New owners to rebrand Odyssea as Bert’s in homage to City Beach surf culture
Odyssea City Beach will be reimagined as Bert’s, with the team behind The Rowing Pavilion and General Public Food Co set to take over the landmark venue. The new restaurant is scheduled to open in August following a rebrand inspired by the nostalgic surf and kiosk culture of City Beach.
The ownership trio – Mark Pearn, Nic Strachan and Evan Hewitt – announced the move this week, bringing their hospitality expertise to the beachfront site on 187 Challenger Parade. “Bert’s is about surf, sun, community, and creating a place where people feel at home,” Evan Hewitt said.
The coastal dining institution owned by Fabio Hupfer, officially closed its doors in April after eight years of service to the City Beach community. The venue opened in 2016 as part of a broader redevelopment of the local surf lifesaving facilities. It became one of three restaurants to anchor the revitalised precinct, alongside Clancy’s Fish Bar and other local favourites. Hupfer’s departure marks the end of an era for the venue, which quickly became a mainstay of Perth’s coastal dining scene.
The new venue, Bert’s, is named after a surf kiosk that operated along the City Beach foreshore in the 1950s and early 1960s. Architecture studio Woods Bagot has been commissioned to design the space, with a concept that nods to the area’s laid-back charm and rich surf heritage. “This project is incredibly close to our hearts,” said Evan Hewitt. “I’ve grown up along this coastline and so have my own kids; it’s part of who we are.”
The incoming owners have established a solid reputation through their successful operation of The Rowing Pavilion in Mount Pleasant and General Public Food Co in Scarborough. Their experience in delivering quality food and community-centred venues positions them well for the City Beach site. With Bert’s, the trio aims to build on Odyssea’s legacy while delivering a refreshed take on coastal dining tailored to locals and beachgoers alike.
Odyssea’s launch in 2016 coincided with the completion of the City of Perth Surf Life Saving Club headquarters, part of a A$20 million redevelopment project jointly funded by the Town of Cambridge and the Western Australian state government. The precinct overhaul included a new A$7.5 million surf club facility and the creation of a beachside dining hub, establishing City Beach as a key destination for locals and tourists.
Jonathan Jackson, 2nd June 2025
