By ANNA USHER

A small wine bar named after a Belgian queen is planned for the corner of Prince Albert and Raglan streets at Mosman Junction, under plans submitted to Mosman Council.

Paola Wine Bar will seat no more than 20 people and pour Australian, Italian, French and emerging international wines in a small-scale, refined setting.

Husband and wife team Philippe and Hannah Gilbert, owners of the successful Vini Divini Wine Lab in the CBD, are behind the new business and say it will operate as a neighbourhood wine bar, not a late-night drinking establishment.

They say the emphasis will be on table service, wine appreciation, and light food offerings, reinforcing its neighbourhood wine-bar focus.

“The name ‘Paola’ reflects the personal story behind the proposal, drawing inspiration from Queen Paola of Belgium, who was born in Italy and married Prince Albert, while also acknowledging the venue’s location on Prince Albert Street in the heart of Mosman,” documents submitted to Council state.

“It symbolises the convergence of the owners’ Belgian, Italian and Australian heritage with their longstanding connection to the local community.”

If approved, the wine bar will trade Monday to Wednesday from 2 pm to 10 pm, Thursday to Saturday from 12 pm to 12 am, and Sunday from 12 pm to 10 pm.

“These hours are intended to support a neighbourhood wine bar that provides an early evening and dinner-time hospitality offering, while contributing to the vitality and activation of the Mosman Village local centre,” an Environmental Impact Statement said.

“To minimise potential impacts on surrounding properties, all outdoor patron seating will cease operation by 9:00 pm.”

On Prince Albert Street, tables would be arranged in a “Parisian-style arrangement” setup facing the street beside the bus stop. At the same time, the Raglan Street seats would sit inside the outdoor dining area already approved for Bacino Espresso.

Nothing would be cooked on site; cheese, charcuterie, and share plates such as Caprese salad would be prepared off-site in a commercial kitchen and plated at the bar.

The application puts the cost of the work at $181,500, and the owners will also apply to Liquor & Gaming NSW for a small bar licence.

“We are committed to working with Mosman Council and the building’s Owners Corporation over time to restore the building to its former glory in line with its heritage significance,” the owners wrote in the application.

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