Devonport’s Paul Fielding to open sixth venue Caledonian Wine Vaults

An adopted Tasmanian will officially open his sixth venue on the island state on Friday. And it won’t be like anything this city has seen before. Here’s what to expect >>

An ex-Sydneysider will officially launch his fifth Tasmanian venue on Friday, an unexpected turn of events for the food and wine guru who originally travelled to Tasmania to fulfil a two-year management contract as a favour to a friend.

Historic Launceston watering hole O’Keefe’s Hotel will officially commence its phoenix-like rebirth as Caledonian Wine Vaults – one of its original names, traced back to 1851, in the word’s of Devonport’s Paul Fielding.

Mr Fielding, who has worked in hospitality since his teens, told the Mercury he believed a similar crowd to that which populates his popular Firestorm Mexican bars in Launceston, Devonport and Burnie would be drawn to his new venue.

“It’s cocktails for twenty-threes to thirty-threes and a little bit either side,” Mr Fielding said. “There are two pubs two blocks down so we aren’t serving parmis and steaks and putting the footy on.

“Our menu is based around wine food, grazing plates and platters, it’s quite similar to the cafe menu in Devonport (Mr Fielding’s original venture in Tasmania was opening Marion Storm, which now also boasts an Ulverstone location).

“We want to highlight local produce.

“We will feature four wineries a month, three of those will be Tasmanian.”

Other key features of Caledonian Wine Vaults will be the ability to taste wines and a rooftop bar, which will have the ability to host live music.

Mr Fielding, who moved to Devonport about six years ago to manage the Sunrise Motel’s on-site restaurant as a favour to a friend and then never left – reflected on opening four venues in the space of 18 months during a pandemic.

“We’re going to settle everything down now, it’s been a weird couple years,” he said.

“Would you do that again? The answer is yes, but it’s been a strange couple of years.

“It was definitely not the right time to do what we’ve done, but it’s done so what can we do?”

Mr Fielding said it was a “blessing in disguise” the Caledonian’s renovations – he signed a lease back in January – were delayed by the pressures facing the construction industry currently.

“With isolating and sick staff, it’s not the worst thing it’s taken six months,” he said.

The building itself is now owned by Buckby Motors directors Crichton Lewis and Ben Newman, ACM reported earlier this year.

O’Keefe’s was previously operated by publican Mike O’Keefe and was previously known by names including Belfast Hotel and Union Club Hotel.

Caledonian Wine Vaults’ launch party, which kicks off at noon, will feature music, cocktails, food specials and more.