H&C Urban Winery: Perth’s first winery set to open in heart of Fremantle from star-studded line-up of owners

A Perth winery set for a summer launch will be operating in a somewhat unlikely location for revellers, with significantly fewer views of vineyards.

H&C Urban Winery will call High Street, Fremantle, home in a State-first for wine production.

The city cellar door has been brought to life by a star-studded line-up headed by hospitality giant Phil Thompson, who runs The Local Hotel in South Fremantle.

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Mr Thompson told PerthNow the venue had been a dream years in the making.

“(We have) been trying to get it off the ground for the last five years,” he said.

“We want people to have fun with it, learn a little if they choose, but ultimately it’s about celebrating wine and enjoying it with friends and family in a great setting.”

Alongside Mr Thompson will be his business counterpart and The Local co-owner Ross Macpherson, wine distributor Scott Spalding and former AFL players Will Schofield and Chris Masten.

Mr Thompson said the idea evolved after Schofield and Masten produced a small-scale liquor label during the pandemic and hosted pop-up events and launched limited-release wines under the brand Heroes & Comrades.

They later joined forces with Off the Vine distribution owner Mr Spalding.

“We met up and had a chat about it and discovered we all want the same sort of thing and it flowed very easily from there,” Mr Thompson said.

“It will speak of wine production, but it’ll also have a substantial hospitality offer.”

H & C Urban Winery is set to takeover former vegan/vegetarian restaurant Mother. Credit: Supplied

The group will take over former vegan hotspot Mother, as well as space from a former Good Sammy’s clothing store, to open their venue sometime this summer.

Documents say H&C will be “vibrant, upmarket” and a “locally focused micro winery”.

“It is an intact hospitality venue,” Mr Thompson said of the restaurant space.

“The old Good Sammy’s charity store meant we could use the hospitality space and then have space to do the wine production side of things.”

The venue promises stand-up bar service and seated dining, all poised to deliver a “relaxed, community-focused” ambience.

Mr Thompson said the venue will be in contrast to The Local Hotel, but both will have ‘elements of comfort’. Credit: Danella Bevis/The West Australian

Mr Thompson said the new venture was in contrast to The Local Hotel.

“The Local is a corner pub — this definitely won’t look or feel like that,” he said.

“There’ll be elements of comfort, which are in both.

“But this will be the first urban winery in Perth.”

The City of Fremantle gave planning approvals earlier this year to the project under a tavern licence.

The micro-winery could become another late-night mainstay in the port city, with trading approved by the city until 10.30pm weeknights and and midnight on Friday and Saturdays.

According to the proposal put to the council, work on the site will include internal fit-out works for wine tasting, a bar and cellar door, food kitchen and seating areas for patrons.

The venue will also include a full bar menu with spirits and a kitchen menu.

Mr Thompson said he was excited to introduce the project in Fremantle.

“We plan to showcase the amazing produce of WA with grapes sourced from our wonderfully varied regions, utilising the skills of the best and most interesting local winemakers,” he said.