The Beach Hotel at Merewether is officially the best regional watering hole in the state after taking out the top gong at the Australian Hotels Association (AHA)'s NSW Awards on Tuesday afternoon.
The hotel industry body held its annual gala at Randwick on October 28 - attended by around 1300 hoteliers, politicians, and businesspeople - where the Hunter and Central Coast regularly featured in the winners' circle.
Terrigal Beach House on the Central Coast was the popular category winner, taking out the coveted people's choice award, while the Lakeside Village Tavern at Raymond Terrace took honours for the best family-friendly hotel. Licensee Nicholas Clark was celebrated as the top individual operator for his role at Shortland Hotel.
Central Coast hoteliers Peter and Jane Harris and Gary and Kerry Narvo were inducted into the AHA NSW Hall of Fame on Tuesday and received the Cyril Maloney Medal, named for the industry legend who died in 2013. It was the first time in the association's history that two married couples were inducted.
Mr Maloney, a third-generation hotelier and industry devotee, was an AHA life member and counsel to the industry association's leaders for many years.
More than 950 nominations were received for awards across 48 categories, organisers said, where the winners "represented the best and brightest in the NSW hotel industry".
"These hotels provide tens of thousands of jobs, raise millions of dollars for charity each and every year and drive the NSW tourism and hospitality economy," AHA NSW boss John Whelan said.
The Beach Hotel was bought by Glenn Piper in mid-2022 after its former owners were controversially boycotted when they won a contentious development application for a multi-million-dollar overhaul and proposal for later trading. It was re-opened after extensive renovations in December last year.
That month, Mr Piper, an avid surfer who spent many summer holidays as a boy visiting family in Merewether, said he understood what people want - and expect - from the popular and long-tenured local haunt.
"The hotel is more than just its Art Deco architecture and iconic views," he said at the time. "We want it to be a homage to the medley of cultures that have shaped this storied place - the friends and the family, the surf and the city, the nostalgic and the modern - all under one roof where everyone is welcome."
The Beach Hotel is also the home of takeaway bar Larrie's, which opened in May last year adjacent to the main building. The renovation included overhauling the kitchen and revitalising the main floor, the Newcastle Herald reported late last year.
The details of this report are developing. A full list of winners will be published when they become available.
