From Guinness Pie to Headline Acts: The Pig & Whistle – Main Ridge’s Most Unique Live Music Venue
- The Daily Mirror Rppfm 98.7
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
CHAT SESSION 146 with James and Heidi
Topic- The Pig & Whistle: A Pub, A Stage, A Peninsula Icon
Monday 16th March 2026 1pm https://rppfm.com.au
The Pub Amongst the Wineries: Where Guinness Pie Meets Great Gigs
Tucked into 30 acres of rolling hills in Main Ridge, high above Port Phillip Bay, sits a place that defies the polished cellar-door culture of the Mornington Peninsula. Known locally as “The Pub Amongst the Wineries,” The Pig & Whistle is something of a glorious outlier—equal parts English countryside tavern, Australian bush retreat, and world-class live music venue.
It’s the only pub in the hinterland. And that’s just the beginning.
A Pub With a View (and a Personality)
Arriving at The Pig & Whistle feels like stumbling upon a well-kept secret. The driveway opens to sweeping views across the bay, rose gardens in full bloom, and the kind of sunsets that stop conversations mid-sentence. Kangaroos graze lazily in the paddocks. Kookaburras claim the fence posts. Kids weave between tables in the beer garden, disappearing into the playground or exploring the property’s “natural corners.”
The pub itself is eclectic, retro and proudly rustic— “arty-farty” in the best possible way. British memorabilia fill the walls. Timber beams meet corrugated iron. There’s no attempt at sleek minimalism here. Instead, there’s warmth. Character. Stories embedded in every surface.
And then there’s the food.
This is where British comfort meets Australian pub culture. The Chicken Parma is a staple. The English Ploughman Boards are built for long afternoons with friends. The Guinness Pie is the stuff of local legend. Pair it with a British ale or a local craft beer and you begin to understand why this place has become such a community anchor.
But the true magic lies just beyond the main bar.
The Shed That Became a Stage
Next door to the pub stands what was once an old machinery shed. Today, it’s The Shed Theatre—a 130-capacity venue that has quietly become one of the most sought-after stops on the Australian touring circuit.
Lined with corrugated iron, red velvet curtains and warm timber, the space feels intimate and electric all at once. Large wooden doors—painstakingly hand-sanded and painted by venue booker Heidi Luckhurst herself—frame the entrance like a portal into something special.
The theatre launched in early 2021, only to face the uncertainty of lockdowns. But resilience is woven into the fabric of this place. By mid-2022, The Shed began to flourish. Word spread quickly through the music industry: there was something happening in Main Ridge.
Today, there’s a six-month waiting list for artists wanting to play.
Tex Perkins, Katie Noonan, Brian Cadd and Ross Wilson have all graced the stage. Upcoming shows feature Ben Lee, Christine Anu, Meg Washington and Tim Freedman. For a venue nestled amongst wineries and farmland, the calibre is extraordinary.
As one regular put it: “It’s the only place you can get a proper Guinness Pie and then walk next door to see Tex Perkins in a converted machinery shed.”
The Visionaries Behind the Curtain
The Pig & Whistle and The Shed Theatre aren’t accidental successes. They’re the result of two passionate individuals who blend high-level entertainment experience with grassroots hospitality.
James McPherson, Director and Owner, took over the venue in 2017 with a bold idea: combine arts and hospitality in a way that feels authentic, not contrived. He’s not your typical publican. James founded McPherson Promotions in 1990 and has promoted some of Australia’s biggest stage productions—Sunset Boulevard, Disney on Ice, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival—and tours for icons like Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and David Helfgott.
Owen Thomas Photo By OceanFry Pictures
He previously owned The Three Palms in Sorrento, famously erecting a Spiegeltent to run cabaret seasons, and continues to produce biographical concert works through Poorhouse Productions. Big vision thinking meets small-town soul.
Then there’s Heidi Luckhurst—also known as Hazel—Head of Arts & Entertainment and one of the few full-time arts coordinators employed by a venue of this size. She programs, coordinates and markets the shows, but her role goes far beyond logistics.
With 20 years in the music industry, including serving as President of the Mornington Peninsula Music Network, Heidi understands both sides of the stage. As frontwoman of Hazel & The Thief, she’s a chart-topping alt-country artist herself, with a No.1 ARIA Country Album and national touring experience.
Hazel & The Thief Photo by Southy Photography
She helped build The Shed from the ground up—literally. From sanding stage doors to designing marketing campaigns, her fingerprints are everywhere. Artists trust her. Audiences feel the care.
Together, James and Heidi have created something rare: a venue run by people who deeply understand both entertainment and community.
More Than a Stage
Adjacent to the theatre sits The Cellar Bar, formerly a milking shed. With its eclectic timbers, fireplace and quirky bar setup, it’s the perfect pre-show gathering spot. Laughter spills from the space before the house lights dim next door.
Upstairs, farmhouse accommodation doubles as a green room for touring artists, allowing them to stay on-site after shows. It’s not unusual for performers to wander back into the pub the next morning for breakfast, chatting with locals as though they’ve always belonged.
This seamless blending of artist and audience is part of the charm. Nothing feels removed or inaccessible.
A True Community Hub
The Pig & Whistle isn’t just about ticketed shows. It’s woven into the cultural fabric of the Peninsula.
It hosts major regional events including The Great Aussie Hike, International Women’s Day Festival and Vinehop Festival. It’s home to the delightfully named “Pigs in Lipstick.” It’s been the setting for powerful community gatherings like Red Rodriguez’s Celebration of Life—a massive memorial event featuring iconic Melbourne bands.
The philosophy is simple: total team effort, no judgments, all walks of life welcome.
Functions Manager Ali Cadden and Restaurant Floor Manager Emily Cooper help bring that vision to life daily, ensuring that whether you’re attending a headline show or a family lunch, you feel part of something.
Rustic, Real and Remarkable
The Pig & Whistle doesn’t pretend to be perfect. In fact, its imperfections are its superpower.
“It’s not perfect, it’s rustic, but that’s the charm,” says one local. “It’s a place where you can watch the sunset over the bay while the kids play and then catch a headline show.”
In a region known for its cellar doors and curated experiences, The Pig & Whistle offers something refreshingly unpolished and deeply human. It’s where hospitality meets artistry. Where Guinness Pie meets Meg Washington. Where kangaroos graze outside while red curtains rise inside.
And in a converted machinery shed in Main Ridge, world-class entertainment continues to unfold—one sold-out show at a time.
Come early for a meal, stay for the show, or make a night of it.
Book a table, book a ticket — or both.
365 Purves Rd, Main Ridge, Mornington Peninsula.
Follow along for upcoming shows and events
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