New tavern in the works for Geraldton foreshore

Geraldton’s hospitality industry is as busy as ever, and a local business is looking to cash in with a proposal for a new tavern on Foreshore Drive.

The Foreshore Hangout Lounge is the brainchild of Smokin’ Grill and Burger Restaurant owner Sumit Prajapati. He plans to bring an upmarket, female-friendly venue to the CBD.

“A lot of the pubs in town are very old-fashioned, we want a more modern bar,” he said.

Construction has already started on the new tavern, fully renovating the warehouse buildings at 104 Marine Terrace into a bar and restaurant, with plans for a sports bar, alfresco seating and a small stage area to host local music acts on Friday and Saturday nights.

It will make up a small part of the City’s revitalisation plan, a series of developments which the council hopes will make the town centre a more attractive place for tourists and business.

Mr Prajapati said the location and design was inspired by trendy pubs and clubs in Perth. “In Fremantle, all the buildings face the ocean. Here it’s opposite ... we wanted something where you could look over the ocean,” he said. The tavern is still assessing public interest. A survey received more than 400 “mainly positive” responses in only two days.

This will be presented to support its pending licence application. If approved, an opening date has been slated for March.