Howard Springs Tavern named the Territory’s best pub

The Territory’s top hospitality businesses have been honoured in a glitzy ceremony at Darwin casino. See all the winners.

Popular Darwin rural area venue, the Howard Springs Tavern, has won the Territory hospitality industry’s top gong for best overall pub or tavern.

During a lavish ceremony at Darwin’s Mindil Beach Casino Resort on Tuesday night, the recently-renovated rural area establishment was picked as the Territory’s top pub.

The newly-built Dundee Beach Tavern won best overall regional pub or tavern and Mercure Darwin Airport Resort was awarded best overall accommodation hotel.

Darwin Trailer Boat Club was named best overall small club and the recently renovated Palmerston Golf and Country Club was named best overall large club.

Other major winners included Noonamah Tavern’s Zelco Lay as best apprentice-trainee, Cooinda Lodge’s Ghinna Ambrum for accommodation’s front of house for service excellence, Charlie’s of Darwin’s Christian Kang for front of house service excellence pub and Dinah Beach Cruising Yacht Association’s Justine Turner for front of house service excellence.

Inside Howard Springs Tavern

Darwin Trailer Boat Club’s Tu Nguyen won the Hospitality Industry Rising Star Award while Pee Wee’s at the Point’s Samara Glazbook was named marketing, sales, events employee of the year.

Judges sieved through 290 nominations including over 50 nominations in the Awards for Excellence, with winners going above and beyond in their positive contribution to their respective business.

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said it was important to acknowledge venues and hardworking staff throughout the Territory that were striving to deliver excellence in their field.

“From your friendly local hotel and club through to five-star accommodation properties, signature restaurants and the vital network of wayside inns and roadhouses allowing access to remote parts of the Territory, our venues work day and night to ensure Territorians and visitors enjoy their time with us,” Mr Bruce said.

“With 50 award categories there are too many deserving venues to acknowledge and I encourage people to try and tick off the whole list of worthy award recipients.”