Blacks Beach Tavern’s Michelle Clews voted Mackay’s best bartender

Michelle Clews has been lighting up the faces of Blacks Beach Tavern patrons for 13 years — and she wouldn’t dream of doing anything else.

Michelle Clews has been a bartender at the Black's Beach Tavern since 2008 and has just taken out the Daily Mercury's Best Bartender competition. Picture: Lillian Watkins

The winner of the Best Bartender competition draws patrons into Blacks Beach Tavern with her infectious enthusiasm and her mastership of the iconic cocktail, the backhanded panda.

“I get told when people walk through the door they hear my laugh and it puts a smile on their face,” Michelle Clews said.

Mrs Clews was initially on track to work in childcare but that was pushed to the side when she fell in love with the timeless trade of bartending.

When she left school, her parents helped her get a job doing work experience at a pub in her hometown of Scotts Head in New South Wales.

‘You don’t say you’ve got nothing to do, you get a tooth brush and start scrubbing’: Mackay’s best bartender Michelle Clews on her work ethic. Picture: Lillian Watkins

Eventually Mrs Clews, with her husband and three boys, made the move to Queensland where she started work at the Blacks Beach Tavern under the watchful gaze of Jean and Geordie Crombie.

“They taught me everything I know,” she said.

“You don’t say you’ve got nothing to do, you get a tooth brush and start scrubbing,” she said with a laugh.

Mrs Clews has been at the tavern for 13 years now.

“I love my job, I love my customers,” she said.

“You can always have a joke and a bit of fun.”

Blacks Beach Tavern patrons Spencer Gamman and Shane Hawes with Best Bartender winner Michelle Clews. Picture: Lillian Watkins

And after 13 years it is only natural the patrons and staff become like family, a fact that came to the fore when her husband had a heart attack a few years ago.

“They are like family,” she said.

And they don’t hold her New South Wales upbringing against her, unless of course its State of Origin night.

“State of Origin has got to be my favourite night, especially when we win and I can hold it over everyone,” Mrs Clews said.

Mrs Clews said she was beyond shocked to win Matt Preston and the Daily Mercury’s Best Bartender competition.

“I am really grateful, thank you to everyone who voted for me.”