HOTEL/PUB TAVERN OF THE YEAR - METRO THE PLOUGH INN
WINNER
Peter Goss always dreamed of owning his own sports bar – he was just waiting to find the right location to realise his vision. And when the time came for him to return to Launceston’s CBD in 2020 after six years at Beauty Point, the perfect opportunity arose. Fast forward three years and Goss, alongside wife Di, has completely transformed the reputation of the The Plough Inn from a dodgy venue most punters would avoid into a multi award-winning establishment following three awards at the Awards for Excellence. “When I looked at the pub – I never used to go in before we got it, I used to walk across the other side of the road,” Goss says. “I think we had tea there one night and I don’t think I ever went back until I actually thought ‘right, I want to get back into town, I know what this place has got’. “I’d always wanted my own sports bar, we’ve also turned some space into a wine bar/restaurant and made it inviting and welcoming and then the upstairs, we turned that into a restaurant as well. Then there is the rooftop… when I saw that I couldn’t believe this place was not doing
DI GOSS AT THE PLOUGH INN’S ROOFTOP BAR. PICTURE: PHILLIP BIGGS
well.
“We just ripped it to pieces, the infrastructure and everything was already there, we just fixed it up and made it a place that instead of having steel and dark lights, we made feel like home and you want to come back and you don’t want to leave.”
HOTEL/PUB TAVERN OF THE YEAR - REGIONAL GREAT LAKE HOTEL
WINNER
establishment which draws visitors and locals alike to the region. And given the full redevelopment – which will contain Hydro Lodges, Highland Huts and new camping and caravan sites and facilities – is yet to be completed, more accolades could be store. “It is a special part of the world. We are 1100m above sea level with snow, we have the best wild trout fishery in the world, we’ve got fantastic horse riding and walking and cycling places, and most importantly the people,” managing director of the Johns Group Tasmania James Johns says. “The people in the central highlands are fantastic, really down to earth people and they enjoy interacting with everyone who comes to visit. “It is fantastic [to win again], we have got a cracking hotel manager in Nicole Anderson, she is wonderful. We have fantastic guest services staff, it is just a lovely award that is well spread throughout the organisation.”
GREAT LAKE HOTEL. PICTURE: WAYNE ELVIS WOODALL
Last year the team behind the multi-million dollar refurbishment of the Great Lake Hotel put the central highlands well and truly on the destination map after the venue won best pub-style accommodation and the regional hotel/pub tavern of the year awards.
Proving it was no one hit wonder, the Great Lake Hotel has backed up its success to confirm its status as an
29 Tasmanian Hospitality Review October/November Edition
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