The inaugural Top 50 Gastropubs Awards have officially taken place, with the ranking of Australia’s best food-led pubs revealed at a ceremony on Monday 13 July at HospoNEXT in Sydney.

Celebrating elevated yet approachable dining, the awards recognise the venues setting the gastropub standard of excellence across the country. Alongside the Top 50 ranking, category award winners were also announced, following extensive consideration and input from a panel of 17 industry experts.

Hosted by Australian Hotelier and Hospitality, the ceremony saw Fitzroy landmark The Builders Arms Hotel named the winner of the Top 50 Gastropubs Awards. Established in 1853, the pub is known for delivering quality food consistently and without compromise, from great pub meals at the counter to long lunches in the bistro. Described as a place for all occasions, the pub was also awarded Best Atmosphere.

Venue Manager Dylan Foley said the team is honoured to be named the best gastropub in Australia.

“Pubs occupy a unique place in Australian life. They bring people together in a way few venues can. At the Builders Arms, we’ve always believed you shouldn’t have to choose between an excellent meal and the comfort of a neighbourhood pub. That’s what we’ve focused on for years, and it’s what we’ll continue to focus on,” said Foley.

Recognised by one judge as “a true example of being adventurous within a pub framework and not letting “how it’s always been’ set the standard”, The Builders Arms Hotel was also praised for being “the most consistent pub in Australia, with the best pub snack in Australia – the whipped cod roe”. Another judge noted “there is a reason Sydney looks to Melbourne for inspiration”.

Taking out second place in the Top 50 Gastropubs Awards was The Dry Dock in Balmain – a timeless venue that combines a stylish public bar, refined dining room, award-winning 500+ bottle wine list and welcoming service. The pub was highly commended in the Best Wine List award category, also taking home the title of Best Fitout and Best Overall Menu.

James Ingram, co-founder of The Dry Dock, said: “It’s a privilege and an honour to be recognised in the Top 50 Gastropub Awards. It’s a first for Australia.

“What sets The Dry Dock apart is our collective effort. We put a lot of effort into what we do. The venue is highly considered, and we designed every detail of its look and feel around the customer experience. Every day we are just trying to be better and better and it wouldn’t be possible without the incredible group of people involved in the business.”

The Dry Dock’s head chef Ben Sitton received individual recognition for his commitment to delivering a sophisticated pub dining experience, accepting the award for Best Chef.

“It’s very special to receive this award, but it’s a lot of team effort. I’m very proud of the team and what we’ve created – I think we’ve created a menu that people are just loving and enjoying so much,” he told Australian Hotelier.

L-R: Hospitality editor Laura Box, Best Chef winner Ben Sitton, The Dry Dock MD James Ingram, and GM Cristian Veterani.

Offering an elevated take on classic pub fare, Redfern local the Bat & Ball Hotel claimed third place in the ranking while scooping the award for Best Classic Menu. For co-owner Zac Godbolt, the award is meaningful recognition of not only the team’s hard work, but also the community that has embraced the venue.

“I think it’s fabulous to be recognised among this cohort and it’s a true testament to our wonderful kitchen team, our front of house and the community that supports us and dines with us. We couldn’t be happier,” he explained.

The pub was highly commended in the Best Atmosphere award category, with Bat & Ball Hotel sous chef Tommy Taylor also highly commended for Best Chef Under 30.

Taylor added: “It feels so good to be recognised. A lot of hard work goes into our menu from every single person in our kitchen team, not just me. It’s an honour for us.”

Rounding out the top 10 was The Lincoln in Carlton, The Cricketers Arms in Surry Hills, Marquis of Lorne in Fitzroy, Watervale Hotel, The Scenic Hotel in Eltham and the Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld.

Of those pubs, two were recognised with category awards – with the Royal Mail Hotel accepting the Sustainability Award and The Cricketers Arms Hotel claiming the title of Best Specialty Cuisine for its French-leaning bistro Chez Crix.

On winning the Sustainability Award, the Royal Mail Hotel’s managing director John Jerome Myers commented: “The entire world has to start becoming more sustainable. You only have to look at what’s happening to the environment around the world, even with the fires that we’re having in Europe at the moment. I think everybody’s got to do their little bit, and that’s why we’ve made it central to what we do at the Royal Mail.”

While Wesley Cooper Jones, head chef at Chez Crix, said: “We all put our whole back into this. We try our hardest and it truly pays off. We’ve pushed something that is not conventional in pubs, but it just works for us, and we’re really happy and proud. We love each other and love delivering to the community. That’s what we want to do.

“I think what sets our menu apart is our technique and creativity. We show skill and techniques traditionally separated from the pub setting.”

Celebrating the young, up-and-coming chefs shaping the future of Australia’s pub dining landscape, Britania Kirana of Sinclair’s in Penrith was named Best Chef Under 30. Kirana told Australian Hotelier that she hopes the recognition will encourage other young women to pursue a career in the industry.

“I have been in the industry 11 years, and it’s been very hard for girls in the kitchen. [People] are always underestimating us – discrimination, sexual harassment, it’s everywhere. But this is proof that girls can do it too.

“I went to culinary school when I was in Indonesia, and I felt like it was actually very cool that food has something behind it. There is science. There is history. There are a lot of things in every plate, and I want to learn about it. And when people are happy when they eat, it just makes me feel like everything is worth it. All of the hard work is worth it,” she stated.

Britania Kirana, from Sinclair’s at The Log Cabin, was named Best Chef Under 30.

Other category award winners included The Scenic Hotel in Norton Summit, which was named Best Regional Gastropub, and the Crafers Hotel which accepted the award for Best Wine List.

Erica Rushbrook, venue manager at the Crafers Hotel, commented: “This means a great deal to our team and our sommeliers Seth Piszczuk and Tony Venn. Our entire wine team put their heart and soul into our wine program and into supporting local producers but also celebrating our connection to French wine regions as well.”

The full ranking for the Top 50 Gastropubs Awards can be found below:

Builder’s Arms Hotel, Fitzroy VIC

The Dry Dock, Balmain NSW

The Bat & Ball Hotel, Redfern NSW

The Lincoln, Carlton VIC

The Cricketers Arms, Surry Hills NSW

Marquis of Lorne, Fitzroy VIC

Watervale Hotel, Watervale SA

The Scenic Hotel, Norton Summit SA

Eltham Hotel, Eltham NSW

Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld VIC

Crafers Hotel, Crafers SA

Mount Erica Hotel, Prahan VIC

Hotel Sorrento, Sorrento VIC

The Waterside Hotel, Melbourne VIC

The Duke of Clarence, Sydney CBD

The Old Fitzroy Hotel, Woolloomooloo NSW

The Graham Hotel, Port Melbourne VIC

Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads NSW

The Lord Dudley Hotel, Paddington NSW

Rising Sun Hotel, Richmond VIC

North Fitzroy Arms, Fitzroy VIC

Rose and Crown, Brisbane

Albert Park Hotel, Albert Park VIC

McLaren Vale Hotel, McLaren Vale SA

The Sir George, Jugiong NSW

Punters Club, Fitzroy VIC

Lamaro’s Hotel, South Melbourne VIC

Royal Hotel, Perth WA

The Beehive Hotel, Hawthorn VIC

Mapleton Pub, Mapleton QLD

Cremorne Hotel, Adelaide SA

Farmers Arms, Daylesford VIC

Sinclair’s at the Log Cabin, Penrith NSW

Milton Hotel, Milton NSW

The Glen Hotel, Eight Mile Plains QLD

The Stanley Bridge Tavern, Verdun SA

Railway Club, Port Melbourne VIC

New Ivanhoe, Blackheath NSW

Sporting Club Hotel, Brunswick VIC

Mayfair Lane, West Perth WA

Flying Duck Hotel, Prahan VIC

Bistro Red Lion, Rozelle NSW

The Bay, Mornington VIC

Hotel Canobolas, Orange NSW

The Victoria, Rutherglen Vic

The Briars, Burradoo NSW

The White Horse, Surry Hills NSW

Edward & Ida’s, Northbridge WA

Micawber Tavern, Belgrave VIC

The Stag Public House, Adelaide SA