A feel of Flanders

Tuesday, 12 March, 2002 - 21:00
WORD on the street is that the Carlton United Breweries takeover of the City Hotel will eventuate in a Belgian pub experience for Perth punters.

The deal, as sweet as Belgian truffles for the Australian Leisure and Hospitality group (CUB’s hospitality acquisition arm), is rumoured to have gained the Murray Street hotel for $1.2 million. Judy McEvoy, who purchased the pub about two decades ago, has spent roughly $900,000 on renovations.

ALH has achieved success with its recently-opened Belgium Beer Cafe in Adelaide.

The pub-style cafe serves four draught beers on tap and 19 fully-imported bottled beers. Apparently it’s all about the beer and food with only a few CUB beer products on the wide-ranging list.

Central to the Belgian-style food are the mussels, which are served in traditional Belgian pots and retail at $16.50. Authentic Belgian dishes such as waterzooi, beef stew and of course Belgian waffles and Belgium truffle mousse, feature on the menu.

The café has been open just six weeks.