Who won: Victoria‘s Hospitality Industry celebrated at excellency award

Want to know officially where the best pub in Victoria is? Where you can get the best beer and the best parma? Or which space is the best for events and functions? Find out here.

Victoria's best bars and pubs revealed as popular establishments take swoop several awards.

Kids, dogs and patrons names — know those and you could be named the best pub in metropolitan Melbourne.

That’s according to the 2023 winner of the Victorian State Awards for Excellence in Hospitality, the Terminus Hotel Fitzroy North.

Venue manager Taylor Hartwig said the hotel’s commitment to the community was a “big driver” behind winning the big suburban title.

“From a customer perspective, what really drives people (to the hotel) is the welcoming environment; it’s like you when come first, you’ll always want to come back,” he said.

“We’re very big on recall. Our slogan is ‘the local’s local Terminus’. The vast majority of my front of house team know all their regulars by name and know their dogs’ and kids’ names.”

*Some awards were taken out by the same hotel, and only feature once in the graphic

And it’s taken three years of nominations but the pub’s chef Jake Furst has finally also been named the best in Victoria

“It’s a great recognition for Jake winning chef,” Mr Hartwig said.

“He puts a huge amount of work into both of our key spaces at the Terminus.”

Regional Victoria also shone in the AHA awards, with The Star Hotel in Sale taking out the People’s Choice Award and the regional hotel of the year going to the Grovedale Hotel.

Other key winners included the Belgian Beer Cafe and the Precinct Hotel in Melbourne.

More than 1200 people gathered at Crown Palladium for the awards, honouring and awarding the industry’s strength and successes.

Australian Hotel’s Association chief executive Paddy O’Sullivan said the awards for excellence were a celebration of the accomplishments of Victoria’s pubs and hotels.

“We come together to recognise the outstanding hospitality service and delivery in Victoria. We also express gratitude to the dedicated pub and hotel staff for their invaluable contributions to ensure the success of our industry,” she said.

The Western Hotel, Ballarat’s Henry Wines took out the emerging leader title, while the excellence in service gong went to Joanna Murthy-Nitka of Kennington Tavern.

The Local Legend award went to Ben Fisher from the Middle Hotel, Korumburra.

The best parmas were also named, with the top 10 in Victoria listed.