Cott move for Lamont

Prominent restaurateur Kate Lamont is behind a new tapas and wine bar being planned for Cottesloe’s Station Street .

Ms Lamont said it was too early to discuss her plans, which have only recently been lodged for approval with the Town of Cottesloe and the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor .

Sources have told WA Business News Ms Lamont is planning to develop a small wine bar at the site currently occupied by cookware shop and cooking school Amano, at 12 Station Street .

However, despite the small size of the planned tapas bar, Ms Lamont has applied for a tavern liquor licence, which is believed to afford her the flexibility of selling Lamont wines to the public similar to a cellar door operation .

The new small bar liquor licence, which restricts capacity to 120 people, prohibits the sale of packaged liquor .

The new business is expected to trade as Lamont’s Cottesloe, and Ms Lamont’s sister Fiona will also be involved in the operation .

The Lamont sisters manage the family’s wine operations in the Swan Valley and Margaret River, and Lamont’s restaurant in East Perth .

Ms Lamont’s move into Cottesloe comes after another prominent Perth restaurateur, Nic Trimboli, opened his third restaurant, Il Lido Italian Cantina, on Marine Parade .

The restaurant was different to popular CBD restaurant Balthazar and Leederville tapas restaurant Duende .

Il Lido is far more casual, serving Italian dishes to diners seated along long communal tables, a seating set-up similar to that adopted by UK noodle-house Wagamama .

Other well-known restaurateurs have expanded or are looking to expand their foothold in the WA hospitality market, with WA’s economic fortunes providing strong revenue streams to underpin further growth .

Chris Taylor, who operates Fraser’s Restaurant and Bluewater Bar & Grill, recently bought The Old Swan Brewery with a group of investors and has since relaunched the Mounts Bay road venue as The Old Brewery .