Bellevue Cottage restaurant plans thrown out

A celebrated chef has had his plans for a destination restaurant in Glebe scuppered. Antoine Moscovitz wanted to open a 248-seat restaurant in Bellevue Cottage.

Tha plans for the restaurant in Bellevue Cottage Glebe have been knocked back

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A celebrated chef has had his plans for a destination restaurant in Glebe scuppered.

Antoine Moscovitz, who trained under one of the world’s greatest chefs in Alain Ducasse, opened in the waterfront Bellevue Cottage in Leichhardt St last month.

At present Bellevue Cottage by Antoine features a cafe for 60 covers serving between 6.30am and 8pm.

However, he has grander plans and applied to have a 152 seat restaurant and 96 cover cafe on the site, operating from 6am to 10pm seven days a week.

Glebe residents objected and last week the City of Sydney Local Planning Panel voted down the plans.

Bellevue Cottage with Anzac Bridge in the background. Photo by Phil Rogers

Susie Cleary, from the Glebe Point Residents’ Group, said the community wanted to see the historic property in use but called the plans “greedy”.

“It’s just too many people,” she said. “There’s nowhere to park around there. We live nearby and if we go out in the evening by the time we get back there is nowhere to park. That’s without a 248 seat restaurant. It’s just greedy.”

In their submission to the panel, the restaurant owners stated the desired size was required to give the business the best chance of commercial viability.

Antoine Moscovitz is best known in Sydney for his previous restaurant Antoine’s Grill in Concord. Picture: Luke Fuda

One of the main issues for residents was the lack of parking. Bellevue Cottage is at the end of a one-way road system with limited on-street parking and public transport options.

In their submission, the restaurant owners suggested water taxis could be utilised. It was also suggested that pedal powered rickshaws could provide a shuttle service to transfer customers to on-street parking available at the end of Glebe Point Road and Federal Road, some 500 metres away.

The restaurant owners also argued the maximum capacity of the venue would only be utilised up to 15 times per year.

Ms Cleary said there could be a middle ground where both sides could be happy.

“You just have to look at Glebe Point Diner to see how this could work,” Ms Cleary said. “They have 60 or 70 customers and they do two sittings on a Friday and Saturday night so cater for 120 each night. It works financially for them.

The cottage was built by landowner William Jarrett in the late 1800s.

“I can’t speak for everyone but I think the community will be accepting if the plans are revised. Everyone wants to see the property in use.”

The heritage-listed Bellevue Cottage was built in 1896 by English born landowner William Jarrett.

In the 1970s squatters and activists saved it from demolition and it notably featured in the band Australian Crawl’s music video for their song Beautiful People.

The proposal was unanimously refused with the panel citing intensification of traffic, parking demand and noise. The panel also said the proposal was inconsistent with the Sydney Development Control Plan 2012.

The restaurant has been contacted for comment.