deck, while soaking up the sunshine and listening to the waves just beyond the dunes.

“Normally if you come once, you come again, and we have an epic happy hour every day from five to six, so it’s a great way to end a day at the beach in the summertime,” Tony says.

The Common prides itself on its impressive collection of local wines, handpicked by Tony and his team. If you’re not sure what’s good, ask him or any member of his crew, and they’ll be sure to share their favourites.

“We have 12 beers on tap, and a nice, funky local wine list and cocktail menu, which highlights margaritas and keeps the drinkers happy,” Tony says.

If you’re heading to Gnarabup for a swim, or checking out the surf at The Point, then dropping into The Common for a drink and a damn fine pub meal is the perfect way to round out your day.

“If you haven’t visited us come drop in and see what it’s about,” Tony says. “I’m surprised how many Margaret River locals come in and say, ‘I never even knew this existed.’”

Well, now you do.

• The Common is a 10 minute drive from Margaret River’s township
• Find it at 1 Resort Place, Margaret River
• Book a table online or just show up
• The kitchen is open Monday to Friday from 4pm to 8pm, and over the weekend from midday to 8pm
• There’s parking just outside the venue, make sure you have planned who the skipper is in advance
• Happy Hour | every day from 5pm to 6pm
• Sunday Sessions | start in October – $5 tacos, $10 cocktails plus live and electronic music