Perth’s iconic Print Hall restaurant has officially opened a brand new wine bar, with owner and director David Heaton calling it an intimate “one-stop-shop” for city night-goers.
The wine bar, named Small Print, resides underneath the popular venue in the heart of Perth’s CBD, paying homage to its heritage-listed history, the old Newspaper House on St Georges Terrace.
With a focus on speciality wines, cheese varieties and charcuterie, Small Print is a dramatic shift from its upstairs counterpart.
“We wanted to provide a more intimate, quieter, sit-down experience as opposed to upstairs,” said Mr Heaton, who has been planning the extension since February.
“The wines are an eclectic mix, ranging from $13 a glass to $65 a bottle, and are imported from different vineyards in Australia, Italy, Marlborough and many more.”
The 52-year-old, who has been running Print Hall since its inception, has invited chef and graduate from the Italian School of Cuisine Marco Mencaroni to help cultivate the bar’s atmosphere, bringing a “true passion” to the role.
“Marco loves talking to everyone. A big part of the bar is talking with Marco and trusting him in pairing you with the perfect wine,” Mr Heaton said.
The wine menu is rotated daily, which Mr Heaton hopes will bring a “surprise and delight” element to the bar.
“By creating a specialised menu that is constantly rotating, we hope it will give people a bit of a surprise whenever they go in,” he said.
With the heritage building now offering two different dining experiences under the same roof, Mr Heaton hopes the bar will act as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for Perth’s nightlifers.
“Instead of travelling around the city all night trying to find a separate bar and restaurant in the cold, now people can encapsulate their whole night out in one go,” he said.
“They can start off at the intimate downstairs wine lounge with a quieter, sit-down vibe, and continue the night to Print Hall, just up the stairs, with DJs and a more upbeat atmosphere.”
In response to WA’s current hospitality climate — with cost-of-living increases leaving more people opting to dine-indoors — Mr Heaton hopes Small Print’s unique dining experience will encourage people to get out and try something new
“Our biggest competition has always been the couch, so we wanted to create a place that people can’t replicate at home.
“We have assembled a fantastic team, including an executive chef, to create an experience worth going out.
“Since opening last Tuesday, we’ve already had a couple that has visited every day, which is great to see.”
The bar is open Tuesdays to Saturdays until late.
Register and have your say.
Already have an account?