A cigar bar is proposed for 288 Lord Street
Camera IconA cigar bar is proposed for 288 Lord Street Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Cigar bar proposed for Highgate

Denise S. CahillEastern Reporter

A PERTH entrepreneur wants to open a members-only cigar bar in Highgate but needs City of Vincent approval for a change of use for the venue first.

The building at the corner of Lord and Windsor streets in Highgate is currently zoned Shop and the applicant is seeking a change to Unlisted Use (Cigar Bar) that would allow Nick Russell to open Cigar Social.

Councillors will consider the application at a council meeting on Tuesday night.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Up to 60 members could be in the venue, which would be a private meeting place for members to purchase and smoke cigars, tobacco products and accessories, at one time with the proposed opening hours Monday to Saturday from 10am-midnight and Sundays from 10am-5pm.

Members would only be accepted via referral and be required to complete an application form and curriculum vitae before being considered for membership, which would cost $1000 a year.

No alcohol would be served or consumed at Cigar Social.

During public consultation on the change of use, the City received 17 submissions, four supporting the proposal and 13 against.

Concerns raised by the submissions included the premises being used for smoking and the associated health implications, the land use being adjacent to residential areas, car parking and reliance of on-street parking, hours of operation, odour produced from the smoke affecting the amenity of the surrounding area and the management of the premises.

At a council briefing session last night, councillor Jonathan Hallett raised concerns about air filtration.

Acting Development Services director Luke Gibson said the application involved two filtration systems that would provide 99.97 per cent filtration.

A council report stated that the proposal was referred to the Department of Health, which advised that the business would operate in accordance with the Tobacco Products Control Act 2006 and public smoking would be permitted inside the venue because it would not be open to the general public.