Liquor changes spark small bar starts

A Queen Street venue has secured the first small bar liquor licence from the City of Perth, one of many developments taking place across the metropolitan area as hospitality operators look to develop new venues following the shake-up of the state’s liquor laws.

Called 1907 Bar, the venue is located in the basement of a 100-year-old building located on Queen Street.

It will be located underneath a new fine dining restaurant, which also bears the 1907 name, and is expected to open in the coming weeks.

The licence was granted to Australian Corporate Events, which operates a sports management agency out of the Queen Street building that will house the 1907 restaurant on level one and a cocktail bar in the basement.

South-African chef Graeme Shapiro was employed by Australian Corporate Events to manage and operate the restaurant and bar development.

While Mr Shapiro did not return calls made by WA Business News this week, in June he revealed plans to open a late night cocktail bar in the basement.

Its entrance would come off an alleyway that runs alongside the building.

The 1907 Bar development comes as discussions take place between the owners of West Perth’s Onyx Bar and Oyster Bar owner Warren Mead for the lease of the yet-to-be developed restaurant site on the ground floor of Exchange Plaza, located off St Georges Terrace.

The talks are likely to result in the development of a new restaurant and bar at the Australian Stock Exchange’s WA headquarters by March next year.

Mr Mead secured a liquor licence for the site nearly three years ago and was expected to develop and open an Oyster Bar restaurant as part of an expansion of his hospitality business, which includes venues in South Perth, West Perth, North Fremantle and Mosman Bay.

WA Business News understands that the directors of SAR Group Pty Ltd, which operates the Onyx Bar, are negotiating to have the lease assigned to them.

It is understood those discussions are well advanced but require government approvals before the transaction can proceed.

WA Business News understands that the deal is expected to be signed within four weeks, with the restaurant and bar planned to open in March next year.

Onyx operations manager Geoffrey Selfe declined to comment on SAR Group’s plans.

Exchange Plaza general manager John Bennett confirmed that discussions to assign the lease to SAR Group Pty Ltd were taking place.

Several other operators are also developing new concepts for the city.

Detailed planning is under way for a late-night lounge bar in Highgate, while the owners of Pure Café on Hay Street in Subiaco have applied for a small bar licence.

The operators of Xwray Café in Fremantle have applied for a permit to serve liquor without also needing to serve a meal.

WA Business News understands Pure Café and Xwray Café are yet to secure council approval for the ventures.

The activity in the sector comes after a major overhaul of the state’s liquor laws, which were aimed at making it easier for operators to open intimate venues.

And while the new system was expected to reduce legal costs for operators, many are still employing the services of lawyers.

The operators of 1907 employed Lavan Legal to put together their application while another operator, who declined to be named, is also using lawyers for his small bar application.

“You can compile the application yourself but you would have slim chance of getting it,” he said.

He estimates that by the time his application is processed he would have spent about $70,000.