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 award for a generation. Responding to questions as to why it has steadfastly maintained this allegiance, De Bortoli Wines national sales manager Vince Gurciullo says it’s how it should be.
“De Bortoli Wines has been proudly sponsoring radio 3AW’s ‘Pub of the Week’ segment for 25 years, as it aligns perfectly with the De Bortoli family’s belief that good wine and good food shared with good friends and family should be part of everyday life.
“It’s a great opportunity to recognise pubs that offer the wine, beer, food and ambience that match this, while helping to raise our profile in the pub scene.”
The ongoing Pub of the Week mentions culminate each year in the Pub of the Year announcement by 3AW’s buoyant hospitality critic, Tony Leonard.
The final three for the year were disclosed as the Prince Albert in Williamstown, Woodlands in Coburg, and the Town Hall in Fitzroy.
While Leonard had much nice to say about the Prince and Woodlands, it was the Town Hall that won out with an impressive hard-earned 17.5 out of 20 in both its reviews.
Leonard noted the excellent standard of both levels of pricing in dining, in both the bar and restaurant. The uplift in foodservice is not surprising, given the Town Hall was purchased by celebrity chef Sean Donovan in August last year.
“Above all, this is not a restaurant in a pub, although the food could easily pass for such,” commented Leonard.
“It is a genuine local, with a local’s heart and Sean Donovan is the equal of any cook in a pub in my time of talking pubs.”
The De Bortoli 3AW Pub of the Year Honour Role
2016 Fitzroy Town Hall Fitzroy
2015 Tinamba Tinamba
2014 Plough Trentham
2013 Royal Clifton Hill
2012 Wayside Inn Sth Melbourne
2011 Lincoln Hotel Carlton
2010 Terminus Hotel Clifton Hill
2009 Grand Hotel Richmond
2008 Station/Carringbush Footscray/Abbotsford
2007 Bouzy Rouge Richmond
2006 The Albion Port Melbourne
2005 Metropolitan/Brandon Hotel Nth Melbourne/Carlton
2004 The Beach Hotel Albert Park
2003 Court House Hotel North Melbourne
2002 London Tavern Richmond
2001 Doyle’s/Vine Mentone/Abbotsford
2000 Royal Park North Melbourne
1999 Emerald Sth Melbourne
1998 Clare Castle/O’Connells Carlton/Sth Melbourne
1997 Spencer West Melbourne
1996 All Nations Richmond