Tony Leonard crowns 3AW’s Pub Of The Year for 2023!
3AW/DEBORTOLI PUB OF THE WEEK 2023
This is the final time that the Pub of the Year on Neil Mitchell’s program is presented as Neil hangs up the 3AW microphone today, 1 December 2023.
The segment has been broadcast for 33 years 3AW, (me since 1996), and this year, for the seventh time, the award is shared.
As a segment, Pub of the Week has had one sponsor only – DeBortoli Wines – for the entire run. To Vince Gurcuillo, currently in charge in Victoria and his predecessor, the late Brian Gothard, we thank you for the never ending support.
This year a total of 36 pubs were visited, of which 19 constituted a first time visit. The remainder have been significantly made over, have new owners, or not visited for at least 4 years.
The FIVE FINALISTS for Pub Of The Year
- George Hotel, Sth Melbourne (reviewed February 10)
- Junction Hotel, Newport (reviewed March 17)
- Pig and Whistle, Main Ridge (reviewed May 19)
- Central Club, North Melbourne (reviewed September 22)
- Mountain View, Whitfield (reviewed November 17)
FINAL OBSERVATIONS
The aforementioned 5 pubs all scored 15.5/20, but in what I think is a reflection of publife generally, this was as competitive a year in my 28 of talking about them with Neil.
Pubs are as desirable as ever from two viewpoints; a place of community to gather, feel comfortable, socialise etc., and second, from a business point of view, the sale of freehold/leases of any pub is in total overdrive.
And in referencing the latter, the knock on effect of desirability of pubs as an asset to a company’s portfolio, means there is a slow and sadly, inexorable decline/death of your local publican/owner operator, replaced by a rotating group of Managers.
Think about a pub without a publican: For Monash Uni students, there would not have been Kath Bier running the Notting Hill for 80 plus years , Eileen Clatworthy at the Sawyers Arms Geelong looking after Cat fans pre/post game for 70 plus years, and then, first at the Morning Star and then the Park Hotel, Abbotsford, Dennis and Nan Parkes duchessing you and telling how wheat was run through beer lines to clean them up. (Dennis did and I believed!).
And finally, I refer to the legendary and grumpiest Publican I encountered: Billy Bell.
I am forever grateful for his sage utterance on the role of pubs in the community; “They are there to christen ‘em, bury ‘em, and everything in between”.
THE AWARDS FOR 2023
Best Tap Beer: All Nations, Richmond. Excellent Carlton Draught. 7oz/200ml glasses.
Best Beer/Wine Menus: Railway Hotel Castlemaine. Real commitment to local heroes on both levels. Apply the same comments to the Mountain View, Whitfield.
Most Unique: Greendale Hotel, Greendale. Lucky find in 3 parts; general store/pub/ function centre. It’s only 20 minutes the other side of Bacchus Marsh. Feel good about supporting a small, local owner operator.
Honourable mention to the Cambrian, Bendigo: Korean BBQ. Yep. Always a sellout, the popularity in the wider community should be a signal to pubs to have a crack at this. Expect to see more in 2024 on.
Best Pub Gadget: Middle, Korumburra, for their ultra groovy Table LEDs. Yellow means all good: turn over and Red means service please. Cool.
Best Redevelopment: Bells Hotel, Sth Melbourne. Astonishing transformation. While retaining the spirit of the ‘old’ Bells, the ‘new’ is something to behold.
Best overall look: Mountain View, Whitfield//Junction Hotel, Newport. Both are just drop dead good looking pubs.
Best beer garden: Mountain View, Whitfield. Beautiful.
Best Pub meal: Junction Newport. You choose. Steak Night Wednesdays, or Roast, Sundays at the Junction.. And everything in between.
Favourite Moment (1): Lockington Hotel, Lockington. The feelgood of the year. A community based fundraiser to resurrect and keep this pub alive in the north of Victoria was successful and now in the small town, not far from Elmore/Rochester, they have their pride and joy fully operational and focus of community. Also Best Steak Sanga of the year. (Chef uses coffee rub on the scotch fillet).
Favourite moment (2): Westmeadows Tavern. In the tradition of Sir David Attenborough, the last barfly on the planet was found here, this species thought to be extinct. Old Johnny knew everyone, knew how to run a pub, how to fix the economy etc. He held the distinction of being barred from the nearby Skyways Hotel, a feat not thought to be possible at this establishment! For anybody, or any action!!
Johnny was about to celebrate his 80th; The manager from Skyways was about to take over at the Westmeadows. Collision course.
DeBortoli/3AW Pubs of the Year 2023
Junction Hotel, Newport
A ten year journey for publican Trina, who slowly, steadily, has taken the reins here and runs a most brilliant pub in the Western Suburbs.
The pub looks great, has the advantage of being 20 metres from Newport station, but the real winner is a daring approach to its food and drink offering a decade ago, by elevating pub classics, sourcing different wines, while creating/retaining the right pub vibe.
It also helps as one of Melbourne’s best pub chefs, Scott Thomas arrived a couple of years ago, and runs this small kitchen with the same aplomb that saw the Courthouse, Nth Melbourne elevated to hatted status in the Age GFG in the 2000s. . Here less is more and it works. Great beer garden, wine room, function area, all in a rather compact space.
Mountain View, Whitfield.
This is a beautiful old pub. Beloved by those who follow pub trails especially in faraway places, know how good the Mountain View is. A cursory look at any best of list pertaining to pubs and you will find the MV amongst the top. The AHA awarded this as Best Regional Bistro of the year. Nationally. The pub could simply rely on the natural beauty of the surrounding King Valley to do its bidding but the owners, the Pizzini Family, who sit amongst the best in this wine heartland, have ensured the food is top notch, the beer and wine locally focussed but employ bang on staff who understand hospitality. The Beer Garden with a creek meandering through, the local Golf course seemingly part of the expansive grounds and accommodation complete the package.
Everything is good at the Mountain View, Whitfield..
Closing thanks Neil Mitchell
This segment would not have lasted with the absolute support from Neil Mitchell for the length of time it has run. (For the record it will continue in another form, another timeslot). Sincerest thanks Neil, I hope your commitment was matched by positive feedback as at any time, you could have pulled the plug. Your loyalty, across a range of activities and people at 3AW, has never waned.
And many thanks to listener suggestions. Clearly the attachment between pub and patron, no matter where in Victoria, is as solid as ever. Thank you.
In closing, the list of Pubs of the year, from 1996 is below.
The DeBortoli Pub of the Year Honour Roll – 1996-2023
2023: Junction Hotel, Newport and the Mountain View Hotel, Whitfield
2022: Telegraph Hotel, Geelong West
2021: North Port Hotel, Port Melbourne
2020: White Hart, Longwood
2019: Avoca Hotel, Avoca and Lamaro’s, South Melbourne
2018: The National, Richmond
2017: Centra, Geelong and the North Melbourne Hotel
2016: Fitzroy Town Hall, Fitzroy
2015: The Tinamba Hotel
2014: Plough Hotel, Trentham
2013: The Royal, Clifton Hill
2012: Wayside Inn, South Melbourne
2011: Lincoln Hotel, Carlton
2010:Terminus Hotel, Clifton Hill
2009: Grand Hotel, Richmond
2008: Station, Footscray and the Carringbush, Abbotsford
2007: Bouzy Rouge, Richmond
2006: The Albion, Port Melbourne
2005: Metropolitan, North Melbourne and the Brandon Hotel, Carlton
2004: The Beach Hotel, Albert Park
2003: Court House Hotel, North Melbourne
2002: London Tavern, Richmond
2001: Doyle’s, Mentone and Vine, Abbotsford
2000: Royal Park, North Melbourne
1999: The Emerald Hotel, South Melbourne
1998: Clare Castle, Carlton and O’Connells, South Melbourne
1997: Hotel Spencer, West Melbourne
1996: All Nations Hotel, Richmond
Every review from 2023
January 26, 2023: Westmeadows Tavern, Westmeadows – 13/20
February 2, 2023: Brycees Tavern, Mooroolbark – 13/20
February 10, 2023: George Hotel, South Melbourne – 15.5/20
February 17, 2023: Crown Hotel, Buninyong – 14.2/20
February 24, 2023: Sarah Sands Hotel, Brunswick – 13.7/20
March 3, 2023: NO REVIEW
March 10, 2023: Windsor Castle, Windsor – 13.5/20
March 17, 2023: Junction Hotel, Newport – 15.5/20
March 24, 2023: Union Club Hotel, Fitzroy – 14.5/20
March 31, 2023: Keysborough Hotel, Keysborough – 11.5/20
April 7, 2023: NO REVIEW
April 14, 2023: Lancefield Hotel, Lancefield – 13.8/20
April 21, 2023: Pink Hill Hotel, Beaconsfield – 14.5/20
April 28, 2023: The Greendale Pub, Greendale – 15/20
May 5, 2023: The Cambrian Hotel, Bendigo – 14.7/20
May 12, 2023: Half Moon Hotel, Brighton – 15/20
May 19, 2023: Pig and Whistle Hotel, Main Ridge – 15.5/20
May 26, 2023: The Victoria Hotel, Yarraville – 11.5/20
June 2, 2023: Courthouse Hotel, North Melbourne – 15/20
June 9, 2023: Farmers Arms Hotel, Creswick – 14.3/20
June 16, 2023: The Telegraph Hotel, Gisborne – 12.6/20
June 23, 2023: FIRST HALF REVIEW
June 30, 2023: NO REVIEW
July 6, 2023: NO REVIEW
July 13, 2023: NO REVIEW
July 20, 2023: Captain Melville, CBD – 14.6/20
July 27, 2023: The Micawber Tavern, Belgrave – 14.8/20
August 4, 2023: The Lockington Hotel, Lockington – N/A
August 11, 2023: Hotel South Melbourne, South Melbourne – 14/20
August 18, 2023: The Railway Hotel, Castlemaine – 15/20
August 25, 2023: Postmaster Hotel, Kew – 14.3/20
September 1, 2023: Urban Alley Brewery, Docklands – 13.3/20
September 8, 2023: Lincolnshire Arms Hotel, Essendon – 14.2/20
September 15, 2023: Union House, Richmond – 14.8/20
September 22, 2023: Central Club Hotel, North Melbourne – 15.5/20
September 29, 2023: All Nations Hotel, Richmond – 15/20
October 6, 2023: THIRD QUARTER REVIEW
October 13, 2023: Stamford Inn, Rowville – 12.5/20
October 20, 2023: Cosmopolitan Hotel, Trentham – 14.7/20
October 27, 2023: Bridie O’Reilly’s, South Yarra – 14/20
November 3, 2023: Korumburra Middle Hotel, Korumburra – 14.3
November 10: Ron Barassi’s pubs remembered
November 17, 2023: Mountain View Hotel, Whitfield – 15.5/20
November 24, 2034: Bells Hotel, South Melbourne – N/A