The prestigious Australian Hotels Association NSW Awards for Excellence for 2025 took place Tuesday in a gala ceremony at Royal Randwick, ushering in the year’s new ambassadors.
A crowd of around 1,400 industry, political and business leaders gathered to see the winners of 47 categories, judged from over 881 nominations in a year where the quality of entrants is said to have “never been higher”.
“From the mum and dad operations in the most remote parts of the state to multi-level entertainment precincts in Sydney, NSW hotels directly employ 72,000 people, raise millions of dollars for charity and drive the NSW tourism and hospitality economy,” praised AHA NSW CEO John Whelan.
The Oxford Bathurst has been the recipient of awards in years gone by, but owner Ash Lyons says they don’t enter unless they “have something to say”.
In the industry since he was 15 years old, he observes the awards have become so prestigious, echoing Whelan’s observation that today’s finalists might previously have been winners.
Enjoying the fruits of a stunning $12 million redevelopment that worked hard to retain and build upon its ‘heart and soul’, the Oxford was this year awarded both Best Regional Development and major title Regional Hotel of the Year.
Lyons says this top tier award is the one he has always wanted, and he was thrilled to have his family in the room to help celebrate.
“We’ve accomplished a lifetime dream,” he told PubTIC, after suitable celebrations.
“Today has been so surreal … emotional … fatigued … blessed and gracious.”
Feros Group has amassed a cabinet of trophies, but is looking to take the record for Metropolitan Hotel of the Year, with previous winners the Terrey Hills Tavern and The Prince joined this year by the new Parc Pavilion in Cronulla.
Chris Feros says he is “incredibly proud” to receive the award, which effectively honours what is his legacy.
“It’s always been a dream to build a pub in Cronulla, and Parc Pavilion is the venue I want to be known for,” he explains.
In a first for the NSW awards, the judges reportedly deemed the standard of Hotel of the Year nominees in 2025 so high it required Distinction Awards to be given to both the Dry Dock in Balmain and Red Lion Hotel in Rozelle.
Feros reiterated what an honour it was to be recognised amongst such a list of “truly exceptional” venues.
“Beyond the beautiful design and the different experiences Parc offers, it’s our people who make the real difference. The team have made Parc their own, and that passion is what delivered the outcome.
“But what matters most is how warmly the community has embraced it. That’s the greatest reward.”
Another treasure of its community is Chris Cheung’s Coogee Bay Hotel, which took home Heart of the Community for the second year in a row.
Other key venue accolades included the 115-year-old Balldale Hotel picking up Best Bush Pub, and the Gerogery Hotel snapping up the coveted People’s Choice Award.
Into the people categories, legend Newcastle hoteliers Rolly and Helen De With saw a standing ovation as they were inducted into the AHA NSW Hall of Fame, marking only the second time in the state history the honour has been bestowed on a married couple.
Steven Speed took out Individual Hotel Operator for his accomplishments at the historic Fortune of War in The Rocks.
And perpetuating the essence of the industry, Group Hotel Operator of 2025 went to the rambunctious outfit of Simon Tilley and Nick Wills.
“In most instances it’s not just one person, but in this instance it’s mainly me,” cracks Tilley, still unable to stop grinning.
“Seriously, we’re humbled, honoured and most grateful to the AHA for putting on a great event.”
With both principals veterans of the game, Tilley & Wills embrace an ethos of being ‘here to help people’ and to contribute to society.
“This is the culmination of years of work by our amazing team, and a testament to the culture we operate under,” Tilley concludes.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
BEST FAMILY FRIENDLY
REGIONAL: Bellbird Hotel Bellbird
METROPOLITAN: The Marsden Brewhouse Marsden Park
BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE
Finnian’s Tavern Port Macquarie
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Park Beach Hotel Motel Coffs Harbour
HEART OF THE COMMUNITY
Coogee Bay Hotel Coogee
BEST REGIONAL LOCAL
The Blamey Hotel Wagga Wagga
BEST METROPOLITAN LOCAL
Parc Pavilion Cronulla
BEST BUSH PUB
Balldale Hotel Balldale
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Peel Inn Hotel Nundle
BEST OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE (INCLUDING ROOFTOP BARS)
Public House Petersham
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Kinross Woolshed Thurgoona
BEST LATE NIGHT VENUE
Universal Sydney Darlinghurst
BEST SPORTING ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
Rocksia Hotel Banksia
BEST WAGERING VENUE
The Lakes Hotel The Entrance
BEST RETAIL LIQUOR OUTLET
Bradford Hotel Bottlemart Rutherford
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Bayfield’s Liquor Store Belrose
BEST DRAUGHT BEER QUALITY
JOINT WINNERS: Lake George Hotel Bungendore, and The Nyngan Hotel Nyngan
BEST WINE LIST
Shell House Dining Room & Terrace Sydney
BEST COCKTAIL LIST
Barangaroo House Barangaroo
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Beach Hotel Merewether
BEST REGIONAL GAMING VENUE
Bull & Bush Hotel Medowie
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Woy Woy Hotel Woy Woy
BEST METROPOLITAN GAMING VENUE
Colonial Hotel Werrington
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Landmark Hotel Eastwood
BEST MARKETING ACTIVITY
Long Flat Pub Long Flat
BEST UNIQUE BAR EXPERIENCE (INCLUDING SMALL, COCKTAIL, LOUNGE OR THEMED BARS)
Goros Surry Hills
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Olivette Wagga Wagga
BEST INNOVATIVE REFURBISHMENT
The Delany Hotel Cooks Hill
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Oxford Bathurst Bathurst
BEST REGIONAL REDEVELOPMENT
The Oxford Bathurst
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Aanuka Beach House Coffs Harbour
BEST METROPOLITAN REDEVELOPMENT
Oran Park Hotel Oran Park
BEST TRADITIONAL PUB ACCOMMODATION
Tempe Hotel Tempe
BEST DELUXE PUB ACCOMMODATION
Headlands Hotel Austinmer
BEST STEAK
The Oaks Hotel Neutral Bay
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Grill, The International Sydney
BEST PARMI
Railway Hotel Temora
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Country Club Hotel Tooleybuc Tooleybuc
BEST STEAK SANDWICH
Coramba Hotel Coramba
HIGHLY COMMENDED: George Darby Hotel Newcastle
BEST BURGER
Robertson Public House and Kitchen Robertson
HIGHLY COMMENDED: George Darby Hotel Newcastle
BEST SUNDAY ROAST
The Royal Hotel Paddington Paddington
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Bushrangers Bar & Brasserie Largs
BEST CHEAP EAT MEAL (UNDER $20)
Great Northern Hotel Teralba
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Five Islands Hotel Cringila
BEST REGIONAL CASUAL DINING (NORTHERN)
Aanuka Beach House Coffs Harbour
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Settlers Inn Hotel Port Macquarie
BEST REGIONAL CASUAL DINING (SOUTHERN)
Lakeview Hotel Motel Oak Flats
BEST REGIONAL CASUAL DINING (WESTERN)
The Victoria Bathurst Bathurst
BEST METROPOLITAN CASUAL DINING (CBD & EASTERN)
Charing Cross Hotel Waverley
BEST METROPOLITAN CASUAL DINING (NORTHERN)
Longueville Hotel Lane Cove
BEST METROPOLITAN CASUAL DINING (SOUTHERN)
The Prince Kirrawee
BEST METROPOLITAN CASUAL DINING (WESTERN)
The Log Cabin Penrith
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Peachtree Hotel Penrith
BEST RESTAURANT
The Dining Room, The Dry Dock
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Bistro Red Lion by Manu, The Red Lion Hotel Balmain
BEST CHIP
Lakeside Village Tavern Raymond Terrace
INDUSTRY RISING STAR
Zoe Archer – Settlers Inn Hotel
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Molly Willis – Laundy Hotels
EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE
Saskia Eichler – Verandah Bar
HIGHLY COMMENDED: David Delanty – Great Southern Inn, and Zoe Tuilotolava – Hunt Hospitality
REGIONAL CHEF OF THE YEAR
Stefano Burlando – The Oxford Bathurst
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Jamie Everson – Coramba Hotel Bathurst
METROPOLITAN CHEF OF THE YEAR
JOINT WINNERS: Han Chen – Cruise Bar and Restaurant, and Kirsten Baker – General Gordon Hotel
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Rolly and Helen De With
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Gerogery Hotel Gerogery
INDIVIDUAL HOTEL OPERATOR OF THE YEAR
Fortune of War Sydney
GROUP HOTEL OPERATOR OF THE YEAR
Tilley & Wills Hotels
REGIONAL HOTEL OF THE YEAR
The Oxford Bathurst
METROPOLITAN HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Parc Pavilion Cronulla
DISTINCTION AWARDS: The Dry Dock Public House and Dining Room Balmain, The Red Lion Hotel Rozelle
