Perth’s dining and drinking scene didn’t just wake up after pandemic-related restrictions were lifted — it leapt out of bed, put on its big boy pants and got super busy.
While 2022 saw plenty of huge hospitality openings, ranging from old-school pub refurbishments in Victoria Park and Bassendean to high-end eateries in retail hubs (looking at you, Dandelion in Karrinyup Shopping Centre), this year is set to go into overdrive.
Claremont, opening mid-January
Call it Claremont 2.0. A fresh start. A giant awakens.
The western suburb has been in a deep slumber since the days when hard-drinking university students would kick off at the Claremont Hotel before kicking on at Club Bay View. The Claremont serial killings changed all that.
While the Federation Filigree-style pub built in 1902 on the corner of Bay View Terrace and Gugeri Street managed to limp into a new century, the pandemic was the final nail and the Claremont Hotel closed in April 2020.
The country’s second-biggest pub operator, Australian Venue Company, bought the Claremont in 2022 before embarking on a breathtaking rebuild rumoured to have cost well north of $12 million.
The Claremont Hotel 2.0 is virtually unrecognisable, yet remains at its core, to quote AVC’s WA boss Joe Baily, “a proper, approachable pub for everyone”.
And he means EVERYONE. Taking over the old drive-through bottle shop and adjacent Bellissimo restaurant, the footprint of the pub has more than doubled and now has capacity for 1600 people.
There’s a dining room, courtyard, kids play area, stunning rooftop terrace, function rooms, lounges and a wrap-around veranda upstairs.
The bar upstairs has been demolished and replaced. One of the few remaining aspects is the original staircase, plus some wall tiles believed to be made by the first publican.
A massive stairway under an atrium welcomes punters with an entry statement that simply says: WOW!
Project manager Katie Rakich, who steered the rebuild with Fratelle lead architect Kylee Schoonens, said AVC aimed to “capture the heritage qualities of the building (while) introducing a lot of light, as well as moodiness” via dark timber fittings and furnishings.
There’s also two kitchens, in which executive chef Nick Trezise (whose resume includes the InterContinental Hotel Group and Print Hall) plans to plate up “unpretentious” pub favourites, such as WA seafood platters, schnitzels and parmis.
“Give the people what they want,” he reckons. “We’re a pub at the end of the day.”
But what a pub. Welcome back.
High Wycombe and Burswood, opening February and June
In arguably the most ambitious beer-related punt since Swan Brewery owner Alan Bond helped win the America’s Cup, Blasta Brewing Co. boss Steve Russell plans to open not one, but two new venues in 2023.
First, Blasta’s state-of-the-art production facility should begin operation in February on Abernethy Road, High Wycombe, only two minutes drive from Perth Airport.
While the brewery’s “future capacity” of 15 million litres per year will make it WA’s second biggest, the headquarters boasts a 200-person capacity taproom called The Blasta Departure Lounge with glass walls to watch not only beer being made but also planes taking off and landing. The venue will offer complimentary transport to the airport.
Then in June, the Blasta Collective should open at 98-106 Goodwood Parade in Burswood, replacing the current brewpub nearby.
More hospitality precinct than pub, the 3400sqm venue across two buildings will feature a beer hall, al fresco area with kids zone and function spaces in one structure, and a bigger gastropub, coffee shop, patisserie, bottle shop, distillery, merch store and florist in the other. Hang on, a florist in a brewery?
Unicorn Alley, named after Blasta’s logo referencing Russell’s Scottish heritage, links the two buildings, which have an impressive overall capacity for 1400 people. Let’s hope Blasta’s dream venues don’t turn out to be mythical beasts.
Dunsborough, opening in March
Eat, drink and sleep at this unique “destination village” coming to Dunsborough in March.
In addition to a “sandy feet and board shorts” friendly brewhouse, beer garden and cafe serving lunch and dinner daily, Southcamp has 18 cosy cabins running along Dugalup Brook and two short-stay apartments with communal bikes and surfboards for guests.
Grab a beer brewed onsite and venture into the expansive beer garden, which will boast a kids play area and stage for regular entertainment.
If all that wasn’t enough, former Mary Street Bakery co-owner Michael Forde will operate a gourmet grocer adjacent to the unique venue located a short stroll from the beach.
City, opening late 2023
Yagan Square gets a second life, with the team behind wildly successful hospitality precincts The Old Synagogue and The Beaufort transforming the city space into Stories.
The market hall makes way for a taphouse and bar with a glass keg room, allowing drinkers to see the inner workings of potentially the CBD’s largest venue.
While Yagan’s food and beverage options were hidden in the market hall, Stories will also boast an outdoor beer and wine garden with a kids playground and TV for major sporting events.
A mezzanine-level, 150-seat restaurant will overlook the garden, while a second sit-down dining option will take over the space previously occupied by Ficus Kitchen and Bar.
If that wasn’t enough, a two-storey tavern with multiple balconies is planned for the top of the existing structure. This venue within the venue will have a retractable roof and bi-fold doors as part of the redevelopment’s clear mission to turn the old building inside out and, hopefully, its fortunes around.
Busselton, opening in spring
After successfully negotiating the pandemic with The Standard, The Royal and Dandelion, John Parker sets sail for the South West, specifically, the Busselton Tavern: a new-age, 600-capacity pub in the heart of a town already going gangbusters with Shelter Brewing, Rocky Ridge and Alberta’s.
Parker reckons the Busso Tav will stand out due to the fact it will be home to “lots of personalities” with a craft beer bar, garden, restaurant and private dining rooms, separate in-house distillery producing gin and vodka, and a wine store and bar with a strong focus on top local drops.
Construction has begun, with the interior fit-out planned for April.
Newcastle Street, Leederville
The popular record store and cafe will take a spin in the main retail space of the new Foundry development on Newcastle Street in Leederville. Hoping to trade seven days and three nights a week from late March, owner Dylan Sainsbury promises WA craft beer on tap, casual mod-Aussie dining and live entertainment, plus those sonic platters that matter.
Jandakot Airport
The owners of the award-winning King Road Brewing Co. in Oldbury plan to build another brewery, this time with a view of planes taking off and landing at Jandakot Airport.
Head brewer Steve Wearing will lead the team making high-quality beer and cider at the family-friendly venue.
Read the full list of venues set to open at The West Australian
Register and have your say.
Already have an account?