Raffles relives glory days
When the revamped Raffles Hotel opens its doors for the first time tonight, those who have frequented the historic venue in decades gone by may recognise a thing or two.
In a big vote of confidence for south-of-the-river dining, the company behind the award-winning Print Hall began a $5 million transformation of the Applecross venue in August.
Colonial Leisure Group has since done away with the hotel's fine-dining restaurant in favour of an upstairs bar, which it has named the Highway Bar as a tip of the hat to the Raffles ties to AC/DC's Highway to Hell.
A new private dining room next door is to be called the Kitson Room after former WA chief secretary W.H. Kitson, who officially opened The Raffles Hotel in 1937.
The enclosed glass on the hotel's balcony has also been removed.
Now patrons will be able to look out over the courtyard as they did back in the venue's "dance floor days".
A dedicated outdoor bar has been constructed in the courtyard and a new produce-driven, Mediterranean-style menu, will be available throughout the building.
CLG State operations manger Vern Fogarty said the transformation was about repositioning the Raffles as a pub and paying homage to the heritage aspects of the building.
Mr Fogarty said the hotel would have more than 42 taps offering a wide range of beer, providing for the well-versed beer geek as well as those who simply enjoyed a brew.
"We are winding back some of the pricing that we have seen in Perth in recent times," Mr Fogarty said.
"It's our opportunity to really give the Raffles back to the city, making it once again a much-loved figure in the social fabric of Perth."
The hotel reopens at 6pm and bookings will be taken from tomorrow.
