Tony Leonard's First Quarter awards and the reasons why below:

February’s Best: Middle Park Hotel:

The plan, of course, was simple. Take a grand old pub, The Middle Park, aka, Gunn Island Brewery (but not anymore), get the best architects in Melbourne to make it feel like a comfortable, cosy pub in spite of its cavernous nature, put some sporting bric a brac on the walls and hey presto, you’re on a winner. If only it was that easy.

However the MPH works. Great array of beers, food at every level is top notch pub grub including the very British scotch eggs, and soon enough the old girl has returned to former glories. But here’s the kicker: In spite of the MCC carpet on the floor and the boys club feel to the place, women have embraced the pub as a place to meet and greet and if that balance of gender is achieved, the rest follows suit. Sure it is priced at a higher level than your average suburban, but it is well worth going there. Very, very good.

Read the review by clicking the corresponding image below.

March’s Best: Nash Hotel, Richmond:

Pubs, like footballers, should play to their strengths. If you are a good honest toiler in the back pocket, forget the dreams of winning a Coleman medal and do your best down there. Same deal with pubs. The Nash has limited to space to work in, and is part of many dining options in Victoria St. No point going high end “gastro” with the tucker. Give the punters what they want; value, comfort, service.

The Nash is an institution in Richmond, given its proximity to the Brewery. Beer’s good, comfort’s there but its secret is the wonderful beer garden, surrounded by your friendly Tigerland neighbours. If you owned a one bedroom, you would spend much of your time here. Food and drink is fairly priced, (most meals high teens/low 20s and fully plated) but that difficult to achieve commodity – hospitality – is its strength.

Read the review by clicking the corresponding image below.

April’s Best: Terminus Hotel, Clifton Hill:

There is no greater sense of self satisfaction when you believe you are the first to find a hidden gem in Melbourne’s wonderful dining life. Wish I could claim the Terminus, but sadly not. For around 12 months, the Terminus, in the shadows of the Clifton Hill Public Transport Interchange (now there’s a name for an aspiring indie band) has gathered a loyal following.

On the back of superior pub food and a wonderful can-do attitude from staff, this pub ranges from the comfortably full to absolutely rocking and really (I know I bang on about this) is a place of community and comfort. Melbourne’s best burger and chips in a pub (IMO). Thoroughly enjoyable experience on the night I went and am looking to return soon. Mark this down as a certain finalist for 2010.

Read the review by clicking the corresponding image below.

Review: Middle Park Hotel

REVIEW: "I don’t care where you live, the fundamental essence of a pub is to have a thriving front bar to meet, greet and generally crap about on about nothing in particular." Read Tony's review in full.

Review: Nash Hotel, Richmond

REVIEW: "Maybe if you are travelling on a crowded train to your office you want the change immediately: not so if you are a publican, with one of the quaintest beer gardens in Melbourne and relishing the conditions to bring the numbers in. And this pub is thriving in the tropical heat." Read full review.

Review: Terminus, Clifton Hill

REVIEW: "In keeping with the tradition started by the Herald Sun of '10 reasons why we say Christine Nixon must be sacked!', I thought I'd give you the equivalent in support of this fine old pub at the Clifton Hill public transport interchange." Read full review.