PROMINENT Perth restaurateur Chris Taylor has been given the go ahead to develop a restaurant and function centre at Canning House, located at Point Heathcote.
PROMINENT Perth restaurateur Chris Taylor has been given the go ahead to develop a restaurant and function centre at Canning House, located at Point Heathcote.
The decision, by the City of Melville and Heritage Council, follows two years of negotiations and a tender process involving several applicants. The City of Melville put out a tender for a restaurant more than two years ago and awarded notable Perth restaurateur Umberto Tinelli a contract in June 2001.
But restrictions to building modifications prompted Mr Tinelli to search for another Applecross location (he has since opened Rigoletto in Sleat Street), but left the spot open for Mr Taylor, who was second in line.
Mr Taylor said he was not granted approval for many of his modification requests, while compromises were made with regard to others. Modifications approved include that to a small portion of the verandah, allowing it to be more functional.
“It is a compromise but I am more than happy. It is a great location,” Mr Taylor said.
The complex will consist of a restaurant, private dining room, function room and kiosk.
The restaurant will be called Bluewater Grill and is aimed at the local business community.
“It is pitched at the local market. It will have good seafood dishes and it will be a bit more relaxed than Fraser’s,” Mr Taylor said.
“The market is low $20s for main courses. It will be the old style serious grill, a brasserie-type place. There will be very much a wine theme.”
Building approval was signed on March 21 and the restaurant fit-out started this week. Upon completion (expected in about 10 weeks) it will seat 60 people inside and 110 on the terrace.
“The restaurant is in the central part of the building that looks up to King’s Park. There will be a private dining room that seats 20 people,” Mr Taylor told WA Business News.
“It is pitched at the local business community. I believe that it is untapped out there and it [the city] is only eight minutes from here.
“The kiosk will front the playground area.
“It will have a kiosk, obviously because of the location of the playground. That is a real fish and chips operation. We will serve pizza, chips, ice creams and that sort of thing.”
The function room seats up to 120 people, more than enough to tap in to the wedding market, Mr Taylor said.
“It is a bit of work [the entire re-fit]. It is a big commitment from us,’ he said.
“We are in the process of fitting it out. It will have two kitchens, one for the restaurant and one for the function area.
“We are looking for floor staff at the moment.”
The new establishment will create good synergies with Fraser’s Restaurant and its function bookings, Mr Taylor said.