Introducing Stockton’s new third place

A fresh presence on Mitchell Street in Stockton, The Gladdy is more than just another renovated pub – it’s Stockton’s much-welcomed community hub. 

Designed to be welcoming, warm, and inclusive, The Gladdy has quickly grown into the kind of venue that locals frequent not once, but multiple times a week. 

It’s a place where mismatched vintage furniture sets the tone for an approachable experience, while soft blues and muted burgundy tones – discovered on the original walls during renovations – bring a comforting, coastal charm to every corner.

At the heart of The Gladdy is a clear and simple philosophy; hub not pub. It’s a venue with values, and every element – from the food and drinks to the community activations and overall atmosphere – has been carefully considered to align with those values. 

“We want this to be the third place. You’re safe and comfortable at home and work, but you need that third place – a space that’s social and familiar, where you feel just as at ease,” the owners said.

Inspired by time spent overseas, where the local pub is an essential part of daily life, the team behind The Gladdy have recreated that sense of community, right in the heart of Stockton. 

Alisi [Cafe Manager], Jason [Venue Manager], and Simona [Head Chef]

Venue Manager, Jason D Murrain, has been instrumental in shaping the offering, working alongside Head Chef Simona Marini to deliver a space that’s functional from morning to night. 

“Because we have the cafe element, people are coming in all day long and treating this as their third place – which is exactly what we hoped for,” Jason said. 

The venue has launched gradually over the past few months – starting with the cafe, followed by the bar, and most recently, the restaurant. 

“We really wanted to launch purely for the locals to begin with. We knew we wanted to test everything and make sure we could execute it well before going for a hard launch. Now, we’re ready.” 

The Gladdy really offers something for everyone. The cafe, open seven days a week, comes with a menu featuring fresh pastries, toasties, smoothies, and coffees, while the kitchen turns out hot breakfasts alongside their lunch and dinner menus from Wednesday to Sunday. 

“We’ve kept your pub classics on the menu but everything has just been elevated a little. You’ll find pickled fennel in the side salad and thoughtful touches throughout.”

Some standouts on the winter restaurant menu include the Korean cauliflower bites made with a Gochujang glaze and topped with sesame, coriander, and shallots; the grilled halloumi with hot honey made with honey-chilli oil, tahini yoghurt, soft herbs, dukkah crunch, and served with warm pita; and the warm winter salad featuring spiced quinoa, roasted carrot & cauliflower, rocket, hommus, pomegranate, pickled onion and dukkah. 

And it’s just not the food that’s thoughtfully crafted. The drinks list has been carefully thought out, from a high-quality yet affordable wine list to a cocktail menu that delivers more than you’d expect. 

“You can come in and have a bloody great French Martini – and it’s always happy hour here because our cocktails are just $15.” 

That same sense of quality extends to the Sunday roast, which has quickly become a staple. At $36, it’s a little more than your average pub meal, but for good reason. 

“It’s an amazing Sunday roast – we do both beef and pork every week and so far, we’ve sold out every Sunday.”

As the venue grows into its space, there are plans to offer function bookings, host more kid-friendly and community activations, and further develop the site. 

“By the time summer comes around, the place will just be alive.”

Throughout it all, the team continues to ask one simple question; how can this venue be supportive of the local community? 

Whether it’s through house beers and wines where profits go straight into community programs, or providing a clubhouse feel for Stockton locals, The Gladdy is set on making a positive impact. 

With its values of locals first, good done great, and hub not pub, The Gladdy is quietly redefining what a pub can be – setting the scene for future pubs across Newcastle and the Hunter region.