Chef David Moyle returns to Victoria’s Surf Coast with The Clam — a new beach shack-inspired tavern in Lorne.
Acclaimed chef David Moyle, known for his coastal gem Salty Mangrove and a culinary journey that includes Harvest, Longsong, and Franklin, is making a triumphant return to Victoria’s Surf Coast with his latest venture, The Clam. This beach shack-inspired tavern, nestled in the heart of Lorne, promises a fusion of 1960s bohemia and laidback beach vibes.
Having carved out a unique niche in the Australian restaurant scene over the past five years in New South Wales, Moyle is eager to bring his culinary prowess back to the picturesque seaside village of Lorne.
“As a kid growing up in Port Fairy, Lorne felt like Los Angeles. Even now, driving into town, I still get goosebumps – it’s such a special place,” says Moyle. “I spent a summer here as a teenager and remember thinking I would love to return and run my own place someday,” he explains. “25 years later, you could say The Clam is the realisation of a long-held dream.”
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Designed as a casual, walk-in venue, The Clam invites patrons to experience Moyle’s produce-driven menu, featuring seafood, various dips, vegetable and fish dishes, and, of course, “really good” hand-cut chips. With its terraced deck boasting ocean views, sunshine, and salty sea air, The Clam perfectly embodies Moyle’s vision of a welcoming space where guests can stroll in straight from the beach.
“I want The Clam to be a place where you can come straight from the beach with sand on your feet and feel welcome,” he explains, adding that he wants it to feel “unpretentious, worn-in and a bit rough around the edges.”
Joining forces with Moyle is business partner George Barnes, co-owner of Salty Mangrove and a creative force behind iconic Sydney venues like Fratelli Paradiso, 10 William, and Icebergs Dining Room and Bar. Barnes plans to infuse The Clam’s interiors with a sense of nostalgia, drawing inspiration from Lorne’s rich history of 1960s and ’70s surf/ski counterculture.
The Clam, located on Mountjoy Parade, aligns seamlessly with Lorne’s emerging cultural precinct alongside the recently revived Art Deco Lorne Theatre. In collaboration with Chris Barton, co-founder of Lorne Theatre, Moyle envisions The Clam as the hospitality arm of a vibrant culture and hospitality precinct. Guests can expect a seamless blend of food, drink, and cultural experiences, creating a unique destination for locals and visitors alike.
“The Clam will operate loosely as the hospitality arm of Lorne Theatre,” Moyle explains. “It won’t exactly be a pub or a restaurant, it will sit somewhere in between, which makes it more versatile and approachable – at any time of the day.
“Back in the 1960s, some pretty notable Aussie bands came and played here in Lorne. Looking back at the photos from the era you get a sense of the creative spirit of the time; that Lorne was this unique place at the end of the earth where interesting things were happening,” Barnes adds. “With The Clam, we really want to evoke some of that same spirit.”
To kick off its presence, The Clam will unveil a pop-up bar on its deck in early January, featuring a feel-good food offer by Melbourne’s cult dumpling house Shandong Mama. A dedicated wine program by Blackhearts & Sparrows and a rotating roster of Moyle’s favourite Australian food vendors throughout the year will further enhance the culinary journey.
Moyle, known for infusing cultural experiences into his projects (think Laneway Festival, Rising, and Soul for Natural Wine Festival), sees The Clam as a celebration of creative voices.
“The Clam will be a celebratory place – fun, irreverent, a bit loose, mildly hedonistic and never finished.”
The Clam’s deck opens its doors in early January, promising a taste of bohemian indulgence by the beach. For the latest updates, follow The Clam on Instagram here.
The Clam will be located at 82 – 84 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne.
