Perth Voice Interactive

A TAVERN licence planned for the Mezz shopping centre has been rejected by Vincent council.

Locals had expressed concern that Mount Hawthorn’s village atmosphere would be threatened if it had gone ahead.

The owners of the Peasant’s Table restaurant want a tavern licence to let patrons have a drink without a meal and to enable it to hold functions.

While “tavern” invokes images of horned-helmeted barbarians swilling ale by the barrel, it’s simply the name given to a licence one size bigger than a small bar. The owners say they’re often asked if they host engagements or birthdays but if it’s short notice there’s not enough time to get a one-off licence.

Still, locals aren’t happy: one objector told the council “the restaurant abuts a family-orientated ‘village square’ zone, where people push shopping trolleys, drink coffee, read the newspaper and children play in the playground.

“A tavern would conflict with this atmosphere and it would be inappropriate and irresponsible for the city to allow it.”

The licence would have also allowed take-away liquor sales and a TAB. The Peasant’s Table doesn’t plan on having either but councillors are worried if the business is sold the next owner might have different aims and could plan functions every night of the week.

Cr John Pintabona (who usually votes against small bars) was the sole councillor to support the Peasant’s plan, saying it’d be neatly contained in the shopping centre and if the place did ever change hands the Mezz centre management could easily rein in any issues.

by DAVID BELL