The team at Old Canberra Inn is celebrating their place among the best pubs of Australia. Photo: Old Canberra Inn.
Canberra hospitality continues to punch above its weight as businesses across town have been recognised in a range of national awards and shortlists. While locals already know we have an amazing food and beverage scene, it’s exciting to see Canberra venues in the national spotlight.
The Australian Bartenders Awards have released their shortlists, and Canberra has been recognised in 11 of 28 categories. Peacemaker Saloon is up for New Bar of the Year, Hippo is up for Best Live Music Bar of the Year, and Bar Rochford picked up two nominations for Best Bar Food and Wine Bar of the Year.
Known for their wholesome dive bar vibes, swinging green lamps and outrageously good burgers, Squeaky Clean has made the list for Bartender’s Bar of the Year. This award recognises venues that other bartenders and hospitality workers enjoy drinking at.
“A bartender’s bar is where people in the hospitality industry want to go and drink. So, for me, it’s recognition from the people who dedicate their careers to serving people, and they’ve said that this is somewhere the service is bang on,” Squeaky Clean owner Jono Murphy told Region.
“There are so many nice venues to go to, but at the end of the day, they’ve voted that a bar made of plywood is where they want to hang out! I think that’s pretty cool.”
Squeaky Clean owner Jonathan Murphy says Canberra’s hospo scene has come on leaps and bounds. Photo: Squeaky Clean.
Another accolade of interest includes Time Out’s list of the 25 Best Pubs in Australia.
The Old Canberra Inn has made it onto the prestigious list of pubs, which also includes the iconic Birdsville Hotel in Queensland and The Dry Dock in Balmain, Sydney, which was first established in 1857.
The Old Canberra Inn has a rich history of its own, as the building predates the city of Canberra. The original slab hut was built in 1857 and operated as a coach stop for people travelling between Yass and Queanbeyan until 1887. It was a family home until 1974 when it was renovated and relicensed as The Old Canberra Inn.
While the history gives the space a lot of its charm, what keeps punters coming back are the rotating taps of Australian craft beers, excellent pub food and entertainment like trivia, jazz jams, salsa and live music.
And Gourmet Traveller has also released a list of nominees for their annual awards. Lunetta at Red Hill is up for Best New Restaurant, and Benn and Mork Ratanakosol have been jointly shortlisted for Restaurant Personality of the Year.
Mork and Benn Ratanakosol have been nominated for Gourmet Traveller’s Restaurant Personality of the Year award. Photo: Ashley St George, Pew Pew Studio.
Jono said he’s pleased to see Canberra being recognised for the quality of hospitality experiences.
“I think we can all agree the industry has come on leaps and bounds in Canberra over the past four or five years. We have all these small independent operators giving it a red hot go and really driving experience hospitality,” Jono said.
“And venues like Bar Rochford have been around for nine plus years doing exactly that since day one. It’s no surprise they’re an institution.”
Find out more about the Australian Bartender Magazine Bar Awards, Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards and Time Out’s list of best pubs.
Follow Squeaky Clean and The Old Canberra Inn on Instagram.
