The Claremont Hotel
The Claremont Hotel
The Claremont Hotel
What’s your story from the Claremont Hotel? Most people have one.
The 120-year-old hotel, on Bay View Terrace in Claremont, is one of the oldest in Perth and over the decades has been called The Redrock, The Continental, McManus’s Hotel and Fink’s Hotel. After closing its doors in 2020, it was snapped up by Australian Venue Co in 2022, who executed a 12-million-dollar refurbishment.
With the Claremont now back open, a new generation can create memories as the older reminisce on youthful pub nights (that often ended with a visit to Hungry Jack’s around the corner).
The former sticky floors and dodgy toilets have been replaced with a modern and spacious design that still retains the soul and character of the original.
“Every old building has a story and memory,” says Kylee Schoonens from design firm Fratelle, who led the restoration.
“We were conscious that we celebrated those stories through retained features in the hotel so it feels familiar. For example, inside the front bar there’s the original ceiling, the timber staircase, and the exposed brick face walls of the heritage hotel,” Schoonens tells Broadsheet.
The original venue opened in 1886 and was rebuilt in 1902 – today, the space is nearly twice the size at more than 23,000 square metres. There are now three bars, plus function rooms, indoor and outdoor bistro areas, a kids’ play area, a rooftop terrace, and a heritage sports bar and lounge area.
Head chef Nick Trezise’s (ex-Intercontinental, State Buildings and Print Hall), menu is driven by local produce, and focuses on unpretentious classics. One menu for the whole venue keeps things uncomplicated, except for the dining room, which exclusively serves variations on seafood plates and cuts of meat served tableside with condiments.
“We’ve got the classics; the steak, chicken parmi, fish and chips, and chicken schnitty. They’re all executed differently and heroing local products,” Trezise says.
He labels the Claremont caviar as the venue’s “classic flagship” dish, featuring hand-packed caviar tins, scallop potatoes, saltbush, and cultured cream served in shaved ice.
Keeping things local, Perth producer Festival Fish provides blue spot emperor from Shark Bay; fresh curd cheese comes from La Delizia Latteria; the Stirling Range beef is from Ryan’s Quality Meats; and Ethos Deli in East Fremantle provide the charcuterie.
The focus on West Australian producers continues onto the wine list, with drops from Cullen Wines, Leeuwin Estate, Brave New Wine and Dormilona. Classic cocktails and tap beers are also on offer.
The Claremont Hotel:
1 Bay View Terrace, Claremont
(08) 9460 9920
Hours: Sun – Wed 11am – 11pm
Thurs – Sat 11am – 1am
theclaremont.com.au
@theclaremont
19 Jul 2023
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12 Jul 2023