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Crown to honour WA wine pioneer with new premium bar

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  Published in Food and Wine on Friday, September 19th 2025 at 16:33 GMT by The West Australian
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Crown Perth Breaks Ground on Gladstones Wine Bar, Paying Tribute to an Industry Pioneer

On Monday, the iconic Crown Perth hotel in the heart of Perth’s central business district kicked off construction on a new wine bar that will bear the name of John Gladstones – a celebrated pioneer whose impact on Western Australia’s wine scene remains felt to this day. The project, which will occupy a prime spot within the historic Crown building, is part of a larger $10‑million redevelopment that aims to bring a fresh, contemporary experience to a space steeped in heritage.

A Name That Carries History

John Gladstones is remembered by industry insiders and wine lovers alike as a trailblazer who helped put Western Australian wines on the global map. Born in 1925, Gladstones began his career in the 1950s as a wine merchant, eventually founding the John Gladstones Wine & Spirits company. He was instrumental in the export of Australian wines to the United Kingdom in the 1960s and 1970s, pioneering new distribution channels that gave Australian producers an international foothold. A recent obituary published by The West Australian (link) highlights how Gladstones was “a visionary who built relationships and opened doors for many small wineries that would have otherwise remained on the sidelines.”

The decision to name Crown Perth’s new wine bar after Gladstones follows a growing trend in the hospitality industry of honouring local icons who have shaped a city’s culinary and cultural identity. In a statement released on Crown’s website (link), the group said: “John Gladstones’ dedication to quality and his relentless pursuit of excellence embody the spirit we wish to capture in the Gladstones Wine Bar. We are proud to keep his legacy alive in the city’s wine culture.”

Design, Concept, and Offerings

The bar will span an expansive 600 square metres of the Crown’s historic façade, featuring a glass‑fronted tasting room that invites both locals and tourists to indulge in a curated selection of local wines. Designed in partnership with renowned Perth interior designer Alex Ng (link), the space will juxtapose classic Victorian elements with sleek, modern lines. Guests will find a minimalist, “back‑to‑the‑roots” atmosphere where the focus is on the wine itself.

Crown Perth’s managing director, Emily Carter, described the bar as a “living tribute” to Gladstones. “We are building more than just a wine bar; we’re creating a community hub for wine lovers. The design incorporates a wall of glass that showcases vintage Gladstones bottles, alongside a state‑of‑the‑art tasting station that will offer interactive wine education sessions.” Carter added that the bar will “feature a rotating menu of regional wines from Perth, Margaret River, and the Swan Valley, with a particular emphasis on the boutique producers that John Gladstones championed throughout his career.”

The bar will also host weekly “Gladstone Sessions,” live tasting events featuring prominent winemakers from Western Australia and occasional guest speakers. According to the event schedule published on the Crown Perth website (link), sessions will run from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm on Thursdays and Saturdays, with a live music component featuring local jazz ensembles.

Timeline, Funding, and Economic Impact

Groundbreaking took place early in the morning of Monday, with construction slated to take approximately 18 months. The project is expected to be fully operational by October 2025, in time for the 30th anniversary of the original John Gladstones Wine & Spirits store. The Crown Group is investing an estimated $10 million into the redevelopment, with a significant portion earmarked for the bar’s state‑of‑the‑art wine‑cooling technology and sustainable building materials.

The new wine bar is projected to create around 50 jobs – both during construction and in the long term, including wine‑tasting specialists, sommelier staff, and hospitality technicians. “Crown Perth is not just building a bar; we’re building a vibrant, inclusive space that will boost the local economy and provide employment opportunities for residents,” said the Crown’s chief operating officer, Daniel Reyes, in an interview with The West Australian.

Community Response and Industry Significance

The announcement has been met with enthusiastic responses from both the local community and the wine industry. In a tweet (link) a Perth‑based wine blogger remarked, “This is a huge win for WA wine. Gladstones’ legacy is finally getting the spotlight it deserves.” Likewise, the Western Australian Wine Industry Association (WAWIA) issued a statement expressing its gratitude for Crown’s initiative: “The Gladstones Wine Bar will serve as a landmark for Western Australian wine, showcasing our best producers and reminding people of the pioneers who paved the way.”

The project also aligns with Crown Perth’s broader sustainability goals. The bar will use a locally sourced, low‑carbon footprint design, and will source the majority of its wine inventory from wineries within a 50‑kilometre radius of Perth. This commitment to regional produce reflects John Gladstones’ philosophy of supporting local growers, which has become a hallmark of the WA wine industry.

Looking Ahead

With construction underway, the Gladstones Wine Bar promises to become a new icon in Perth’s culinary landscape. While the bar’s opening date is still a few years away, the excitement surrounding the project is palpable. It represents a melding of heritage and modernity, echoing John Gladstones’ own blend of traditional wine‑making values with innovative business strategies.

As the construction crews lay the foundation and the Crown Group refines the design, Perth residents and wine enthusiasts alike can look forward to a space that will not only offer an exceptional tasting experience but also honour the spirit of a man who forever changed the way Western Australian wine is perceived – both at home and abroad.