Tasmania’s hospitality industry celebrates another record evening
Tasmania’s vibrant hospitality sector shone brightly with another record turnout for the state’s biggest celebration, the 2025 Hospitality Tasmania Awards for Excellence. Close to 900 industry representatives and dignitaries – surpassing the 800 who attended last year – converged on the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens to honour the best of the best across 44 categories, with venues from every region recognised for setting new benchmarks in food, beverage, tourism, and accommodation. This year also set a record number of entries, with 213 venues submitting 625 nominations, reflecting the strength and innovation of Tasmania’s hospitality and community clubs scene. “Every year, these awards remind us just how creative, resilient and community-minded our hospitality professionals are. Whether it’s a regional gem or a bustling metro favourite, Tasmania continues to punch above its weight,” Hospitality Tasmania chief executive Steve Old said. “The energy and camaraderie at the gardens tonight reflected the strength of Tasmania’s hospitality community. These businesses don’t just serve food or provide a bed, they create experiences that put our state on the map.” Launceston’s The Plough Inn matched its record haul of four golds from 2024, including taking home the Hotel/Pub Tavern of the Year – Metro crown for a third successive year. The venue also retained its Best Sports Bar and Best TAB titles, and was recognised with the best Disability & Inclusion Access Award (Hospitality Venue). Longley International Hotel also went back-to-back as Hotel Pub/Tavern of the Year – Regional, as well as taking out a third straight Best Live Music or Entertainment Venue (Pubs/Taverns) nod. Also among the headline honours was Frogmore Creek, which was named Restaurant of the Year – Regional, reinforcing its reputation as one of Tasmania’s most outstanding dining destinations. Frogmore was also judged best stand alone restaurant. Peppina once again claimed Restaurant of the Year – Metro, capping an incredible night with three golds, including Best Restaurant in an Accommodation Venue and Best International or Speciality Cuisine. Massimo Mele’s masterpiece also won a silver medal behind Stillwater Restaurant for Wine List of the Year. In the accommodation categories, The Cove Tasmania took out Accommodation Venue of the Year – Metro for the first time, concluding an incredible night which also saw gold recognition as Best Superior Accommodation and taking out the Veolia Best Environmental & Recycling Practice award. Saffire Freycinet retained Accommodation Venue of the Year – Regional and the Best Deluxe Accommodation to maintain its reputation as one of the state’s leading luxury operators. A defining moment of the night came with the presentation of Life Membership, bestowed not on an individual this year but on the Mure family, honouring their five decades-long contribution to Tasmanian dining, seafood, and tourism. Their name has become synonymous with hospitality excellence and family legacy. Another highlight was the ‘People’s Choice Award” categories, which were introduced for the first time in partnership with Pulse Tasmania. The Best Bar, Best Burger and Best Coffee competitions garnered more than 20,000 votes from the public, seeing Little Green Men Brewing, Food For Dudes and Bruce’s Cafe emerge the winners.
29 Tasmanian Hospitality Review October/November Edition
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