Summer launch for $12m Claremont Hotel

The Claremont Hotel is set to open in early January after nearly three years of closure, with the $12 million refurbished bar becoming Australian Venue Co's largest Western Australian asset.

The pub on Bay View Terrace has been closed since April 2020 and was snapped up by Melbourne-based Australian Venue Co (AVC) during its closure.

AVC has confirmed the new Claremont Hotel will open its doors in January, with the refurbished two-storey venue having a capacity of 1,600 people.

The refurbishment offers multiple dining spaces at the pub, including a rooftop dining terrace, a bistro, a heritage sports bar, a Bay lounge, function rooms and balconies.

"This is the biggest project that we’ve done here in Western Australia, but I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of other projects to come," AVC WA manager Joe Baily said.

"We’re not stopping, we’re going to continue to grow. We’re really looking for great iconic venues we can enhance and potentially some old pubs like this that we can restore as well."

Joe Baily says The Claremont is AVC's biggest project in the state. Photo: David Henry

The redevelopment covers more than 2,300 square metres of combined hotel area, which AVC claims is almost twice the size of the original pub.

Plans to renovate The Claremont Hotel have been in the works since early 2018 with property owner Gretna Nominees, of which Barry Jones is a director, and architecture firm Fratelle spearheading the project.

Works costing up to $6 million were expected to be done within 18 months but approved renovation plans had to be put on hold during the first COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020.

The bottle shop fronting Gugeri Street has been removed, but Mr Baily said some features have been kept, including the staircase leading up to the verandah and tiles laid by the original owners.

AVC chief executive Paul Waterson said the Claremont project was a long time coming since the company's acquisition of the business during that first lockdown in Perth.

“Given the sheer size and scale of the operation we have tried to cater for a variety of experiences, but ultimately we want The Claremont to feel approachable," he said.

"There is a genuine camaraderie in the Perth hospitality scene, and the locals around Claremont have to be one of the most enthusiastic and engaged communities we’ve ever served."

The refurbished pub will be a two-storey venue. Photo: David Henry

In June, AVC acquired seven properties from ARK Group, including Durty Nelly’s, Market Grounds, The Generous Squire, The Bassendean Hotel, Scarborough Beach Bar, Galway Girl and The Peach Pit.

AVC also made a deal with Colonial Leisure Group to swap The Raffles Hotel and The Royal for Melbourne-based pubs The Vincent and O’Connell’s.

The two deals left Print Hall as Colonial Leisure Group's only remaining Perth venue and ARK Group with only one asset, The Paddington.

AVC acquired two more venues south of Perth in September, being the Peninsula in Mandurah and Cobblers Tavern in Falcon, bringing the number of WA properties in its portfolio to 21.