Beach sunlounges to make a splash
Six months after a plan for sunlounges on Cottesloe beach was rejected, Fremantle has quietly given the nod to a similar set-up on Bathers beach.
The sunlounges form part of a $6.5 million restaurant and bar redevelopment at the site of the former Fishermen's Co-Op building but they will not be restricted to paying customers.
Instead, in what is believed to be a WA first, they will be free for anyone to use.
Nick Unmack, who owns Bathers Beach House with business partner Henry Liascos, said restricting the lounges to customers was "not in the spirit of what we're trying to do".
"We don't want it to be an exclusive thing for our customers. We don't want an exclusive venue," Mr Unmack said.
"If a couple of kids want to plonk on them, then that's what we want. We're not having signs up saying that they must purchase something.
"They've got plenty of this stuff on the east coast and it's about time WA was brought back into line with the Eastern States."
Rows of sunlounges are popular fixtures on many European beaches but not in WA.
Mr Unmack and Mr Liascos, the business team behind Cicerello's and Char Char Bull, were not involved in an unrelated proposal to the Town of Cottesloe this year to hire out shaded sunlounges. Council rejected the idea from Perth Outdoor Events, partly because of concerns it might hurt local business.
Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt said Bathers beach was at the heart of Fremantle but "a bit of a forgotten beach".
"My sense is this is the right beach for it," he said.
"It does have a European feel to it and it reminds me of some of the beaches I've seen in Italy and other places.
"I think what this will start to do is draw people back to the beach."
Bathers Beach House is due to open on December 8. It includes an upstairs alfresco area.
