Great Gatsby Grandeur At Bert's

Sydney’s Northern Beaches have gained a very fancy new resident. As part of hospitality group Merivale’s redevelopment of iconic pub, The Newport, Bert’s is a bar and brasserie described by its design team as ‘sophisticated elegance on vacation’.

Sitting somewhere between Great Gatsby-style grandeur and country club casual, a regal palette of dusty pinks and jade green evokes notions of cucumber sandwiches and Pimms. Except at Bert’s, in true Sydney style, it’s more like lobster, a raw bar and champers.

Written

Sally Tabart

Interior details at the newly-opened Bert’s restaurant in Newport. Photos – courtesy of Merivale.

Channeling the Dulux 2018 colour forecast! Photos – courtesy of Merivale.

A bright, bold feature wall provides the perfect backdrop for vintage paintings. Photos – courtesy of Merivale.

Artwork adorns almost every wall, including some very special commissions from Australian artist, Clara Adolphs. Photos – courtesy of Merivale.

An atrium-style enclave. Photos – courtesy of Merivale.

Artwork adorns almost every wall. Photos – courtesy of Merivale.

The sofa-style wall seating traces an expansive curved edge, situated beneath stunning window feature wall. Photos – courtesy of Merivale.

‘One of our biggest challenges for Bert’s was finding the perfect fabrics for the venue and balancing out the deep forest greens in the dining room,’ says Amanda. Photos – courtesy of Merivale.

Channeling the decadence of a bygone era. Photos – courtesy of Merivale.

Writer

Sally Tabart

2nd of February 2018

Overlooking idyllic Pittwater, and the expansive grounds of The Newport, Bert’s is the second phase of the venue’s landmark redevelopment.

Conceptualised by Merivale’s in-house design team of co-owners Justin and Bettina Hemmes, Akin Creative’s Kelvin Ho and stylist Amanda Talbot, the aesthetic direction of Bert’s was clear from the beginning.

In the early stages of the project, stylist Amanda Talbot came across an image of a ‘derelict 1930s dining room’, which served as the initial seed of inspiration. From there, they were off! Drawing on references of decadence from a bygone era, the team created a dining space that feels simultaneously relaxed and deliciously indulgent.

Cutting no corners, the design team scoured the globe, spent hours at flea markets and auctions, as well an endless scroll of eBay and Etsy to source the perfect items for each aspect of the space. Bettina and Amanda travelled to Paris and London where they sourced major architectural pieces for the venue, worked with a glass-blower in New Zealand to create beautiful glass ball shades in ‘the perfect hue’, and fell in love with an 18th century Scottish farmhouse’s pink-toned stone flooring, which they recreated with the help of an Australian supplier – LITERALLY leaving no stone unturned!

Bert’s
2 Kalinya Street
Newport, Sydney