Credit: Gabby Simpson

Newcastle Bar Awards winners announced

by Andy Young Aug 8, 2024

Media Release:

The winners of the inaugural Bar Awards were announced last night on Monday, August 5 at an event held at Bartholomew’s, where nearly 300 hospitality professionals gathered to celebrate Newcastle’s bar scene.

Presented by HUNTERhunter, Newcastle’s leading digital publication, Bar Awards recognised the owners, bartenders, mixologists, and brewers who are moving the city’s drink culture forward.

The winners of the 11 award categories were:

Bar of the Year – The Falcon
Bartender of the Year – George Prokop of The Koutetsu
Rookie of the Year – Mia Kha of The Underground
Cocktail Bar of the Year – The Koutetsu
Hotel of the Year – The Prince of Merewether
Brewpub of the Year – FogHorn Brewery
Best Live Music Venue – The Stag and Hunter Hotel
Best Restaurant Cocktail Menu – The Flotilla
Best Hotel Cocktail Menu – The Prince of Merewether
Best Wine List – The Flotilla
Best Non-Alc Menu – The Koutetsu

The People’s Choice Award was also announced, with the winners decided by public vote. The winners were:

Favourite Bar – Coal & Cedar
Favourite Hotel – The Lucky Hotel
Favourite Brewpub – Modus Merewether

The evening began with a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country by Cheryl Smith, followed by a yidaki performance. City of Newcastle Councillour Carol Duncan also spoke before the awards kicked off.

MC Myffy Rigby, former editor of the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide and current editor of Swill magazine, guided attendees through the celebrations.

Andy Young is an experienced journalist and editor having made a start as a sports journalist with The Sun newspaper in the UK. Since then he’s worked in major newspaper and television...

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