Premier Highgate restaurant Must Wine Bar is about to bring its flair to central Margaret River, with a new venue to open there in early December.
Premier Highgate restaurant Must Wine Bar is about to bring its flair to central Margaret River, with a new venue to open there in early December.
Must proprietor Russell Blaikie and his four other business partners, including Arlewood Estate managing director Garry Gosatti, have secured a site in central Margaret River which is of a similar size to the Highgate venue.
The name of the business currently operating in the venue can not yet be disclosed as the deal hasn't gone through the final stages.
"We have been mindful of expanding the business for the last year or so. We opened the champagne lounge which is now trading well and decided it was the right time to open a new venue," Mr Gosatti told WA Business News.
While the Highgate bistro, which was established seven years ago, successfully brought "a little bit Paris on Beaufort Street", will Margaret River embrace the European fare?
Must Margaret River will have a similar flavour to its Beaufort Street sibling; but as well as keeping what made the inner-city wine bar successful, Mr Gosatti said that new ideas would also be implemented in the new venue, .
"Must has been opened for seven years, we would like to think that it [Must Margaret River] will be moving towards the same concept and key elements will be moving forward...some new ideas will be implemented too," he said.
Mr Gosatti said he believed the developing and maturing Margaret River market provided Must with the opportunity to have its place there.
"There is always a blend of tourist market and local market, you have the international component which visits the area and you have people within the region who visit Margaret River for its food and wine," he said.
Current sous chef at Must Wine Bar Highgate, Chris Cheong, has been appointed head chef for the Margaret River venue.
Mr Gosatti said that more staff from the current Highgate eatery will be appointed to the new venue
Mr Gosatti said the day-to-day running of the new restaurant would be kept under control as he was based in the region with his winery, Arlewood Estate.
Mr Blaikie, a 'Cowaramup boy', has also kept his roots in the area.
