DE BORTOLI PUB OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED

The De Bortoli and 3AW ‘Pub of the Year’ has just been announced for 2016, adding Fitzroy’s Town Hall Hotel to a long and distinguished list. Iconic family-owned Australian wine brand De Bortoli has put its name to the pub

ANZ RELEASING NEW-TECH PAYMENT SYSTEM FOR HOTELS

ANZ has created BladePay to address issues in hospitality in integrated mobile payment systems, in an increasingly tech-focused consumer market. This month, ANZ announced the pending launch of BladePay, ahead of its debut release into hotels and restaurants in March.

STEVENS FAMILY PART WITH THE PRINCE

The Stevens family have been tempted into the sale of their highly popular The Prince, with a local publican beating out the Sydney competition. Allan Stevens has been a staple of the pub industry for decades, accumulating a portfolio spread

BLUETONGUE BOYS PEACHEY AND MACGRAW ON QUICKDRAW

Old hands Daryl “Quickdraw” MacGraw and master brewer Bruce Peachey have teamed up to create their next big beer with Qbrew – and a little help from budding brewer Arthur Laundy. Peachey was one of the acclaimed brewers of Lion

LIQUOR REGULATOR OLIVE BRANCH TAKES ROOT

The NSW Government has announced a quick start for plans on relaxing bottleshop closing times and boosting small bars “in time for the festive season”. Government’s response last week to the long-awaited ‘Callinan Review’ spoke of a package of measures

OUTGOING PUBLICANS IN SPOTLIGHT OVER EXPLOSION DEATHS

A Coroner’s inquest into the deaths of two men in an explosion at the closing of the Hotel Rochester has brought into question the responsibilities of the financially stressed outgoing operators. The Hotel in Rochester* was previously operated by husband

HAPPY ENDING FOR PELATHON IN CASE OF COURTHOUSE

A “positive outcome for all” has been achieved with Cairns Council announcing the purchase of Pelathon’s Courthouse Hotel – just bought from Lantern Hotel Group. Lantern listed the Hotel for sale back in June, executing an Expressions of Interest campaign

INCONTROVERTIBLE CRAFT SPAWNS INSTITUTE OF BEER

The fast-changing and trendy business of beer in Australia has taken another evolutionary step, with some of the country’s biggest beer nerds now offering the acclaimed Cicerone training advantage. The crafted beer revolution has been shaking up the establishments in