Winners of ‘24: Victoria’s Hospitality Industry celebrated at state excellence award
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Regional pubs are the best in Victoria, according to the latest AHA State Awards for Excellence, with more than half of the winners coming from country Victoria.
AHA Victoria chief executive Paddy O’Sullivan said the awards, attended by more than 1200 people at Crown Paladium on Monday night, “recognised the significant commitment and dedication of our publicans, hoteliers and their staff”.
Pat Sheehan and Marilyn Bell from Bendigo’s Rising Sun Hotel took home the prestigious Nikakis Benchmark Award for their “outstanding dedication and service to their community and the hospitality industry”, while Rory Brown was named Victoria’s best chef in 2024 for his modern style pub menu at the Five Flags Hotel in Campbells Creek.
The Dandenongs’ Paradise Valley Hotel won the Best Cocktail List of the Year for their innovative creations, but Parma of the Year went to the Middle Hotel in Korumburra (who also won the regional hotel of the year title).
The Star Hotel in Sale won the People’s Choice Award from a field of 146 contenders, while Steward McKinnon from the Barwon Heads Hotel was named Local Legend of the Year and Matthew Connell from Geelong’s The Wharf Shed was named Venue Manager of the Year.
In Melbourne, Overall Hotel of the Year title went to The Notting Hill Hotel and Best Hotel Group Operator went to the Kickon Group who run venues including The Terminus Hotel in Fitzroy, The Continental in Sorrento and Pincho Disco in Collingwood.
Teller, in Brunswick West, was named Melbourne’s best casual dining venue while Bells Hotel in South Melbourne had the best rooftop experience.
See the full list of winning pubs (and runners up) below.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
THE 2024 BENCHMARK AWARD — RISING SUN HOTEL BENDIGO
Pat Sheehan and Marilyn Bell from the Rising Sun Hotel Bendigo won the title of The 2024 Nikakis Benchmark Award.
Named after the late Nick Nikakis, the most prestigious award of the night recognises an individual or organisation who, by their sustained performance and commitment,
serves as an inspiration to all in the industry.
Pat and Marilyn have been long involved with Bendigo’s community making them the pillars of the tight-knit community.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD — THE STAR HOTEL SALE
The Star Hotel, Sale has once again won the highly contested title of People’s Choice Award.
The fan-favourite hotel took out the award for the second year running, maintaining its standing as the “local’s local”.
OVERALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR – METROPOLITAN — NOTTING HILL HOTEL aka THE NOTT
The highly anticipated Overall Hotel of the Year – Metropolitan was won by Notting Hill Hotel, Notting Hill.
2024 Finalists:
The Botanical Hotel (South Yarra)
The Continental Sorrento
The Fifth Province (St Kilda)
The Bay Hotel Mornington (Mornington)
The Camden Hotel (Caulfield South)
The Fifth Province (St Kilda)
The Grand Hotel Warrandyte
Hotel Sorrento
London Tavern Hotel (Richmond)
Lower Plenty Hotel
Notting Hill Hotel and
The Terminus North Fitzroy.
OVERALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR (REGIONAL) — THE MIDDLE HOTEL KORUMBURRA
The Middle Hotel, Korumburra has been named Overall Hotel of the Year – Regional.
2024 finalists:
San Remo Hotel
American Hotel Echuca
Kennington Tavern
The Middle Hotel Korumburra
Western Hotel, Ballarat
The Drouin Family Hotel
Grand Junction Hotel (Traralgon)
Grovedale Hotel
Kennington Tavern (Kennington) and
Mountain View Hotel (Whitfield)
BEST CASUAL DINING (METROPOLITAN) — TELLER, BRUNSWICK EAST
Teller in Brunswick East has won the title of 2024 Best Casual Dining Venue in metropolitan Melbourne.
2024 finalists:
The Bay Hotel Mornington
Berwick Inn (Berwick)
The Camden Hotel (Caulfield South)
The Continental Sorrento (Sorrento)
The Fifth Province (St Kilda)
London Tavern Hotel (Richmond)
Mail Exchange Hotel (Melbourne)
Micawber Tavern (Belgrave )
BEST CASUAL DINING (REGIONAL) — ROYAL HOTEL DROUIN
Royal Hotel Drouin has been named 2024’s Best Casual Dining (Regional).
2024 finalists:
The Albion Hotel (Kyneton)
Botanical Hotel Bendigo
Central Lakes Hotel (Lakes Entrance)
The Drouin Family Hotel
Grovedale Hotel (Grovedale)
Kennington Tavern
The Mansfield Hotel
Mansfield The Middle Hotel Korumburra
Mountain View Hotel (Whitfield)
The Old Town ‘N’ Country Tavern (Wangaratta)
Poowong Hotel (Poowong)
San Remo Hotel
Torquay Hotel
The Victoria Hotel (Woodend)
Western Hotel (Ballarat)
BEST FAMILY DINING — THE OLD TOWN ‘N’ COUNTRY TAVERN, WANGARATTA
The Old Town ‘N’ Country Tavern in Wangaratta was named the 2024 Best Family Dining in Victoria.
2024 finalists:
Bridge Inn Hotel (Mernda)
Castello’s Victorian Tavern (Gisborne)
Cross Keys Hotel (Essendon)
The Drouin Family Hotel
Five Flags Hotel
Campbells Creek The Heritage Balnarring (Balnarring)
Lower Plenty Hotel
Pink Hill Hotel (Beaconsfield)
The Star Hotel Sale
Wheelers Hill Hotel
BEST PUB RESTAURANT (METROPOLITAN) — AUDREY’S, THE CONTINENTAL SORRENTO
Audrey’s at The Continental Sorrento has been named 2024’s Best Pub Restaurant (metro).
2024 finalists:
A Cut Above Bar & Grill
Berwick Springs Hotel
Botanical Hotel (South Yarra)
The Camden Hotel (Caulfield South)
Central Club Hotel (North Melbourne)
Hotel Sorrento
Malvern Hotel (Toorak)
Mr McCracken (Essendon Fields)
Notting Hill Hotel
Paradise Valley Hotel (Clematis)
Racecourse Hotel (Malvern East)
The Railway Club Hotel (Port Melbourne)
St Andrews Hotel (Fitzroy)
Taxi Kitchen (Melbourne)
The Terminus North Fitzroy
BEST PUB RESTAURANT (REGIONAL) — THE VICTORIA RUTHERGLEN
The Victoria Rutherglen has won the coveted Best Pub Restaurant (Regional) at the 2024 State Awards for Excellence.
2024 finalists:
Kennington Tavern
Meredith Hotel
Mitchell River Tavern (Bairnsdale)
Portarlington Grand Hotel (Portarlington
Sawyers Arms Tavern (Newtown)
Tinamba Hotel (Tinamba).
BEST COCKTAIL LIST OF THE YEAR — PARADISE VALLEY HOTEL, CLEMATIS
Paradise Valley Hotel in Clematis has taken the title for 2024 Best Cocktails List of the Year award.
2024 finalists:
The Albert Park Hotel
Barwon Heads Hotel
Botanical Hotel (South Yarra)
The Camden Hotel (Caulfield South)
Central Club Hotel (North Melbourne)
Cookie (Melbourne)
Hogans Hotel (Wallan)
Lower Plenty Hotel
Mail Exchange Hotel
The Middle Hotel Korumburra
Mitchell River Tavern (Bairnsdale)
The Victoria Hotel, Woodend
BEST LIVE ENTERTAINMENT VENUE — CROXTON PARK HOTEL, THORNBURY
Croxton Park Hotel in Thornbury is named 2024’s Best Live Entertainment Venue.
2024 finalists:
American Hotel Echuca
Corner Hotel (Richmond)
Elephant and Wheelbarrow (Melbourne)
The Fifth Province (St Kilda),
Jimmy O’Neills Whiskey And Alehouse (St Kilda)
Pier Hotel (Frankston)
Torquay Hotel and Transport Hotel (Melbourne).
BEST NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE MENU — KENNINGTON TAVERN
Kennington Tavern in Kennington has won Best Non-Alcoholic Beverage Menu of 2024.
2024 finalists:
Botanical Hotel (South Yarra)
The Camden Hotel (Caulfield South)
Lower Plenty Hotel
Teller (Brunswick East)
The Victoria Hotel (Woodend)
BEST OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE (METROPOLITAN) — NOTTING HILL HOTEL, NOTTING HILL
Notting Hill Hotel, Notting Hill has also won the Best Outdoor Experience award for metropolitan.
2024 finalists:
Glenferrie Hotel (Hawthorn)
The Grand Hotel Warrandyte
The Heritage Balnarring (Balnarring)
London Tavern Hotel (Richmond)
Lower Plenty Hotel
Micawber Tavern (Belgrave)
Panton Hill Hotel (Panton Hill)
Platform 28 (Docklands)
Portsea Hotel (Portsea)
The Precinct Hotel (Cremorne)
The Sporting Globe Bar & Grill Knox
Stamford Inn (Rowville)
BEST OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE (REGIONAL) — THE MIDDLE HOTEL KORUMBURRA
The Middle Hotel in Korumburra has also been titled 2024’s Best Outdoor Experience (regional).
2024 finalists:
Mountain View Hotel (Whitfield)
San Remo Hotel
Western Hotel (Ballarat).
BEST PRESENTED BEER — THE TERMINUS NORTH FITZROY
The Best Presented Beer title for 2024 has gone to The Terminus North Fitzroy in North Fitzroy.
2024 finalists:
The Bay Hotel Mornington
Belgian Beer Cafe Melbourne (Southbank)
Botanical Hotel Bendigo
The Fifth Province (St Kilda)
Glenferrie Hotel (Hawthorn)
Hotel Sorrento
London Tavern Hotel (Richmond)
Ludlow (Southbank)
Melbourne Central Lion Hotel (Melbourne Central),
Micawber Tavern (Belgrave)
The Quiet Man Irish Pub (Flemington)
The Windsor Alehouse (Windsor).
BEST PUB BAR (METROPOLITAN) — THE FIFTH PROVINCE, ST KILDA
The 2024 Best Pub Bar (metro) has gone to The Fifth Province in St Kilda.
2024 finalists:
The Bay Hotel Mornington
Botanical Hotel
Bridie O’Reilly’s (South Yarra)
Central Club Hotel (North Melbourne)
Elephant and Wheelbarrow (Melbourne)
Glenferrie Hotel (Hawthorn)
Hotel Sorrento
London Tavern Hotel (Richmond)
Mail Exchange Hotel
The Oxford Scholar
The Railway Club Hotel (Port Melbourne)
St Andrews Hotel (Fitzroy)
Transport Hotel (Melbourne)
The Windsor Alehouse (Windsor)
BEST PUB BAR (REGIONAL) — POOWONG HOTEL & THE BEACH HOTEL JAN JUC
The Best Pub Bar regional title has tied between winners Poowong Hotel and The Beach Hotel Jan Juc.
2024 finalists:
Crown Hotel (Traralgon)
The Drouin Family Hotel
Kennington Tavern, Kennington
The Middle Hotel Korumburra
Royal Hotel Drouin
San Remo Hotel
The Victoria Rutherglen
The Victoria Hotel (Woodend)
Western Hotel (Ballarat).
BEST RETAIL LIQUOR OUTLET — NOTTING HILL HOTEL
Notting Hill Hotel has also been awarded the 2024 Best Retail Liquor Outlet’
2024 finalists:
The Camden Hotel (Caulfield South)
Kelly’s Motor Club Hotel (Cranbourne)
Lower Plenty Hotel
Mornington Hotel
Old England Hotel in Heidelberg
BEST ROOFTOP EXPERIENCE — BELLS HOTEL, SOUTH MELBOURNE
Bells Hotel in South Melbourne has won the title of 2024’s Best Rooftop Experience in Victoria.
2024 finalists:
The Albion Rooftop & Club (South Melbourne)
Corner Hotel (Richmond)
Hotel Lona (Frankston)
Platform 28 (Docklands)
Transit Rooftop Bar (Melbourne)
BEST SPECIALTY BAR — MITCHELL RIVER TAVERN, BAIRNSDALE
Mitchell River Tavern in Bairnsdale has been awarded the coveted Best Speciality Bar.
2024 finalists:
Belgian Beer Cafe Melbourne
Bridie O’Reilly’s
Clifton Hill Brewpub
The Cross (St Kilda)
Elephant and Wheelbarrow
The Fifth Province (St Kilda)
Jimmy O’Neills Whiskey And Alehouse (St Kilda)
Melbourne Central Lion Hotel, Melbourne Central
The Quiet Man Irish Pub (Flemington)
Trinity St Kilda (St Kilda)
BEST SPORTS BAR (METROPOLITAN) — ROSSTOWN HOTEL, CARNEGIE
Rosstown Hotel in Carnegie has won the Best Sports Bar (metro) at the 2024 State Awards for Excellence.
2024 finalists:
Cross Keys Hotel (Essendon)
Highpoint Hotel (Maribyrnong)
The King Hotel (Melbourne)
Pink Hill Hotel (Beaconsfield)
The Precinct Hotel (Cremorne)
The Sporting Globe Bar & Grill Northland
Turf Sports Bar (Melbourne)
BEST SPORTS BAR (REGIONAL) — CROWN HOTEL, TRARALGON
Crown Hotel in Traralgon has won the title of Best Sports Bar in regional Victoria.
2024 finalists:
The Drouin Family Hotel
Grand Junction Hotel (Traralgon)
Grovedale Hotel
San Remo Hotel.
BUSH PUB OF THE YEAR — COMMERCIAL HOTEL WOODS POINT
Commercial Hotel Woods Point in Woods Point has been named 2024 Bush Pub of the Year.
2024 finalists:
Barmah Hotel (Barmah)
Mountain View Hotel (Whitfield)
Victoria Hotel (Dimboola)
Woodside Beach Hotel, (Woodside Beach)
BEST HOTEL ACCOMMODATION — HOTEL SORRENTO
Hotel Sorrento in Sorrento has won the Best Hotel Accomodation for 2024.
2024 finalists:
Portarlington Grand Hotel in Portarlington.
BEST HOTEL – PUB STYLE ACCOMMODATION — OSCARS HOTEL & CAFE BAR, BALLARAT
Oscars Hotel & Cafe Bar in Ballarat has been named Best Hotel – Pub Style Accommodation.
2024 finalists:
Central Club Hotel, North Melbourne
The Delatite Hotel, Mansfield
Glenferrie Hotel, Hawthorn
Mornington Hotel, Mornington
Royal Hotel Drouin, Drouin
Royal Hotel, Essendon,
Sands Hotel, Carrum Downs
York on Lilydale, Mt Evelyn
BEST GAMING VENUE – METROPOLITAN — THE CAMDEN HOTEL, CAULFIELD SOUTH
The Camden Hotel in Caulfield South has been named Best Gaming Venue Metropolitan.
2024 finalists:
The Camden Hotel, Caulfield South
Dingley Hotel, Dingley
Epping Plaza Hotel, Epping Plaza
Grosvenor Hotel, St Kilda East
Hallam Hotel, Hallam
Kelly’s Motor Club Hotel, Cranbourne
Mail Exchange Hotel, Melbourne
Old England Hotel, Heidelberg
Racecourse Hotel, Malvern East
Rosstown Hotel, Carnegie
Sir Henry Barkly Hotel, Heidelberg
BEST GAMING VENUE – REGIONAL — GRAND JUNCTION HOTEL, TRARALGON
Grand Junction Hotel in Traralgon has been named Best Gaming Venue Regional.
2024 finalists:
Castello’s Victorian Tavern, Gisborne
Golden Point Hotel, Golden Point
Grand Junction Hotel, Traralgon
Grovedale Hotel, Grovedale
Hogans Hotel, Wallan
The Middle Hotel Korumburra, Korumburra
Torquay Hotel, Torquay
BEST PUBTAB – METROPOLITAN — CROSS KEYS HOTEL, ESSENDON | TEMPLESTOWE HOTEL
Cross Keys Hotel, Essendon and Templestowe Hotel have tied in first place for Best PubTab Metropolitan.
2024 finalists:
Bells Hotel, South Melbourne
Cross Keys Hotel, Essendon
Kealba Hotel, Kealba
Nixon Hotel, Docklands
Railway Hotel Pakenham, Pakenham
Rosstown Hotel, Carnegie
Templestowe Hotel, Templestowe
Zagame’s Caulfield, Caulfield
BEST PUBTAB – REGIONAL — GROVEDALE HOTEL
Grovedale Hotel in Grovedale has been name regional Victoria’s Best PubTab.
2024 finalists:
Castello’s Victorian Tavern, Gisborne
Golden Point Hotel, Golden Point
Grand Junction Hotel, Traralgon
Grovedale Hotel, Grovedale
Hogans Hotel, Wallan
The Middle Hotel Korumburra, Korumburra
Torquay Hotel, Torquay
ALL ABILITIES HOTEL — CORNER HOTEL, RICHMOND
Corner Hotel in Richmond has wont the 2024 All Abilities Hotel.
2024 finalists:
Corner Hotel, Richmond
The Drouin Family Hotel, Drouin
BEST FUNCTION AND EVENT SPACE — THE OXFORD SCHOLAR, MELBOURNE
The Oxford Scholar, Melbourne has won the Best Function and Event Space award.
2024 finalists:
The Blacksmith Bar, Richmond
The Continental Sorrento, Sorrento
The Grand Hotel Warrandyte, Warrandyte
Hophaus, Southgate
Ludlow, Southbank
The Middle Hotel Korumburra, Korumburra
The Oxford Scholar, Melbourne
Panton Hill Hotel, Panton Hill
Taxi Kitchen, Melbourne
Transit Rooftop Bar, Melbourne
True South, Black Rock
BEST HOTEL GROUP OPERATOR — KICKON GROUP
Kickon Group has been named Best Hotel Group Operator of 2024.
2024 finalists:
JBS Hospitality Group
Morris Hospitality
BEST MARKETED HOTEL — LONDON TAVERN HOTEL, RICHMOND
London Tavern Hotel, Richmond has been named the Best Marketed Hotel of 2024.
2024 finalists:
The Bay Hotel Mornington, Mornington
Bells Hotel, South Melbourne
The Continental Sorrento, Sorrento
The Grand Hotel Warrandyte, Warrandyte
Hotel Brighton, Brighton
London Tavern Hotel, Richmond
Portsea Hotel, Portsea
The Terminus North Fitzroy, North Fitzroy
Transport Hotel, Melbourne
HEART OF THE COMMUNITY — THE GRAND HOTEL WARRANDYTE
The Grand Hotel Warrandyte has been named Heart of the Community.
2024 finalists:
The Camden Hotel, Caulfield South
The Grand Hotel Warrandyte, Warrandyte
Hogans Hotel, Wallan
Kelly’s Motor Club Hotel, Cranbourne
The Middle Hotel Korumburra, Korumburra
San Remo Hotel, San Remo
The Terminus North Fitzroy, North Fitzroy
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN TRAINING — AMERICAN HOTEL ECHUCA
American Hotel Echuca has been crowned Outstanding Achievement in Training.
2024 finalists:
American Hotel Echuca, Echuca
The Bank on Collins, Melbourne
Kennington Tavern, Kennington
The Terminus North Fitzroy, North Fitzroy
York on Lilydale, Mt Evelyn
PARMA OF THE YEAR — THE MIDDLE HOTEL KORUMBURRA
The Middle Hotel in Korumburra has also been awarded Parma of the Year.
2024 finalists:
The Albion Hotel (Kyneton)
The Bay Hotel Mornington,
Crown Hotel (Traralgon),
The Drouin Family Hotel,
The Fifth Province, St Kilda,
The Grand Central Hotel Cobram,
The Grand Hotel Warrandyte,
Grand Junction Hotel, Traralgon,
The Old Town ‘N’ Country Tavern, Wangaratta,
Paradise Valley Hotel, Clematis
Poowong Hotel, Poowong,
Racecourse Hotel, Malvern East,
Royal Hotel Drouin, Drouin,
Western Hotel, Ballarat
The Windsor Alehouse, Windsor.
CHEF OF THE YEAR — FIVE FLAGS HOTEL’S RORY BROWN (CAMPBELLS CREEK)
Rory Brown from Five Flags Hotel (Campbells Creek) has won the Chef of The Year at the State Awards for Excellence 2024.
Rory delivers incredible flavours packed in a modern style pub menu at the Five Flags Hotel in Campbells Creek.
The Chef of The Year said says country pubs are in his blood with his grandparents owned a pub in Kyabram and his mum being a pub cook.
2024 finalists
Ron O’Bryan from American Hotel Echuca
Sam Hopkinson from Botanical Hotel (South Yarra)
Con Derlis from The Camden Hotel (Caulfield South)
Mark Smith from The Middle Hotel Korumburra
Sean Miller from Montague Hotel (South Melbourne)
Binod Bhatta from Mountain View Hotel (Whitfield)
Andrew Tsai from Notting Hill Hotel
Nola Monahan from San Remo Hotel
EMERGING LEADER OF THE YEAR — AMERICAN HOTEL ECHUCA’S HARRY K RIPON
The prestigious Emerging Leader of the Year has been taken out by American Hotel Echuca’s Harry K Ripon.
Mr Ripon has also won the Peter Burnett AM Scholarship for Hospitality Experience.
2024 finalists:
American Hotel Echuca’s Harry K Ripon
Micawber Tavern’s (Belgrave) Emily Miles,
Mountain View Hotel’s (Whitf) Christian (CJ) Takats.
EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE — TAXI KITCHEN’S (MELBOURNE) INES STUER
Inis Stuer from Taxi Kitchen (Melbourne) has won the 2024 Excellence in Service award.
2024 finalists:
John Ho from The Albert Park Hotel
Terry Soukoulis from Hotel Sorrento
Tyler McGregor from Magic Mountain Saloon (Melbourne)
Laura Luxton from Mountain View Hotel (Whitfield)
Sam Taylor from San Remo Hotel.
LOCAL LEGEND AWARD — BARWON HEADS HOTEL’S STEWART MCKINNON
Stewart McKinnon from Barwon Heads Hotel was honoured with the title of Local Legend of the Year.
The acknowledges outstanding community service and achievement within the hospitality industry.
A barman by trade, Mr McKinnon runs a social club at the pub, bringing people together for meal, and also drives elderly locals to appointments around town and as far as Melbourne.
Mr McKinnon’s greatest achievement is the Friday Night Raffle, which has raised thousands of dollars for charities and needy locals in the last couple of years.
2024 finalists:
Martha Lecchino from Royal Exchange Hotel (Traralgon)
Bluey from The Middle Hotel Korumburra
Craig Shearer from The Terminus North Fitzroy.
VENUE MANAGER OF THE YEAR — THE WHARF SHED’S MATTHEW CONNELL
The newly added ‘Venue Manager of The Year’ went to Matthew Connell from The Wharf Shed.
Mr Connell was described as a “triple threat” by award judges as he presents as an accomplished chef, past owner and operator of his own venues and a proud Geelong boy with a huge passion for his home town.
2024 finalists:
Matt Jean from Botanical Hotel Bendigo
Melissa Downie from The Cheeky Squire (Frankston)
Natalie Potulski from Kennington Tavern
Daniel Eurell from London Tavern Hotel (Richmond)
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