The two venues took out top honours at a gala awards ceremony at Royal Randwick Racecourse today in front of a crowd of about 1350 industry, political and business leaders.

The sought-after People’s Choice Award was won by Terrigal Beach House on the Central Coast, Best Family Friendly Hotel was Lakeside Village Tavern in Raymond Terrace, Best Live Music venue was taken out by Finnian’s Tavern in Port Macquarie, Heart of the Community was won by Coogee Bay Hotel and Best Bush Pub was awarded to the White Cliffs Hotel in remote central NSW.

The food categories were once again highly competitive; with Best Burger won by Lakeside Village Tavern, Best Parmi, The Marsden Brewhouse, Best Sunday Roast, The Toxteth Hotel Glebe, Best Steak, Lake George Hotel in Bungendore and brand new category Best Chip was taken out by Public House Petersham in Sydney’s Inner West.

Group Hotel Operator of the year was O’Hara Hotels while Individual Hotel Operator award went to Nicholas Clark of The Shortland Hotel.

Popular Central Coast hoteliers, Peter and Jane Harris and Gary and Kerry Narvo received a standing ovation when they were inducted into the AHA NSW Hall of Fame and received the Cyril Maloney Medal. It was the first time in AHA NSW history that two married couples were inducted.

More than 950 nominations were received for awards across 48 categories and AHA NSW CEO John Whelan said the winners represented the best and brightest in the NSW hotel industry.

“These hotels range from mum and dad operations in the most remote parts of the state to multi-level entertainment precincts in our nation’s greatest city,” Mr Whelan said.

“These hotels provide tens of thousands of jobs, raise millions of dollars for charity each and every year and drive the NSW tourism and hospitality economy.

“I would like to congratulate all award winners.”

Other winners include:
Disability Inclusion and Access Award – Toormina Hotel, Toormina
Best Regional Local – Settlers Inn Hotel, Port Macquarie
Best Metropolitan Local – The Governor Hotel, Macquarie Park
Best Outdoor Experience – Terrigal Hotel, Terrigal
Best Late Night Venue – Goros, Surry Hills
Best Sporting Entertainment Venue – Australian Hotel and Brewery, Rouse Hill
Best Draught Beer Quality – The Entrance Social Club, The Entrance
Best Wine List – Shell House, Sydney
Best Cocktail list – Nags Head Hotel, Adamstown
Best Unique Bar Experience – The Underground, The Grand Hotel, Newcastle
Best Cheap Eat Meal (under $20) – Five Islands Hotel, Cringila
Industry Rising Star – Molly L’huede – Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney
Employee Excellence in Service – Cristian Montarulo – Sarino’s, Mullane’s Hotel
Regional Chef of the Year – Shane Clark – Holbrook Hotel, Holbrook
Metropolitan Chef of the Year – Scott Greves – Humphrey’s Hotel, Hurstville and Scott
Mills – Sinclair’s, The Log Cabin, Penrith

Nine venues from Bathurst, Orange, Nyngan and Gulgong are in contention for 27 different awards across 13 different categories.

From popular ‘food’ categories like Best Steak and Best Sunday Roast, to big awards like Best Regional Local and Best Re-development, Central West venues are in with a real chance.

Four venues from Orange are finalists. The Robin Hood Hotel and The Ophir are both finalists for awards including Best Family Friendly, Best Regional Casual Dining and Best Sporting Entertainment Venue. Hotel Canobolas is in line for Best Steak, Best Sunday Roast, and Best Traditional Pub Accommodation, while Orange Cellars is a finalist for Best Retail Liquor Outlet.

The Nyngan Hotel is up for six awards including; Best Deluxe Pub Accommodation, Best Marketing Activity, Best Outdoor Experience, Best Regional Local, Best Regional Re-development and Best Unique Bar Experience.

The Victoria in Bathurst is a finalist for Best Regional Casual Dining and Best Traditional Pub Accommodation, while The Prince of Wales Hotel in Gulgong is a contender for Best Regional Local.

The winners will be named at a gala ceremony this Tuesday, 29 October 2024 at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.

AHA NSW CEO John Whelan said pubs play a special role in regional NSW and the central west was known for its great hospitality.

“Pubs in regional and rural NSW hold a special place in country life which goes well beyond just serving good food and drinks. I wish all the finalists the best of luck next week.”

The new ‘Best Sunday Roast” category at the AHA NSW 2024 Awards for Excellence has seen a team of independent judges fan out across NSW, sampling dozens of entries to bring you the State’s top 15 roasts.

Finalists range from Sydney’s Inner West to the Central West, from Beechwood to Bungendore. The winner will be named at a gala ceremony next Tuesday, 29 October 2024 at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney as one of a record 48 categories including regional and metro hotel of the year.

AHA NSW CEO John Whelan said local pubs have embraced the family roast.

“So give mum or dad a break from cooking for the night and head down to your local and try one of the best roasts in NSW.” he said.

The pubs with the top 15 Sunday roasts of 2024 are:

• Beechwood Hotel, Beechwood
• Bushrangers Bar and Brasserie, Largs
• Golden Barley Hotel, Enmore
• Hotel Canobolas, Orange
• Lakeside Village Tavern, Raymond Terrace
• Nags Head Hotel, Adamstown
• Oaks Hotel, Neutral Bay
• Railway Hotel Gosford, Gosford
• The Coopers Hotel, Newtown
• The Entrance Social Club, The Entrance
• The Royal Hotel Bungendore, Bungendore
• The Royal Hotel Paddington, Paddington
• The Toxteth Hotel, Glebe
• The Winston, Winston Hills
• Willoughby Hotel, Willoughby

From popular ‘food’ categories like best burger or best steak, to ‘people’ categories like industry rising star and best regional chef, Hunter venues are in with a real chance to win.

“To have 19 hotels in the running for awards ranging from food to staffing to family-friendly really does show the depth and strength of the local pub industry,” AHA NSW Newcastle and Hunter President Mick Starkey said.

“With 83 nominations across a record 48 categories, the Hunter’s pubs are showing they are the best of the best in NSW. If I was a betting man, I’d be backing local hotels to walk away with some top prizes next week, but all the finalists are already winners in my opinion.”

From Newcastle/Hunter region, the Bellbird Hotel, Bellbird is a finalist in 10 categories, the Lakeside Village Tavern – Raymond Terrace is a finalist in nine, while the Bradford Hotel – Rutherford and The Beach Hotel – Merewether are both finalists in eight categories. The Shortland Hotel – Shortland and Harrigan’s Cameron Park – Cameron Park have a chance to win in seven categories.

10 hotels are vying for the hotly contested title of Best Regional Casual Dining (Northern) – including the Nags Head Hotel – Adamstown, the Bellbird, the Huntlee Tavern – Branxton, Harrigan’s Cameron Park, Hotel Jesmond – Jesmond, Bull & Bush Medowie – Medowie, The Beach Hotel, the Lakeside Village Tavern, The Shortland Hotel and The Great Northern Hotel, Teralba.

The winners will be named at a gala ceremony on Tuesday, 29 October 2024 at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.

AHA NSW CEO John Whelan said pubs played a special role in regional NSW and it was great to see so many finalists from the Hunter region.

“Pubs in regional and rural NSW truly are the back-bone of their communities,” said Mr Whelan.

“They hold a special place in Australian life which goes well beyond serving good food and drinks. I wish all the finalists the best of luck next week.”