Perth Voice Interactive

THE opening of a highly-anticipated $6 million microbrewery in Northbridge has been pushed back to the end of March.

Owners Michael Rasheed and Michael Keiller were scheduled to open at the end of 2013, but building licence delays stopped the beer flowing.

“There was a bit of argy-bargy getting the building licence, and we had to wait while all the necessary approvals were granted from the fire brigade, etc,” Mr Keiller says. “So that and a few other red tape things slowed us down, but once we got the licence the building phase started and it’s bang on schedule.”

Mr Keiller says the building fit-out should happen late February.

The Northbridge Brewing Company, on the corner of James and Lake Streets—opposite the piazza—will have two storeys of bar and dining, a sky deck overlooking the city and a brewery producing 150,000 litres of beer each year.

Touted as the crowning glory of the Northbridge Piazza, the NBC is already more than two years behind schedule following a protected battle over a liquor licence.

It was eventually granted a tavern licence, allowing it to operate until midnight (police commissioner Karl O’Callaghan had objected to a 2am close).

Mr Keiller says he and Mr Rasheed will pursue the later opening via an extended trading application once they’re up and running and can demonstrate the sort of venue they intend to be.

Perth lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi accused bureaucrats of being wowsers, stifling a project of great benefit to the city.

Messrs Keiller and Rasheed also own the US-themed Mustang Bar next door.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK