This August The Westin Melbourne will launch a dedicated dessert and cocktail bar inspired by the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical at Her Majesty's Theatre. Aptly named the Wonka Bar, Darren Purchese and his team at Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio in South Yarra have collaborated with the hotel's culinary team to invent a range of scrumdiddlyumptious desserts.

The decadent desserts on the menu include a Black Forest & Chocolate River complete with cherries, chocolate sponge, crunchy biscuit base, chocolate twigs, mushrooms and a warm chocolate river.  There is also a riff on the famous 'Golden Ticket' which comprises of a gold chocolate bar, dark chocolate mousse, smoked vanilla ice cream and salted caramel cream; and a Fizzy Citrus Burp, a brulee lemon curd with fizzy white chocolate aero, orange jelly and dried lemon meringue.

“I had a lot of fun creating desserts based on this much loved children's book by Roald Dahl and I couldn't think of more luxurious setting for people to enjoy them in than The Westin Melbourne,” said Darren.

The Burch & Purchese team have also created an edible garden which will be proudly displayed at the bar, all using the finest chocolate and all-natural food colours supplied by Chr. Hansen. Taking inspiration from the book, the intricate 3.4m chocolate installation includes “earth” made from 6kg of Salted Caramel Cake Crumb, 6kg of B&P Famous Choc Chip Cookie Crumb and 8kg of Pistachio Cake Crumb. You'll also find thirty-two scrumptious chocolate lollipops, 150 tiny chocolate toadstools, giant chocolate enoki mushrooms, chocolate bark and planks, chocolate twigs and leaves all made using a multitude of fun techniques.  There is one delicious Giant Chocolate Caterpillar, 50 different chocolate flowers – with each petal made individually and hand painted, or chocolate sprayed, 15 chocolate butterflies (6 different species) and 15 different natural colours (all sourced from nature) blended to create an amazing chocolate installation.

Four candylicious cocktails have been created by the hotel's bar team to fit the Wonka theme. On the menu you'll find a Blueberry Gumball which includes Belvedere vodka, blue curacao, raspberry balsamic, raspberry cordial and soda water garnished with ice-sphere, popping candy, Persian fairy floss and viola flower. Or try the Pure Imagination with Mozart dark chocolate liquor, chocolate sauce, cream, garnished with chocolate and gold edible glitter, to name just a few.

Guests that make a purchase from the Wonka Bar may find themselves the recipient of a 'golden ticket' with instant win prizes up for grabs including a monthly prize of luxurious accommodation at the hotel.

The Westin Melbourne is delighted to be the official hotel partner for the Melbourne season of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, being a short walk away from the iconic Her Majesty's Theatre. The stage musical, adapted from Roald Dahl's classic children's book of the same name, will preview on August 9 and will be open to the public on August 15.

For those wanting the full experience, The Westin Melbourne is offering a Golden Ticket package which includes luxurious overnight accommodation, two A-Reserve tickets to the musical, a copy of the book, and your choice of two desserts from the Wonka Bar for $450.

The fun doesn't stop there, with The Westin Children's High Tea (for kids aged 4-12) being transformed into a Wonkarrific theme for $49 per child.  Kids can enjoy small delicacies such as Chocolate River Cupcakes, Golden Ticket milk chocolate bar, Violet and almond Gobstopper cookie, Honeycomb and chocolate mousse, Edible vanilla meringue forest mushroom as well as a range of savoury temptations including Ham, tomato and cheese finger sandwich, Chicken and lettuce sandwich, Cucumber finger sandwich and a seasonal quiche.  Served with your choice of fairy floss candyman pop, Violet Beauregarde's bubble gum milk shake, hot chocolate, a range of healthy juices and selection of soft drinks. 

The Wonka Bar and special Children's High Tea offering will run from 9 August to January 2020. To find out more, head to https://www.marriottdeals.com.au/charliemelbourne for more details.

Wonka Bar

Lobby Lounge at The Westin Melbourne

205 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Sunday to Thursday until 9:00pm

Friday & Saturday until 10:30pm

No reservations required.

Bookings are essential for children's high tea.  

Ph: 03 9635 2222

-ends-

For more information, media enquiries or image requests, please contact: Caroline Pietrzak  - caroline.pietrzak@westin.com  / 0404 880 692 

About The Westin Melbourne

With its commanding Collins Street address, elegant accommodation and intuitive service, The Westin Melbourne is the city's stylish centrepiece. Offering the ideal setting to relax, revive and experience renewal, the hotel boasts 262 guest rooms and suites featuring the signature Westin Heavenly® Bed, luxurious marble bathrooms and sweeping views of Melbourne.

Facilities include a 24-hour WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Centre, serene Wellness Centre with 20-metre lap pool, sauna and steam room, sophisticated dining at Allegro Restaurant and refined ambience in the Lobby Lounge bar. Guests can immerse themselves in the city's culture, enjoy the finest shopping and dining experiences and access Melbourne's top attractions all from the hotel's doorstep. For more information, visit westinmelbourne.com. Stay connected to The Westin Melbourne on Instagram and Facebook. 

About Burch & Purchese

Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio (Est. 2011) – 647 Chapel Street, South Yarra Just a hop and skip from the iconic South Yarra intersection of Toorak Road and Chapel Street you'll find Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio. The gorgeous retail store – it's walls hung with edible art, the kitchen and its artistry gloriously on show – is the work of husband and wife team Darren Purchese and Cath Claringbold. In just eight years, B&P has become and institution, a Melbourne original. Love and trusted for Darren's decadent desserts, cakes and cookies made daily, and for his painstakingly handmade creations including seasonal, small batch jams and spreads (try B&P's famous Salted Caramel Spread or unique Chocolate, Strawberry and Balsamic Vinegar Jam), lollipops, confectionary and chocolates.