The Claremont Hotel is a bar, music venue and fine dining pub located in Claremont, Western Australia and around 9 km away from Perth CBD. It was also titled Perth’s best venue for 2023 at the AHA (Australian Hotel Association) awards after its renovation worthing $12 million AUD in 2023.[1][2] It is also one of the most expensive pubs in Western Australia.[3][4]

The Claremont Hotel
The Claremont
The Claremont Hotel in 2012.
Former namesMcManus' Hotel, Fink's Hotel, The Continental Hotel, Redrock Hotel
Address1 Bay View Terrace, Claremont WA 6010
Perth
Australia
Public transitClaremont station
ParkingParallel parking
OwnerAndy Freeman, Tim Mclernon and John Parker
TypeBar, music venue, dinning, rooftop entertainment
Seating typeFine dining
Capacity1,600
Current useTrading
Construction
Built1884; 140 years ago (1884)
Opened1886; 138 years ago (1886)
Renovated1902, 1985, 2013, 2023
Years active1884 – present
Construction cost$12 million
Website
https://theclaremont.com.au/

Description

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The venue features a bistro, bar and courtyard for indoor and outdoor dining, function spaces and a rooftop bar and a newly added 'beer garden'.[5] And with just a few steps away to the Claremont Quarter shopping center.[6]

The two dining areas delivered an “unpretentious, produce-led pub menu” supporting local farmers, while highlighting seafood, reflecting its close proximity to the Indian Ocean and Swan River. The pub hired two professional award-winning chef Telina Menzies and head chef of Claremont Nick Trezise.[7][8]

History and operations

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The hotel first opened on the site in 1886, but it was demolished and in 1902 due to unknown circumstances and the current structure was built in the Filigree style. It has seen a myriad of changes, to become an institution of Perth's Western Suburbs.[9]

In early years, the hotel took the name of its licensees and in the 1920s was known as McManus' Hotel and Fink's Hotel. In recent years, it has traded as the Continental Hotel and Redrock Hotel. Before a major renovation in 1985 by the then licensee Tony Heyns. The hotel was a former tavern where you could buy a pie. But when that work finished, it secured what turned out to be an enduring niche as a meeting place and several generations of pub-goers have spilled from the hotel at closing time to make the short trek to Club Bayview which is less than a minute walk.[10]

As the COVID-19 outbreak struck, the hotel was temporarily closed in April 2020. It remained dormant until acquired by Australian Venue Company (AVC) in 2022, as part of the group's concerted push into Western Australia.[11] It has now been reimagined, AVC predicts will be a “hospitality hub set to redefine Claremont’s leisure life”.[12] It was later classified as a family-friendly pub allowing access for underaged children to dine in the dining section of the pub.[13]

Renovation

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The two-level pub has been expanded – the floorspace more than doubled, with a capacity for 1,600 people, it has been restored so as to retain the fabric of the heritage building, and it has been modernised and reimagined, via contemporary architecture and significant backing. AVC's design brief was simply to “create a landmark pub for locals featuring a bistro, bar and courtyard for indoor and outdoor dining, function spaces and a rooftop bar”. The designers kept its historic elegance and period detail, but in a radically re-designed space adorned in subtle finishes of terrazzo, timber, waxed plaster and extensive greenery of nature.[14] The designers revived the pub's original balconies encase sports bars, lounges, a bistro and function spaces, and a rooftop terrace offers open-air dining.[15][16][17][18]

Relation to Claremont killings

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The hotel is also closely related to the Claremont serial killings, with the murder of two young women named Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glenon and the disappearance of a third women named Sarah Spiers in 1996 and 1997 after they had been patrons either at the hotel and Club Bayview.[19][20]

References

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  1. ^ "Claremont Hotel: Named Perth's best venue for 2023 at AHA awards after $12 million makeover". www.perthnow.com.au. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Swan Gold Pub of the Week: The Claremont Hotel". www.6pr.com.au. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Golden triangle icon receives a fancy facelift". www.watoday.com.au. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Plenty to cheers with The Claremont Hotel set to finally reopen in January". www.perthnow.com.au. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  5. ^ "First look at the artist's impression for the Claremont Hotel's proposed alfresco beer garden". www.perthnow.com.au. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  6. ^ "The Claremont Hotel: Iconic western suburbs pub finally ready to reopen after $12 million makeover". www.perthnow.com.au. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Guest Chef: The Claremont's head chef Nick Trezise shares his mouth-watering Bush Chook Roll". thewest.com.au. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  8. ^ "The Claremont Hotel restaurant review: No need for alarm as posh pub dishes up top tucker with a WA tweak". thewest.com.au. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  9. ^ "The new Claremont Hotel will be a western suburbs game changer". www.watoday.com.au. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  10. ^ "New era for Claremont Hotel". thewest.com.au. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  11. ^ "AVC reopens the Claremont Hotel". theshout.com.au. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Eating Out restaurant review: The Claremont Hotel pleases with stunning surrounds and fast food dupes". www.perthnow.com.au. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  13. ^ "The Mont: Revamped Claremont Hotel a family-friendly destination for tasty pub classics". The Mercury. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  14. ^ "First Look: The Revamped Claremont Hotel Is Now Open". www.theurbanlist.com. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  15. ^ "If Walls Could Talk: The Heart of the Western Suburbs Returns With the Reopening of the Historic Claremont Hotel". www.broadsheet.com.au. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  16. ^ "A Glance At The Refurbished Claremont Hotel, If You Haven't Already Paid A Visit". secretperth.com. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Here's Your Best Look Yet At The New Claremont Hotel Redevelopment, Opening This Summer!". perthisok.com. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  18. ^ "Perth's iconic Claremont Hotel set to get a six million dollar makeover". www.watoday.com.au. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Casefile: True Crime Podcast – Case 30: The Claremont Serial Killer". Casefile: True Crime Podcast. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  20. ^ "Claremont serial killings: CCTV of Jane Rimmer at the Continental Hotel". www.adelaidenow.com.au. Retrieved 23 September 2024.