Torpe Cafe in Armadale hit with VCLGR fine almost a year after closing

The owners of an Armadale cafe which created a buzz online through promotion on Instagram and shut within a year of opening have been hit with a fine at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. Find out why.

Torpe Cafe, operating under Torpe Espresso Pty Ltd at 48 Wattletree Rd in Armadale, was prosecuted by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation for failing to ensure their venue was operating with a valid liquor licence.

An Armadale cafe which made a splash on social media was prosecuted and hit with a fine after operating without a valid liquor licence.

Torpe Cafe, which opened in July 2018 and was shut about nine months later, was pinged by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation for selling alcohol without a licence.

The restaurant at 48 Wattletree Rd was subject to a routine inspection in late 2018.

Many prominent Instagram influencers with hundreds of thousands of followers posted from the cafe in the months after it opened.

While most of its business focused around the cafe, it also featured an upstairs wine bar with two rooms featuring distinctive pink and blue colour palettes.

VCGLR compliance director Adam Ockwell said the business had not transferred the licence from previous owners or applied for a new licence.

The licensee was consequently issued a diversion order at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, requiring them to donate $2000 to the Smith Family, pay $400 in legal costs and be of good behaviour for one month.

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Mr Ockwell said there was plenty of information on the VCLGR website for anyone unsure of their responsibilities.