ANNE-MARIE Banting has withdrawn from the six-member Must Winebar partnership just 16 months after launching what she called her “dream hospitality business” in Highgate.
Ms Banting’s move leaves Garry Gosatti, Russell Blaikie, Grant Mason, Stefan Gosatti, and Tony Van Merwyk as the directors of Must Winebar.
Currently consulting to Nedlands Park Hotel, Ms Banting cited a partnership disagreement as the reason for her departure from Must but did not want to comment further due to legal reasons.
In some ways Ms Banting’s journey has taken her full circle, because it was the Nedlands Park Hotel where she got her first break in hospitality.
“I was 18 and I was at teachers college and I said to Mrs McHenry [then the hotel owner] that I wanted to work there [Nedlands Park Hotel] for a day,” Ms Banting said.
“I said that, if I was good, she could give me a job.”
Ms Banting got the job and has never looked back, having worked at Matilda Bay Brewery, Jackson’s Restaurant and becoming a part owner of Globe Cafe in Mt Lawley. And that’s not to mention years of working abroad.
Her new work at Nedlands Park Hotel is the third stint in a long-standing and award winning career as a sommelier.
“This is my third time here [Nedlands Park Hotel] so yes, I’ve come home. And what a gorgeous home,” Ms Banting said. “I am out on the balcony looking over the river and it is just magnificent.”
The Nedlands Park Hotel, affectionately known as Steve’s, also incorporates Stephanie’s Restaurant and will receive a multi-million dollar facelift after a recent Nedlands City Council approval to develop 60 residential apartments on the site.
“It will be a massive renovation,” Ms Banting said.
“The hotel will be restored to its original appearance.”
And never shy to plug the sponsors, Ms Banting was keen to point out an upcoming ‘Welcome Back to Steve’s’ event taking place on May 2.
“We are inviting people upstairs for champagne and oysters,” she said.
“It will be a DJ night for those people over 28 so they can have a drink and remember the good times at Steve’s.”
