The best hotels of 2018 were named at a gala ceremony in Sydney overnight - and Newcastle and Hunter hotels were some of the biggest winners.
Many hotels from the region either won awards or were highly commended in front of a crowd of 1200 industry and political leaders, including NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Opposition Leader Michael Daley, at The Star Event Centre, Sydney last night.
Best Traditional Hotel Bar – Country, went to The George Tavern, Greenhills and The Junction Hotel, Newcastle was Highly Commended for Best Wine List.
The Commonwealth Hotel in Cooks Hills was named Best Casual Dining Venue - Country Northern with The Windsor Castle Hotel, East Maitland Highly Commended, and The Toronto Hotel took out Best Retail Liquor Outlet.
The Shortland Hotel, Shortland won Best Cheap Eat Meal (Under $15) while The Mark Hotel, Lambton was named Best Keno Venue and was Highly Commended in the Best Cheap Eat Meal (under $15) category.
The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle West was named Best Live Music hotel in the state, and the Nags Head Hotel, Adamstown won Best Pub Style Accommodation – Traditional.
The Thoroughbred Hotel, Scone was named Best New/ Redeveloped Hotel – Country and was Highly Commended in the Best Burger category.
AHA NSW CEO John Whelan said the yearly awards event was about honouring the best.
He said more than 600 nominations were received for the Awards across 40 categories.
“Hotels in NSW are second to none - the industry really has gone from strength to strength in the last decade,” he said.
“The love and care publicans and staff put into iconic hotels like The George Tavern, The Cambridge and The Nags Head Hotel and all our other winners is obvious – it’s hotels like these which set the standard for pubs across Australia.”