The nominations are in for the inaugural Bar Awards and it’s clear Newcastle is buzzing with talent behind the bar. 

Bartender of the Year is shaping up as one of the most hotly-contested awards, with more than 50 of Newcastle’s best bartenders nominated by the industry for this category.

In addition to taking home the inaugural trophy and title of Newcastle’s Bartender of the Year, the winner will walk away with a fabulous prize which looks like this:

Pre-dinner drinks at Shady Pines Saloon

Take in your pre-dinner drinks at Shady Pines Saloon, Sydney’s classic Nashville-style honkytonk. You’ll no doubt soak up the laid-back pace, friendly atmosphere, and vintage taxidermy whilst enjoying some small-batch whiskey and or cold beer. Taking its inspiration from dive bars of old, Bar Awards judge Liam Gavin, Assistant General Manager of Shady Pines Saloon, will be taking care of you on your visit and will give you a proper Shady Pines Saloon welcome.

Dinner and drinks at Alberto’s Lounge

From Shady Pines, mosey on over to Alberta Street and down one of Surry Hills’ dark alleyways to your dinner destination: Alberto’s Lounge. This seductive bar-restaurant is where good food, good music, good wine, and good company are on offer in equal measure. Drawing inspiration from Melbourne’s Lygon Street and the laneways of Rome, the menu flavours are drawn from Italy’s regions in a way that is always fresh and delicious.

Overnight at Ace Hotel

Inspired by the rich history of Surry Hills and situated within the historical Tyne Building, Ace Hotel is where you’ll rest your head for the night. The building has been beautifully restored to merge its organic design with past memories of renegade razor gangs that ruled in the 20s, the modernist art boom of the 60s, the Gay Solidarity Group protests of the 70s, and the vibrant cultural coalescence of generations of migrant communities.

Swill Magazine 12-Month Subscription 

The Swill Magazine team have offered up a 12-month subscription to the hospitality-inspired mag which is all about stories of “restaurant culture around the globe, but not as you know it,” as Swill editor and our Bar Awards MC Myffy Rigby puts it.

The winner of Bartender of the Year award will be announced at the inaugural Bar Awards event on Monday August 5. Finalists will be announced next week – stay tuned.