BAR AWARDS INDUSTRY FEATURE
PICTURED: RUDE BOY TEAM
When it comes to Tasmania’s two latest national award winning bars, there’s more than just close proximity in Hobart’s Mid Town. S onny and Rude Boy were the toast of the state at the recent Australian Bartender Magazine Bar Awards when they each landed prestigious national titles in front of more than 700 industry representatives. And while they are basically Elizabeth Street neighbours in Hobart’s Mid Town, there is a stronger bond between the two than sharing location – a family connection. Rude Boy’s Khayla Massie, who is married to venue manager Rohan, is also the sister-in-law of Matt Breen, the owner and chef at Sonny. It wasn’t quite double the celebration at the awards night in Sydney in early September, with Breen at home looking after his one- year-old daughter when he found out Sonny had been crowned the best wine bar in Australia. But there’s no doubting the Rude Boy crew, who were in Sydney to receive the title as best rum bar in Australia, more than made up for the absence of their Tasmanian counterparts.
Nominated for the first time in the awards, Sonny’s recognition continued a meteoritic rise for the small establishment, which continues to go from strength to strength since opening in 2019. “Just to be nationally recognised on that level is pretty special for us,” Breen said. “We really focus on a strong sense of hospitality and making people feel like they’re really at home in this bar. For us, what sets us apart is just our sense of hospitality and the way we cater for people and care for them. “We treat them like they’re coming into our home and I think people really respect that sense of communication and hospitality. I was actually in bed. I’ve got a one-year- old at the moment and she’s teething, I was lying in bed and my sister-in-law was at the awards… she Face Timed me.” Breen, who has just opened up his newest venture Ogee in North Hobart, has built Sonny into the institution it is alongside manager Al Robertson, who moved from South Australia to take up the role. The venue edged out the likes of Bar Liberty in Fitzroy, NSW duo La Salut and Love Tilly Divine and Perth’s Bar Rogue to take home the top gong.
18 Tasmanian Hospitality Review Oct/Nov Edition
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