Appropriate

from Gippsland Times Tuesday 24 May 2022

Smother

www.gippslandtimes.com.au

History repeats for Tinamba Hotel

Jaci Hicken

THE Victorian hotel industry’s night of nights took place on Monday, May 16, with a diverse range of venues and hospitality heavyweights recognised for their achievements. Wellington Shire was represented across 10 of the 40 categories. The Tinamba Hotel took out the “Australian Hotels Association Victoria Best Regional Pub Restaurant” for the second consecutive year, following on from winning the National Best Regional Pub Restaurant in 2021. Owner Simon Johnson and his team were delighted with their success. “We have only been the owners for two years and this is the second year we’ve taken out the best regional pub restaurant in Victoria,” he said. “Like the Wellington Shire says ‘middle of everywhere’, Tinamba really is the middle of everywhere. “We love that not only is the Tinamba Hotel one of the best places to eat in Gippsland, but we now have been recognised as one of the best places to eat in the state. “The team is looking forward to the nationals in Sydney in November, where we hope to take out back-to-back national titles.” The Tinamba Hotel was not the only venue in the region to be recognised. Three other Wellington Shire venues were finalists, with the Dargo Hotel recognised in eight categories, including “Parma of the Year” and “Heart of the Community.” Dargo Hotel bar manager Ben Gibbs thinks the pub has the best chicken parma. “It’s a bloody great size; you need to be hungry as it’s a big feed, but we do a half-serve too,” he said. “We are a meeting spot for our small country town, with our crazy wheel raising funds for the bush nursing centre, neighbourhood house and Landcare ... it’s one of the reasons we were a finalist in the heart of the community category.” Highlighting the other great dining options in the area, the Criterion Hotel, Sale was a finalist in Best Regional Pub Restaurant, along with Best Hotel Pub Style Accommodation. The Star Hotel Sale, was a finalist in the “Best Gaming Venue with 50 machines or less,” losing out to the Grand Junction Hotel in Traralgon.