Hillarys Beach Club restaurant in progress

Experienced northern suburbs hospitality operators have banded together to offer a new seaside venue which has been a project 10 years in the making.

Hillarys Beach Club is a project between The Iluka’s Ryan and Nikki Esqulant, and Tim and Claire Leech from White Salt Bar and Restaurant in Sorrento.

The team plans to build the proposed two-storey restaurant and tavern on John Wilkie Tarn at Pinneroo Point, Hillarys.

The proposed premises, designed by Hospitality Total Services, include a bar, lounge dining, café for casual dining, kiosk for takeaway items and function spaces.

The Western Australian Planning Commission approved the proposal in December and the applicants are now waiting for a liquor licence approval.

According to the liquor licence application lodged with the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Mr Esqulant’s family has operated The Golden Heart Hotel in London since 1978.

He moved to Western Australian in 2011 and owned the Muffin Break store at Whitfords before becoming a partner in The Iluka Bar + Kitchen.

Mr and Mrs Leech have operated White Salt Bar Cafe and Restaurant since 2005.

"The Iluka Bar + Kitchen is the latest venture that Mr and Mrs Esqulant have been involved in, and has proven to be both challenging and rewarding to open a new hospitality business with the COVID-19 pandemic impacts still being felt," the application said.

"Tim and Claire Leech are also experienced licensees and hospitality venue operators in the locality, and will be supporting Ryan and Nikki in a less hands-on role."

The City of Joondalup had estimated the net present value of the project at $2 million, according to minutes from the May council meeting.

According to the application, a café project at Pinneroo Point had been an ongoing matter for about a decade.

"The new amenity to be developed at Pinnaroo Point has been many years in the making, with the applicant commencing their expression of interest process in 2013," it said.

"At that time, the development was proposed to be in a different location, however after careful consideration, the WAPC and the City of Joondalup concluded that the Pinnaroo Point location was the most in need of amenity.

"The convenience of this proposed new amenity for residents and those resorting to the locality will increase, with the added amenity and will cater to the requirements of consumers in the locality for a diverse range of contemporary amenity."

Hillarys Beach Club is expected to accommodate 500 patrons.

According to the application, the city had committed to upgrade the carpark at Pinneroo Point from 86 to 136 bays.