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 Bourbon, Potts Point
BEST TRADITIONAL HOTEL BAR
WINNER: HPH – Hotel Pennant Hills, Pennant Hills
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Port Stephens Country Club, Shoal Bay
Longueville Hotel, Lane Cove
Royal Hotel, Randwick
BEST RETAIL LIQUOR OUTLET
WINNER: Sackville Hotel, Rozelle
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Port Macquarie Hotel, Port Macquarie
BEST FAMILY FRIENDLY HOTEL
WINNER: The Ettamogah, Kellyville Ridge
HIGHLY COMMENDED
The Park Beach Hotel Motel, Coffs Harbour
Newport Arms Hotel, Newport
BEST OUTDOOR / NON-ENCLOSED FACILITY
WINNER: Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, Watsons Bay
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Rose of Australia, Erskineville
Newtown Hotel, Newtown
BEST NEW / REDEVELOPED HOTEL – COUNTRY
WINNER: Kooringal Hotel, Wagga Wagga
BEST NEW/REDEVELOPED HOTEL – CITY
WINNER: Hotel Centennial, Woollahra
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Donny’s, Manly
OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE AND ACHIEVEMENT
WINNER: Camden Valley Inn, Camden Park
BEST PROMOTIONAL CONCEPT
WINNER: Merivale, Sydney (March into Merivale Food & Wine Festival 2014)
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Willoughby Hotel, Willoughby
BEST SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY
WINNER: ivy (Pacha) Sydney
WINNER: Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, Watsons Bay
BEST RESTAURANT – COUNTRY
WINNER: Graze, Willow Tree Inn, Willow Tree
BEST RESTAURANT – CITY
WINNER: Saké Restaurant & Bar, Sydney
HIGHLY COMMENDED
PVH, Parkview Hotel, Alexandria
BEST FINE DINING RESTAURANT MAJORITY OF MAINS $35+
WINNER: Momofuku Seiobo, The Star, Pyrmont
BEST CASUAL DINING VENUE – COUNTRY NORTHERN
WINNER: Gunyah Hotel, Belmont
HIGHLY COMMENDED
The Longyard Hotel, Tamworth
BEST CASUAL DINING VENUE – COUNTRY SOUTHERN
WINNER: Jamberoo Pub, Jamberoo
BEST CASUAL DINING VENUE – COUNTRY WESTERN
WINNER: Lawson Park Hotel, Mudgee
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Jack Duggans Irish Pub, Bathurst
BEST CASUAL DINING VENUE – CITY EASTERN
WINNER: Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee
BEST CASUAL DINING VENUE – CITY NORTHERN
WINNER: Longueville Hotel, Lane Cove
BEST CASUAL DINING VENUE – CITY SOUTHERN
WINNER: Rocksia Hotel, Arncliffe
BEST CASUAL DINING VENUE – CITY WESTERN
WINNER: The Riverview Hotel, Balmain
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Lone Pine Tavern, Rooty Hill
BEST STEAK VENUE
WINNER: Hibernian Hotel, Goulburn
HIGHLY COMMENDED
The Oaks, Neutral Bay
BEST BURGER
WINNER: Hunters Hill Hotel, Hunters Hill
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Rose of Australia Erskineville
BEST ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
WINNER: ivy, Pacha, Sydney
WINNER: Eastern Hotel, Bondi
HIGHLY COMMENDED
The Park Beach Hotel Motel, Coffs Harbour
BEST SPORTS BAR
WINNER: Union Hotel, North Sydney
BEST GAMING VENUE
WINNER: Landmark Hotel, Eastwood
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Eastwood Hotel, Eastwood
BEST PUB TAB – COUNTRY
WINNER: Kingscliff Beach Hotel, Kingscliff
BEST PUB TAB – CITY
WINNER: The Ettamogah, Kellyville Ridge
BEST KENO VENUE – COUNTRY
WINNER: Railway Hotel, Parkes
BEST KENO VENUE – CITY
WINNER: The Fairfield Hotel, Fairfield
BEST PUB-STYLE ACCOMMODATION TRADITIONAL
WINNER: Royal Hotel Randwick, Randwick
BEST PUB-STYLE ACCOMMODATION DELUXE
WINNER: Establishment Hotel, Sydney
INDUSTRY RISING STAR
WINNER: Andrew El-Bayeh – Merivale, Sydney
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Peter Tavernese – Merivale, Sydney
COCKTAIL BARTENDER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Michael Jones – The Bourbon, Potts Point
CHEF OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Peter Doyle – est. , Establishment Hotel, Sydney
CHEF – RISING STAR
WINNER: Michael Urquhart – Bonville Golf Resort, Flooded Gums Restaurant, Bonville
BEST BATHROOM FACILITIES
WINNER: Urban Purveyor Group, Sydney
The Cut Bar & Grill – Ananas Bar & Brasserie
INDIVIDUAL HOTEL OPERATOR OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Janine Redman – The George Tavern
WINNER: Trevor Walker – Parkview Hotel
GROUP HOTEL OPERATOR OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Gallagher Hotel Management
OVERALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR – COUNTRY
WINNER: Kooringal Hotel, Wagga Wagga
OVERALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR – CITY
WINNER: The Oaks, Neutral Bay