Merewether’s Beach Hotel and Other Newcastle Venues Shine at AHA NSW Awards for Excellence

Merewether’s Beach Hotel Wins Regional Hotel of the Year at AHA NSW Awards; Newcastle and Central Coast Venues Celebrated

The Beach Hotel in Merewether was awarded 2024 Regional Hotel of the Year at the AHA NSW Awards for Excellence, held at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse. The ceremony, attended by over 1,350 industry figures, highlighted the achievements of Newcastle and Central Coast venues among NSW’s best.

List of Local Winners

The AHA NSW Awards recognised several Newcastle and Central Coast venues, reflecting their standout contributions to the hospitality sector:

• Best Unique Bar Experience: The Underground at The Grand Hotel, Newcastle, known for its distinct ambiance and unique charm.
• Best Cocktail List: Nags Head Hotel, Adamstown, praised for its inventive and vibrant cocktail offerings.
• Best Burger: Lakeside Village Tavern, Raymond Terrace, awarded for its standout classic pub burger.
• Best Family-Friendly Hotel: Lakeside Village Tavern, Raymond Terrace, also recognised for its welcoming environment catering to families.
• Best Outdoor Experience: Terrigal Hotel, Terrigal, celebrated for its inviting open-air spaces along the Central Coast.
• People’s Choice Award: Terrigal Beach House, chosen by patrons as a local favourite, underscoring strong community support.
• Individual Hotel Operator of the Year: Nicholas Clark of The Shortland Hotel, Shortland, acknowledged for his outstanding leadership in the industry.

Additionally, long-standing Central Coast hoteliers Peter and Jane Harris, along with Gary and Kerry Narvo, were inducted into the AHA NSW Hall of Fame and awarded the Cyril Maloney Medal – marking a first in the association’s history for recognising two married couples simultaneously.

AHA NSW CEO Commends the Industry’s Contributions

AHA NSW CEO John Whelan commended the achievements of all winners, noting, “These venues play crucial roles across NSW, from family-run pubs in remote towns to large city venues. They create jobs, raise millions for charity, and fuel the state’s tourism and hospitality economy.”

With over 950 nominations and 48 categories, this year’s awards underscored the diversity and strength of NSW’s hospitality industry, with Newcastle and the Central Coast venues standing out among the state’s best.