Australian Brewery the toast of Tokyo

Australian Brewery beer is continuing its global export run with Japan, exceeding demand expectations with two large supermarket chains stocking the crafty product. Working with highly respected Japanese importer Konishi, the brewery has added to its growing list of exporting

It’s closing time for British pubs

Daniel ‘Rant’ Leroy is a pseudo-veteran of the Australian hospitality scene, having strutted about as a licensee, general manager and operator at some impressive Sydney venues. These days he consults privately to operators in Europe, maintaining his persona of a

Awards for Excellence honour top NSW venues and professionals

The NSW branch of the Australian Hotels Association held its annual Awards of Excellence night in late November, with deserving winners across 43 award categories. BEST BOUTIQUE BEER OFFERING WINNER: Potters Hotel Brewery Resort, Nulkaba BEST COCKTAIL/LOUNGE BAR WINNER: The

Dr Draught announces beer line cleaning cure

Former CUB beer boffin Vic Testolin is distributing a premium European line cleaning product that makes perfect results quicker and easier for beer specialty venues. A microbiologist turned brewing expert, Testolin’s Dr Draught business has partnered with Austria’s Thonhauser to

Mikey Robbins could Lunchalot in pubs

Australian comedic stalwart Mikey Robbins launched a service to leverage the power of digital marketing to fill empty restaurant seats. Known as Lunchalot, the service brings together hungry bargain-hunters and eating establishments with unfilled chairs. Users of the service get

Dandy $2.8m Keno win for pensioner patron

A long-term disability pensioner hit cloud nine in August after a massive Keno windfall at a pub in the Dandenong ranges. A local resident scored a $2.78 million win at the Jim Dandy Hotel playing $1 10-number Keno games. The

CBH launches wedding package and bridal fair

The Coogee Bay Hotel relaunched its wedding offerings in time for Spring 2014, and boosted promotion by hosting Vintage Bridge magazine’s first wedding fair in Sydney. The symposium included discussion and displays by vendors and experts in the subject, paying

Waugh Group overhauls City Hotel

In July Sydney’s Waugh Group launched its concept for the former City Hotel, offering a taste of Mr Tipply’s savoir fare to the inner-city markets. Spread over two levels, the eclectic designer-styled venue aims at ‘relaxed yet sophisticated’, with rich

Fire strikes the heart of Cobar

The NSW rural town of Cobar lost two of its beloved in August, as one of its oldest pubs burnt to the ground and a local firefighter tragically lost his life defending it. Borne of a copper rush that began