Beloved Adelaide Venue Enigma Bar To Close After 24 Years

After 24 years, Adelaide cultural institution Enigma Bar is closing its doors for good. The venue owner, Eric Ott, made the shock announcement on Facebook this morning and shared that the space will host its last hurrah this Friday (17 November).

The decision to close the Enigma Bar’s doors for good wasn’t a light one, with Ott revealing that the choice was made “as a result of the increasing challenges posed by rising running costs, including rent, electricity, and insurance.” In addition to the rising costs, “the complexities of securing diverse acts, whether local, international, or interstate, have become more pronounced over time.”

Ott continued, “We have done our best to keep the venue running in these challenging times, operating as efficiently as possible. However, the current climate and the astronomical overheads associated with limited trading days have made it unsustainable.”

From 8 pm this Friday, punters can head to the Enigma Bar to celebrate their best memories “until the last drop is poured”. You can read Ott’s entire statement below.

The Enigma Bar is a renowned venue in Adelaide. Here at The Music, we’ve captured and enjoyed tons of rock and metal gigs, from Justice For The Damned and Ocean Grove to Cancer Bats to The Front Bottoms, to Hellions to The Mark Of Cain, to Slaves, Foxtrot and Ceremony.

Aussie thrash metal outfit Hidden Intent is just one group of people gutted by today’s news, writing in the Facebook comments, “Cheers for having us drongos over the years, much love to the Enigma family.”

Many punters wrote to assure Ott and the venue’s staff that their impact on Adelaide’s live music scene won’t be forgotten, nor will their memories. One commenter also wrote that he met his wife at the Enigma Bar and had the opportunity to perform on the stage while in young bands.

Dear Enigma Bar Community,

It is with mixed emotions that we share some important news about the future of Enigma Bar.

After an incredible 24 years of live music, community, and so many unforgettable moments, we have made the difficult decision to close the doors of Enigma Bar.

This decision has not been taken lightly, and itcomes as a result of the increasing challenges posed by rising running costs, including rent, electricity, and insurance. Additionally, the complexities of securing diverse acts, whether local, international, or interstate, have become more pronounced over time.

We have done our best to keep the venue running in these challenging times, operating as efficiently as possible. However, the current climate and the astronomical overheads associated with limited trading days have made it unsustainable.

Enigma Bar has been a haven for music lovers in the Adelaide live music scene for so many years, a place where hundreds if not thousands of bands and tens of thousands of patrons have created lasting memories. From great performances upstairs in Bar 2 to amazing electronic nights in Bar 3, to the times when we ran our tequila bar, amazing DJ night downstairs including when we ran our day club on Sunday mornings, we were Adelaide's first venue with free internet, the unique atmosphere of the beer garden (including a yummy snack of a sanger in bread from our beloved BBQ Bar), to the grassroots stage downstairs, night's out at Enigma have brought the local community closer to their favorite local, interstate and international bands and DJs - Enigma Bar has been a special place to many.

From its inception, the ethos of Enigma Bar was simple — we welcomed everyone, regardless of appearance, style, or music preference. Our primary concern has been creating an environment where people from all kinds of backgrounds could come together, feel safe, and enjoy great music.

This Friday (17th of November), we invite you to join us for one last hoorah as we raise our glasses for our final evening at Enigma Bar. We will be open from 8:00 pm until the last drop is poured. Whether you can stay for a while or just pop in to say hello, your presence would mean a lot. Let's come together to celebrate the memories and connections forged at Enigma Bar over the years.

Thank you to each and every one of you for being a part of this incredible journey. Enigma Bar wouldn't have been what it has been without the support of our amazing community.

Best regards, 1999-2023

Eric Ott

Enigma Bar