Awards nod for homely local pub

BALLARAT South icon the Royal Oak Hotel is a finalist in the Australian Hotels Association Victoria State Awards best regional pub bar category.

Owners Gigi Milone and Dean Mangion took over the venue in early-2021 with a deep passion for the hospitality industry.

Ms Milone said their focus ever since has been to maintain its friendly, cosy, traditional local pub atmosphere, and to continue serving classic homely meals.

“Dean always says your local pub should be like an extension of your house, like walking into your friends’ living room, and somewhere where you feel totally comfortable to just sit and chat,” she said.

“We have our regulars who sit up at the bar, down at the tables, and before you know it, everyone’s in one big conversation… whether they know each other or not.

“We really love that. We have a fantastic customer base of locals, and we believe setting the right homely atmosphere will bring them back time and time again.”

Coming up to 11 years together, Ms Milone and Mr Mangion have always wanted to own their own pub.

“That was really a dream we bonded over. Pubs are important and are at the heart of the community,” she said.

The pair took the Royal Oak reigns from previous owners of 27 years, John and Karen Turner, and have “absolutely loved” running the business ever since.

In the State AHA Awards, they’re up against Apollo Bay’s Great Ocean Road Brewhouse, where they were both previously employed.

“We knew about these awards when we worked there and always said, when we have our pub one day, we’ll enter definitely.

“To be a finalist is so exciting alongside some amazing pubs. It’s great that our focus on homeliness, comradery, and people, including our awesome staff of 10 people, is being recognised,” Ms Milone said.

“It all trickles down and creates that atmosphere from the second you walk in the door.”