Ardo Hotel rooftop bartender crowned Townsville’s Most Popular Bartender 2024

From a glassy at a Townsville nightclub to making cocktails at the city’s new high-end hotel. Here’s how Townsville’s Most Popular Bartender became one of the best.

Chris Burns

@bews_hound

2 min read

April 19, 2024 - 8:34AM

Townsville Bulletin

Townsville's most popular bartender 2024

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Patrick Hill was encouraged by a friend to start working as a glassy in the Townsville nightclub precinct three years ago as the pandemic played havoc on the hospitality industry.

He begged his managers to let him work behind the bar where it seemed “a lot of fun” and within several months he was bantering with customers and slinging drinks on crowded Saturday nights.

Three years later he has been recognised as Townsville’s most popular bartender from his role making drinks in the Ardo rooftop bar, which is complete with sea breezes and a spectacular view of Magnetic Island and Castle Hill.

When the Townsville Bulletin sought nominations for most popular bartender several names were repeated frequently, with many already recognised for their flair and skill.

But the newcomer that stood out among the familiar names in the hospitality industry was Mr Hill, 22, even before the popular vote was conducted.

Ardo Rooftop's Patrick Hill has won the favourite bartender vote by the Townsville Bulletin readers. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Readers voted for their favourite among the 23 candidates, with Mr Hill receiving 16 per cent of the vote, although he had been challenged by Mad Cow’s Liv Whitcher, who had 13 per cent.

And previously crowned Townsville’s Best Bartender Josh Agostino had been leading in the votes at one point.

Mr Hill said it was “humbling” to have been considered most popular.

“I fell into hospitality by chance, one of my close mates worked in there and he said I’d really like it,” he said.

“I never thought I would be on the top there, especially with some of the bartenders on Flinders Street like Hooch & Fellow’s Josh and Zak.

Bartender Patrick Hill double strains to separate pulp and ice from a Jade Goddess cocktail. The drink includes rum, Midori, kiwi fruit and lime juice. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“I admire them, I admire their knowledge, so it’s a great honour to be voted up with them for sure.”

But he believed he stood out as a bartender working in a great environment while wanting to make sure the customers were enjoying themselves.

His favourite drink to make was the Tiki rum based classic the Mai Tai, but was particular to stirred classics such as the Old Fashioned and Boulevardier, which are simple to make but require good technique and execution for them to stand out.

“There was this bar on Flinders St, one of my closest mates, he taught me quite a lot and we’re still good friends today,” he said.

But his mixology had elevated since working at Ardo as his colleagues and managers brought in different areas of knowledge.

Working on the floor can be unpopular to bartenders who prefer the glamour in making drinks, but at a recent Ardo function Mr Hill was seen stepping out behind the bar to wait on tables instead.

When asked about it, Mr Hill said, ‘I also worked in a restaurant in Palmer St, so that definitely helped working on the floor doing table service, so it’s something I’m used to.

“A drink needs to go out, there’s no point that it’s sitting around.

“It needs to get straight onto the table for the customers.”