Warren Mead has sold North Fremantle’s The Oyster Bar on The Beach to publicans Craig Hutchison and Patrick Prendiville, and his former general manager Anthony Posniak.
Mr Posniak told Gusto that the business would continue to trade as usual, with no name or licence change on the agenda.
“There will be a few little changes but nothing big, just subtle changes to the look and feel,” Mr Posniak says.
Mr Hutchison and Mr Prendiville own The Leederville Hotel, The Claremont pub and Club Bayview nightclub.
Despite the pair’s leaning toward drinking establishments, Mr Posniak says he and his fellow directors are not substantially changing the direction of The Oyster Bar on the Beach, which operates under a restaurant licence.
“There will be a huge emphasis on food,” Mr Posniak says. “We’re not interested in doing a tavern.”
Empire Beer Group Ltd had been negotiating to buy The Oyster Bar on the Beach but abandoned talks earlier this year.
The group has instead gone on to buy The Royal Bar and Brasserie in East Perth, which helped the company become cash-flow positive during the September quarter.
Empire managing director Phil Gallagher says the group is continuing to investigate potential sites to build its second Colonial Brewing Pub, as well as opportunities to own and operate other pub venues.
Meanwhile, Little Creatures is yet to secure the services of a chief executive officer following the departure of Jason Marinko. The business is currently being operated by Howard Cearns and Nic Trimboli, who were two of the original founders of the business. Mr Cearns said the company was continuing to interview candidates but did not expect to make an appointment until the new year.
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Property developer Peet Ltd is in the process of securing a pub operator to develop a tavern and restaurant on a council-approved site in Carramar in Perth’s northern suburbs. Peet has called for expressions of interest for the 4,012 square metre site, which had development approval for use as a tavern, restaurant and drive-through bottle shop.
