Why this coast won’t let you
Aug 08, 2026
By Simon Gould as seen in Lifestyle Barrington Coast magazine 2026 edition.
Walk into Pacific Ocean Brewery in Tuncurry and it feels less like a brewery and more like someone’s very good coastal living room, bright, beachy and full of laughter. That’s entirely deliberate. For owners Dave and Jane, hospitality runs deeper than the taps.
Dave and Jane spent decades running pubs in the UK before Covid became the unlikely catalyst that brought them home. “If we’re going to do this,” Dave said, “let’s build something of our own.” With a background in pubs and a shared love of surfing, the mid north coast made sense as the place to do it.
Tuncurry wasn’t a random choice either. It offered a growing community, proud locals and a coastal culture built on authenticity, exactly the ingredients Dave and Jane wanted behind their own venue.
The design reflects that thinking, warm and welcoming rather than the traditional pub set up. Stop in on any given night and you’ll find great conversation, plenty of laughter and people from every walk of life settling into the atmosphere.
Dave and Jane aren’t tucked away in an office somewhere either, they’re front and centre, greeting guests and telling stories, the kind of hosts who turn first time visitors into regulars. Their beers, including Some Kind of Beer and The Journey, carry that same easy, welcoming spirit.
Within weeks of opening, Pacific Ocean Brewery had already sponsored the Dolphins Rugby Club, a decision that came together almost by accident. “I just love my rugby,” Dave says. “They came in for a drink and just wanted a place to hang out. By the end of the night, I’d sponsored the club.”
That same instinct now extends to Forster Board Riders, backing local surfers and the next generation of coastal talent, and the Hawks Juniors football club, helping ensure young players have the equipment and opportunities they need.
Reinvesting locally isn’t an afterthought for Dave and Jane, it’s a conscious choice. They prioritise local suppliers, collaborate with neighbouring businesses and use their venue and social media to promote regional producers.
In a small community, that kind of economic ripple genuinely matters, and it’s exactly the kind of quiet, ongoing generosity that makes a local business feel like part of the town rather than just another venue in it.
