
Huge change to popular boot scootin' bar in Fremantle
Honky Tonk Blues has brought a surge of cowboy hats to Fremantle's west end precinct since it opened in July 2023 and is on the brink of welcoming more.
'Our line goes all the way down the street on a Saturday and is there from 6pm until midnight,' co-owner Joshua Paparo said.
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'If we used the upstairs space, which we are already renting, we could get those people off the street and into the building, it would very much be servicing a demand that we have.'
Mr Paparo said the first-floor expansion could also create space for private functions and additional line-dancing classes.
Lit up like the neon lights of Texas, the bar inside the former Wyola RSL hall on High Street breathes a little bit of life from the southern States of the US. Lit up like the neon lights of Texas, the bar inside the former Wyola RSL hall on High Street breathes a little bit of life from the southern States of the US. Credit: Supplied
The 1903-built heritage building was dormant for seven years before the brains behind Fremantle's Jamaican rum bar Jungle Bird, Mr Paparo and Ben Bell, opened the country hotspot with Elvin Hang.
City of Fremantle officers backed Honky Tonk's first-floor expansion and recommended councillors approve it at Wednesday's council meeting, even though a number of the venue's residential neighbours have raised concerns about noise.
One of the conditions Fremantle officers recommended was insulation for the first-floor ceiling and double-glazed windows to reduce additional noise.
'I completely expect there to be people who complain about noise,' Mr Paparo said.
'There are more and more residents in Fremantle these days but it's a two-way street. If you decide to live in an entertainment precinct, you have to expect some sort of noise.
'We are in the entertainment precinct of Fremantle but we don't want to abuse that fact ... we do our best at all times to be good neighbours. Honky Tonk co-owners Ben Bell and Joshua Paparo with venue manager Guia Manili. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian
'Some people have taken the view that if there is any noise in the area the blame gets thrown our way, but I have a great relationship with a number of neighbours and they call my mobile and we show them video footage of what's happening in our venue and they often learn the ruckus isn't us.'
Noise investigations at Honky Tonk came just weeks after another Fremantle live music venue, Freo Social, was threatened with action by developers of a neighbouring block for being too loud.
Industry lobby group West Australian Music executive officer Owen Whittle said he is concerned people are failing to see the positive impact of live music in Fremantle.
'Honky Tonk has had new residential development go up within centimetres and this is a concern,' Mr Whittle said.
'What they have been doing is platforming a significant amount of live music, giving artists more opportunity and if this was taken away you would see a sharp drop in country musicians.
'With respect to residents and the balance that needs to occur, you wouldn't see residents move next door to a school and complain about kids.
'These venues give Freo vibrancy, they are what attracts tourism and people, closing them would leave it a hollow place with no life.'

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