W1 Hospitality Pty Ltd, the owner of the popular Warders Hotel, Gimlet Bar & Café and Emily Taylor Bar and Kitchen, is completing a first stage refurbishment of an iconic cappuccino strip building located at 33 South Terrace, Fremantle.
The building, previously home to Pappa Luigi’s, followed by Miss Maud’s, the Mad Monk Brewery and Kahuna Brewery will now have a section of the ground floor converted into a Mediterranean ‘Bar & Cocina’. “Specialising in seaside fare and an atmosphere strongly weighted towards a lively but discerning customer”, says Tim Buckton, the Group’s General Manager. “We are on the strip, so we want to be accessible to the breakfast, lunch and dinner crowd. After dinner we will also appeal to those that want to go out for a bit of fun within a more settled environment than what you might experience in some of the traditional bars in the area”. “It’s a big ask, but we believe we have the right location and a strong team to make it happen”.
Some of the changes will include the creation of a raised street side alfresco deck and a covering roof structure to allow guests to wine and dine all year-round while watching Fremantle’s eclectic street activity. The remainder of this formidably large venue will be made available for functions while the operator’s get familiar with the location and set some long-term planning objectives. Watch this space!
“While our guests will be attracted to the central location, we sense that many visitors are looking for something a little different in Fremantle,” says Buckton. “We are aiming to create a service heavy, casual dining experience and hope our menu items will take you on a nostalgic trip along the Mediterranean coast. Watch out for our homemade breads served warm to your table. I find them addictive! The bread is a perfect side for most of the dishes,” he says.
The new name, “Sailing for Oranges”, is inspired by the ‘free settlers’ ship called ‘Sophia’, that sailed to Fremantle in 185O. The journey was long and hot, and legend has it that one of the sails was pinned up and filled with seawater, while guests bathed and enjoyed eating oranges from the Ship’s larder.
The Venue’s website ponders… “Oranges recall our memories of travelling the Iberian Peninsula, the nostalgia of …wild swimming with Rosa, looking for Pablo, walking in Sevilla.”
Like Emily Taylor, menu items will use only the best possible local produce. From eggplant, tahini and lemon to hot pork terrene with gherkins, the menu is accessible, fast paced and finely tuned by executive chef Danny Feng and his team of 20 chefs.
W1 Hospitality’s director, Patrick Prendiville, said “on arrival, guests will be surrounded by a real sense of everything Fremantle. Located in the heart of the cappuccino strip, our method of service has been created to maximise the interaction between guests and staff and between guests and the surrounding community. We want visitors to interact with something familiar, something new…. and have a true Fremantle experience.”
Sailing for Oranges is the second venue under the “The Warders Hotel Group” and is situated near to Perth’s most popular tourist destination, the Fremantle Markets. Emily Taylor Bar and Kitchen is now in its third year of operation and has become a local favourite. “We are also excited about employing a further 70 staff in the area” says Buckton. “It is very satisfying to be able to offer locals more employment opportunities in the tourism industry. Fremantle has given us a lot, so it’s nice to be able to return the favour”.
The City of Fremantle has been recognised as one of Australia’s leading and most innovative tourism precincts, with TIME magazine listing the port city as one of the “Greatest places of 2022”. Fremantle Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said “following the opening of Walyalup Kootre and FOMO, Freo has seen a resurgence of interesting new ventures across the hospitality and retail sectors. It’s a great time to rediscover our unique port city.” She explains, “the cappuccino strip is an iconic part of Freo’s identity, so to see this key location being revitalized in time for the busy summer months is fantastic.”
Sailing for Oranges is now taking booking for 28th November onwards. Book your table online at www.sailingfororanges.com.au
Open 7 days a week from 7am. Sunday – Thursday till 10pm, Friday & Saturday’s till 1am.
