Gig-goers, live music lovers, and general revelry enthusiasts (of all ages) gather now, head down to the Torquay Hotel and become part of Australian live music history.
The winners of the 2023 Australian Hotels Association, Victoria (AHA Vic) State Awards for Excellence – the pinnacle event of the Victorian hospitality industry – were announced at Crown Palladium once again this week, with a bunch of favourites taking out the top honours.
Held annually, the awards recognise hotels and pubs in Victoria – both metropolitan and regional – that demonstrate excellence across 40 distinct categories, from excellence in service, best chef and best family dining, to the best outdoor experience, best innovative retail space and even best gaming venue. There’s even the best parma category, arguably the most coveted title of the lot.
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
“The AHA (Vic) State Awards for Excellence is a celebration of the accomplishments of Victoria’s pubs and hotels, where we come together to recognise outstanding hospitality service and delivery,” stated Paddy O’Sullivan, CEO of AHA (Vic).
“We also express gratitude to the dedicated pub and hotel staff for their invaluable contributions to ensure the success of our industry.”
Honouring and celebrating the industry’s strengths and successes, the Torquay Hotel was one of the local feel-good stories of the night taking out gold in the Best Live Entertainment Category, beating out the likes of the Corner Hotel in Richmond, the Croxton Bandroom in Thornbury and The Westernport in San Remo.
Sister venue The Grovedale Hotel was also a beacon of success, taking home the Ian Larkin Overall Hotel on the Year for regional, Best Sports Bar in regional, best Pubtab for regional, and best gaming venue in regional Victoria. Talk about cleaning up!!
With both venues owned by the Taylor Group, it’s the Torquay Hotel’s recognition that warms our soul. A cornerstone of Torquay and our region, the last few years have seen an inconceivable regeneration and transformation of the venue which has solidified itself as a cultural gem as much as an iconic musical one.
With general manager Joel Taylor and local musician Luke Hindson at the helm, the Torquay Hotel has experienced an incredible reawakening, with their aim to bring live, local music and atmosphere back to the heart of the surf coast. Since the first summer series back in 2018 with San Cisco, Ziggy Alberts and Phil Jamieson, the hotel’s flourishing music culture is attracting world-class acts not just in summer, but all year round, and fostering homegrown talent until they themselves are world-class acts. And no matter your musical persuasion, there’s something for everyone.
The rise of the Torquay Hotel: The beating heart of live music in regional Victoria
The proof is in, The Torquay Hotel has become Victoria’s best music venue, dedicated to putting on killer gigs and giving up-and-coming bands (not just from our own backyard, but from across the world) a stage and now they’re getting the recognition they so dearly deserve.
Congratulations Torquay Hotel!
Torquay Hotel is located at 36 Bell St, Torquay. Keep up to date with the latest from the Torquay Hotel here.
