Parade set to re-open soon

The fate of a number of iconic Bunbury pubs has been in question recently, but the _South Western Times _can reveal a favourite is set to re-open within months.

Owners are renovating the Parade Hotel after it was closed last year and are confident it will re-open by April or May.

One of the Gatti family members who own the pub, Ali Gatti, said they were hoping to restore a "very old" building.

"It was definitely overdue for a facelift and in need for some TLC," Ms Gatti said.

She said the owners were doing everything in their power to get the hotel back to its potential.

The iconic waterfront pub closed its doors in mysterious circumstances on April 15 last year and left about 30 workers out of a job.

Managed at the time by Maggie Newton, the only information available to the public was in signs posted on the building's exterior advising it was closed until further notice.

Ms Gatti said owners received little information from Ms Newton.

"All I know is that her solicitor contacted us and informed us that she had handed over the keys to him," she said.

The family last year advertised the pub for expressions of interest for its sale, lease or redevelopment.

But Ms Gatti said offers received were not viable or in line with what the owners thought the hotel was capable of.

Work has started at the pub and Ms Gatti said the bathrooms were being renovated at the moment.

She said the building would be getting a complete renovation and they would be "stripping it out".

"We just want to get it up and running," she said.

The closure of the pub was followed just weeks later by Ms Newton closing the doors on her NooVoh Beachfront Dining.

The kiosk at the beachfront eatery was only re-opened last month as part of the new Back Beach Cafe and Restaurant, which is hoped to be completely ready by March.

Across town, the future of the Reef Hotel in Bunbury remains in doubt as fences were put up this week after the Bunbury City Council deemed it "unsound".

Owners of the fire-gutted pub could not be contacted for comment.