From London with love: The Heart is now open in Applecross

Another advertisement for getting these intros done earlier rather than later (Capri was delightful the other night, as always): how bloody cold it is in the morning! And we’re not even into winter yet, which is looking like getting off to a very wet start if this week’s forecast is anything to go by.

^{Troy Mutton, Editor, Perth is OK!}

A new pub has just opened in Applecross — with The Heart swinging its doors open to the public last weekend.

The venue is the latest from Perth family-owned hospitality group Esqulant Leisure Group (ELG), owned by Nikki and Ryan Esqulant – the same team as Hillarys, Yanchep and Sorrento Beach Clubs, as well as Bar Olé, which also opened an Applecross location next door to The Heart in March this year.

There is another version of The Heart located within Hillarys Beach Club.

Just metres from the river at the base of the new Riviere Residence, and anticipated to be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, The Heart takes a European, gastropub approach – elevating pub classics alongside a menu of house-made pasta and pizzas.

These offerings will be overseen by the group’s Executive Chef Steven Finch, pictured above right with Head Chef Navi Kumar coming down from two and a half years at Hillarys Beach Club to lead the kitchen.

Much like their Hillarys outpost, The Heart will also be bringing the Nobu-inspired UBON menu of Japanese fusion dishes south of the river – with a menu that expands on some of those Hillarys favourites.

And at the centre of the space, the horseshoe bar takes inspiration from the Esqulant’s previous pub in London’s East End, The Princess Alice – which also inspired the name of ELG’s Ocean Reef pub The Alice, anticipated to open in 2028.

Remnant bushland in Perth is an important part of the landscape for so many of our native animals so it’s fantastic to have a relatively large patch located in the Western Suburbs.

Along with being a place for wildlife to call home, it is a great natural recreation space for plenty of Perth locals.

A spot to escape to with friends, enjoy a walk or a run while feeling well away from the urban environment is what you’ll find at Bold Park.