It’s time to look back at the first raft of pubs of the week, and to highlight a few visited between 24 January until 31 May 2024.

You would have seen many articles in the popular presses detailing the major issues confronted by publicans, and sadly, a raft of businesses up for sale.

And while many reasons have been cited, amongst which are the monstrous rises in utilities, (power/gas/electricity) and insurance (workers/public liability) which have had direct affect on the bottom line, the worrying theme is post Covid, where mental and physical tolls have been felt.

There is however genuine optimism in the industry led by the best service/ hospitality in recent memory where staff is continually lifting its game to exceed expectations.

Pubs remain a place of community/ comfort and in spite of everything thrown at them, your local still is the best venue to socialise and enjoy company.

HIGHLIGHTS

The following pubs provided real points of difference.

2/2 Home Hotel, Launching Place. This is a magnificent refurb in a very small outer eastern suburb of Launching Place, (population 2495) and part of the Yarra Valley. Genuinely different menu, fabulous local wine list from nearby towns, priced so fairly and a wonderful beer garden.

9/2 Royal Standard, West Melb. If there is a better value pub doing Italian food, then I would be surprised. Plates are overly generous, good range of specials, and authenticity remains. Sweet front bar completes the package.

1/3 Napier, Fitzroy. Much loved old stayer in Fitzroy. Comfortable nooks and crannies inside, eclectic beer garden and a front bar a shrine to the RoyBoys. And of the course their signature: Bogan Burger: Minute Steak, Chicken Snitty, bacon, egg, potato cake, pineapple, beetroot, onion, tomato, cheese, wedges, salad)

9/3 Mirboo North Hotel. This is the Victorian home of ODD things on parmas. There have been Parmas topped with Sth Melb dim sims, calamari, lamb rogan josh and recently, sliced hot dog and american mustard. God bless ‘em.

5/4 Springs, Waubra. This is a genuine country pub revived by its community. Long ceased trading, the locals banded together, sought expertise from the owners of the Court House, Smythesdale to get things moving again. Like the ripper at Lockington, the love here is for all to see.

19/4 Petrel, Geelong West. As good a makeover of an old boozer in memory. This was a pub that had a tough reputation but now, with a subtle makeover, serves up smart and modern food that is a cut above. The gentrification of Pakington St., at the Melbourne end continues at pace. Nice Balance here of the new and old.

3/5 Prince of Wales, St Kilda. The pub of many parts but its calling card – The Public Bar – with its oblong shape to serve up an array of beers, the dining room open and busy and best of all a front of house being a traffic cop made for a wonderful Sunday arvo. Whip smart pub food.

10/5 Pig/Whistle, Olinda When you have the Dandenongs as your postcard, then everything is elevated. The food, drink, service is very solid but the highlight for me was this gorgeous, enclosed playground for the kids. As good and as pretty as you will find.

And finally a shout out to the Diamond Creek Hotel (13/5). To witness first hand the genuine love of your job then pubs are in good shape. A real camaraderie existed to make whatever part of the pub you visited, you were made to feel welcome.

SUMMARY

Many thanks to Tony Moclair for his support and so the segment rolls on, Fridays 145pm.

My hope in the next 3 months is that the Government or Opposition of Victoria makes a positive announcement about helping the hospitality industry. It is not all beer and skittles and slavish hours are being worked by owners to keep their business going.

What is not needed are vacuous, mealy mouth, motherhood statements about ‘understanding’, ‘sharing pain’ etc.

Just do something direct to ease things in the short-medium term.

Many thanks to Vince Gurcuillo and his team at Debortoli for the 30 plus years of support of Pub of the Week.