Richard Deery

President, Queensland Hotels Association (QHA)

Not many publicans can say they grew up in their venue, but Richard Deery can, having lived upstairs at the iconic Story Bridge Hotel until he was nine years old.

Richard has seen many historic changes since he first lived upstairs at the Story Bridge Hotel as a child. An old WWII bomb shelter was converted into a bottle shop behind the hotel in 1980; he introduced a lively music scene; the venue was the first pub to have Coopers on tap; Richard established the popular ‘National Festival of Beers’ and crowds traditionally flock to the landmark hotel each time there’s a home game at ‘the Gabba’.

The Story Bridge Hotel is now one of the last family-owned and operated hotels in Brisbane – the Deery Family’s very proud point of difference.

Born in Texas, Queensland, Richard is a fifth-generation publican who also serves as the President of the Queensland Hotels Association (QHA).