Why does Christmas ham taste so much better than normal ham? Maybe we'll never know the answer, but what we do know is where to get one - at Your Local! Many of our local pubs are having Christmas raffle all though December giving you the chance to stock up while also having a fun night out. Here are just some of the Christmas raffles happening this month: Belmore Hotel, Maitland Ham raffles every Thursday until Christmas from 5.30pm Blackbutt Hotel, Lambton Toy raffle on Thu

A part of the Bale and Twohill families since the 70s, the iconic Beach Hotel will change hands into the family-owned, Eastern Hotels Group early next year. No strangers to taking on iconic Hunter hotels, the purchase of the Beach Hotel, Merewether is the third acquisition for the Lazarus family and their Eastern Hotels Group, after taking ownership of both Shoal Bay Country Club and the Exchange Hotel, Hamilton in the past three years. With the venue officially changing hand

Australian Hotels Association (AHA) – Newcastle Hunter President Rolly de With has joined AHA NSW CEO John Whelan in welcoming the removal of the lockout laws across Sydney’s CBD, saying it will undoubtedly help to re-invigorate the night-time economy. The 1.30am lockout laws will be removed from venues across the Sydney CBD and Oxford Street from Tuesday, 14 January 2020. “On behalf of our local hospitality industry we welcome this important decision made by the NSW Governme

Local hotelier Marcus Wright from the Wickham Park Hotel has stepped into the ring to support up-and-coming Raymond Terrace amateur boxer Benson Manton achieve his sporting dreams. They may have met under unusual circumstances, but despite 22-year-old Raymond Terrace boxer Benson Manton having never stepped foot into the Wickham Park Hotel, from the moment their paths crossed, hotelier Marcus Wright was determined to do whatever he could to help the young athlete come one st

As drought continues to ravage rural NSW, one local pub has joined forces with a community organisation to adopt three regional schools doing it tough in the face of what has become one of our country’s worst climate disasters. The Albion Hotel at Wickham has joined with neighbourhood group Great Lifestyle of Wickham (GLOW), to provide support for three schools where students are struggling due to the impact their farming families are feeling from the drought. Hotelier Brian

O'Hara Hotel Group pubs the Bradford Hotel at Rutherford, Rutherford Hotel and Windsor Castle Hotel, East Maitland have this year challenged each other to see who can raise the most money for the Movember initiative, which aims to get people talking and raise funds for men’s health. O'Hara Hotels spokesperson Georgia Duff said the hotel group was joining forces in the challenge to try and raise $50,000 overall, as the initiative is close to the hearts of a lot of staff. "Move

It's the race that stops a nation and where better to spend a great afternoon than at Your Local? Here's just some of what's on offer across Newcastle and the Hunter this Melbourne Cup Day... Argenton Hotel, Argenton 🐎 Option to join an Exclusive VIP Party or book a Beer Garden Cabana 🐎 Fashions on the Field with prizes for best dressed lady and gentleman 🐎 Prize for Best Fascinator 🐎 Sweeps of $2, $5, $10, $50 🐎 Live entertainment 🐎 Book on: (02) 4958 1060 Bar Petite,

The Exchange Hotel at Hamilton is getting ready to support our struggling local farmers with Schooners for Singleton - a drought charity night complete with live music, raffles and the hotel's first ever Bachelor Auction featuring the University of Newcastle Seahorse Rugby Club players. The community fundraiser will be held from 9pm on Saturday, 30 November and aims to raise money for drought-stricken farming families in Singleton and Merriwa. “Coming into summer we really wa

They have been around for years, stories about the ghostly apparitions that wander the upstairs floors of Newcastle's Great Northern Hotel. But are the tales true? We recently went in to find out. Over the years, everyone from mediums to musicians and staff claim to have experienced things they cannot explain at the Great Northern Hotel, from items moving on their own, to footsteps in empty rooms, and haunting voices calling their name. With a colourful history dating back to

Two years after it began, a massive project to overhaul and re-invent Hotel Jesmond is finally complete. According to hotelier Dan Ferguson, despite spending the past two years living upstairs with his young family while a major renovation project took place, the outcome has been well worth the dirt, dust and debris - especially when the final product has been nominated as a finalist in six categories of this year's Australian Hotels Association Awards for Excellence. "Long d

Hotelier Locky Heffernan might be relatively new to the area, but the Edgeworth Tavern licensee knows exactly what it takes to engage his local community. Fundraising, free barbecues and Happy Hour every Saturday. The initiative came about when Locky realised the level of community support present at the hotel, and was keen to harness the generosity of locals to help community groups such as cancer support organisation the Kaden Centre at Warabrook. "Since coming to the venue

If you think a sea change might be just the thing this weekend, consider making your way to coastal Tea Gardens, just an hour north of Newcastle. This weekend, Tea Gardens Hotel on the banks of the Myall River, is going all out with two days of incredible entertainment. On Friday night, 27 September the hotel will come alive with Aussie live music icons Dragon on the outdoor stage. "Tea Gardens Hotel provides a great country/seaside experience with a lovely local vibe," hot

In addition to a host of fun activities happening in the Upper Hunter this weekend including the Denman Markets and Sandy Hollow Motorfest, on the other side of town at Vacy, the Farmer's Hotel will be holding its annual Landrover Charity Slow Race as part of the Vacy Village Country Carnival. To be held on Sunday, 8 September, the Vacy Village Country Carnival gives you the chance to immerse yourself in the magical charm of the local village and Farmer's Hotel country pub. T

Just by chance Saturday, 7 September will provide a great opportunity to visit the Upper Hunter and enjoy a cross-over of events happening on the same day - and within just 30 minutes of each other. But all that fun is bound to make you hungry - and thirsty, right? That's where we come in! Here's our guide to making the most of Saturday, 7 September in the Upper Hunter and where to get some great food and drinks along the way... First up, we think you should take a drive to D