THREE local pubs have garnered prestigious accolades on a bumper night for Gippsland’s hospitality scene.
The Tinamba Hotel, Dargo Hotel and Sale’s Star Hotel all earned trophies at the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) Victorian State Awards for Excellence, held on Monday evening in Melbourne.
The Star, located on the corner of Raymond and Macalister Streets, won Best Family Dining and the People’s Choice Award at the event.
Managing Director of The Star, Jeremy Green said it had taken “a huge effort” to win both awards.
“It is a result of much hard work, and every single staff member giving that little bit more to make every experience right,” Mr Green said.
“Our amazing team have done a great job and deserve the recognition from these awards.”
Photo: Contributed
The Best Family Dining award is judged by undercover representatives from the AHA, who enter venues and review their experience.
Venues are marked on the cleanliness of their facilities, their customer service, knowledge of staff and, of course, the quality of the food and drinks they serve.
The Star beat 11 other finalists, located across metropolitan and regional Victoria, for the prize.
The People’s Choice Award, as its name suggests, is won by a public vote.
A QR code was supplied to all shortlisted pubs which directed customers to a website, where they could select and vote for their favourite hotel.
Mr Green said the People’s Choice Award means a lot to the Hotel because it is judged by their customers.
“We were so blown away that people took the effort to go online and vote for us over all the other pubs in the state!” he said.
Additionally, The Star was shortlisted for the Parma of the Year award, one of 25 pubs listed in the category.
Photo: Contributed
Cementing its status as one of the region’s best dining experiences, the Tinamba Hotel won the Best Pub Restaurant – Regional award for the third consecutive year, while also coming fourth overall in the People’s Choice Award.
The Dargo Hotel won the Heart of the Community award, while also being shortlisted in the Parma of the Year and Best Outdoor Experience – Regional categories.
Other local pubs recognised at the event included The Criterion Hotel, on the corner of Foster and Macalister Streets in Sale, nominated for Best Pub Bar – Regional and Best Hotel – Pub Style Accommodation; and the Woodside Beach Hotel, nominated for the Heart of the Community and the Best Redeveloped Food and Beverage Hotel awards.
Among the other venues hailing from Gippsland to win on the night were Traralgon’s Crown Hotel (Best Pub Bar – Regional and Top 10 Parma), The Drouin Family Hotel (All Abilities Hotel and Top 10 Parma) and The Middle Hotel in Korumburra (Local Legends Award for Ben Fisher).
