A Perth wine lovers institution – featuring a wine list that runs around 500 bottles deep – in a large British-style Gastro Pub, with a relaxed atmosphere, located in the white-collar heart of West Perth.
They have brought energy into the district, which is especially busy during lunch and for after-work drinks. To be successful, the venue required an overhaul when the Pollitts took over in 2016. “We kept some redeeming features – chandeliers and a pressed tin roof – and ditched the rest for booths and banquette seating,” explains Chris. Preferring clean wood lines and gleaming white tiles to amplify the brightness of the space, it’s now the type of tavern-style bar and dining room that is familiar throughout the UK, but presents a fresh type of versatile wine tasting space for Perth audiences.
“My wine choices steer towards obtaining balance,” explains Foni, who was awarded Sommelier of the Year at the 20128 WA Good Food Guide Awards. “If it tastes good, then I research the producer’s sustainable practices. Not all producers can afford certification, so I closely check their practices.
“For a pub audience, we have to cater for all tastes, so we list an eclectic mix of old school favourites, the new wave and my weird and wonderful discoveries. My main aim is to celebrate the best Western Australian wines, then I fan out to include Australia, NZ, Europe and then the Americas. Our list is focused on presenting a sense of place in the wines – and in particular, places with volcanic soils.”
It results in an expansive wine list – 489 wines, with dedicated chapters for each country of porigin, and 73 available by the glass (with the Coravin serving system also enabling access to more exclusive wines by the glass) – and because of such detail, the pub has won Wine List awards.
Food is also an important part of the equation. Through separate lunch offerings and a more extravagant dinner menu, chef Joe Rutherford focuses on a serious steak program, led by chateaubriand and tomahawk cuts, sourced locally from Stirling Ranges Beef by Butterfield. There’s also a nod to classic British pub fare such as bangers ‘n’ mash.
“We provide the customer with options,” says Foni. “They can choose their dining experience – whether it’s more of a casual style at the bar or table service, just as they can chose their drinks, all the way through to the most exclusive wines.”
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