Local venues, staff up for hospitality honours

TWO Ballarat venues and another in Meredith are finalists in this year’s Australian Hotels Association (Victoria) state awards for excellence.

The Western Hotel has secured a finalist’s nomination in four categories and Park Hotel employee Luke Evans is named as a finalist in the Excellence in Service category.

The Meredith Hotel, meanwhile, is listed among the finalists in two categories.

The venues and Mr Evans are among more than 370 finalists – including individuals and operating entities – vying for honours this year.

Winners in 39 categories will be announced at a gala dinner event at Crown Palladium in Melbourne on 19 May.

The Western Hotel is listed in the Best Casual Dining (Regional), Best Outdoor Experience (Regional), Best Pub Bar (Regional) and Parma of the Year (Regional) sections.

The Meredith Hotel is in the running for the Best Pub Restaurant (Regional) and Parma of the Year (Regional) honours.

For the Western Hotel, its selection as a finalist in the four categories is an exact repeat of its appearance in the 2024 awards, while the Meredith Hotel was listed in the regional pub restaurant section.

Oscars Hotel and Cafe Bar was the other Ballarat finalist from last year, winning the Best Hotel – Pub-Style Accommodation award.

The awards recognise the commitment and dedication of the association’s publicans, hoteliers and their staff.

The Notting Hill Hotel, better known as The Nott, took out the Hotel of the Year (Metropolitan) award last year, while the Middle Hotel Korumburra was named Hotel of the Year (Regional).

Both pubs also won their respective Best Outdoor Experience categories, with Notting Hill Hotel also winning Best Retail Liquor Outlet, while Middle Hotel Korumburra took out Parma of the Year.