2008 3AW Pub of the Year awards

3AW DeBortoli Pub Of The Year Awards

So for the 13th time with Neil Mitchell, it is time for another pub to join the honour roll of the 3AW/Debortoli Pub of the Year for 2008; clearly the year of oyster if menus are any guide.

For the record, the previous winners are;

Previous winners:
Year    Pub(s)    Suburb(s)
2007    Bouzy Rouge    Richmond
2006     The Albion    Port Melbourne
2005    The Metropolitan Hotel    North Melbourne
             The Brandon Hotel    Carlton
2004    The Beach Hotel    Albert Park
2003    The Court House Hotel    North Melbourne
2002    London Tavern    Richmond
2001    Doyle’s/Vine    Mentone/Abbotsford
2000    Royal Park    North Melbourne
1999    Emerald*    Sth Melbourne
1998    Clare Castle/O’Connell’s    Carlton/South Melbourne
1997    Spencer    West Melbourne
1996    All Nations    Richmond

Each of the final 4 is highly recommended, embodying the basics of what modern pubs should be; great food priced accordingly, cheerful and attentive staff, welcoming premises with outstanding front bar and above all great draught beer.

The 2008 finalists are;

Seven Creeks Hotel, Euroa,
Station Hotel, Footscray,
Carringbush Hotel Abbotsford
Montague Hotel, South Melbourne.

All 4 fell in a scoring range of 15-15.5 by my (imprecise!!) measurement.  Each has the necessary criteria that I look for, and each does one thing better than their fellow finalists. I elaborate below.
Before the announcement, some personal awards;

BEST BEER AND FRONT BAR:
Carringbush, Abbotsford. Lovely old world horse-shoe shaped bar with the best draught beer in Melbourne that I tried in 2008.  Right lighting, great setting.
PUBLICAN OF THE YEAR:
Annie Mahon, 7 Creeks, Euroa. Hadn’t met mine host before and didn’t want to leave the pub 3 hours later.  Knows her stuff, ran the legendary Lemon Tree in Carlton.  
BEST SERVICE IN A PUB:
Montague, South Melbourne. The pub has outstanding food and a wine list to match. (oysters with a gin and tonic jelly was superb). Top it off with pleasant, professional staff and it little wonder that this pub is one of Melbourne’s best.
I would like to acknowledge the Commercial Club, Fitzroy who re-opened the kitchen after it had closed.  Best pub pizzas in Melbourne!!
BEST PUB FOOD:
Station Hotel, Footscray.   With the hype long gone, this pub’s food is knocked out at such a level that the idea of resting on laurels never enters the psyche.  A Melbourne pub classic is the Black Pudding, bacon, duck egg with either an onion tart or calvados dressing. A snap at $22.  Everyone is welcome, and the delicate art of NOT distancing the locals has been achieved.
The Station has the weirdest food offering; Between 4 and 6pm each weekday, half a dozen oysters and wine or beer to match for $12.  No big deal?
Given that the area is heavy industrial, truck drivers aplenty it seems out of place.  To my amazement it is a winner.
I am pleased to announce that the 2008 3AW DeBortoli Pub of the Year is split.  The winners are;

Station Hotel, Footscray

Carringbush Hotel, Abbotsford