In a significant coup for the local hospitality sector, two Mandurah breweries have claimed top honours at the prestigious AHA Hospitality Awards for Excellence. The celebrated wins for Boundary Island Brewing Co and Wedgetail Brewing Co were announced at a gala event in Perth, highlighting the region's growing reputation for quality food and beverage offerings.
A Night of Celebration and Surprise
The prestigious awards were presented at the Hahn Gala Ball at Crown Perth on November 10. The event drew a massive crowd of more than 1100 guests from across Western Australia's vibrant hospitality industry, making the victories even more noteworthy.
After being a finalist in the Craft Brewery category for the past two years, Boundary Island Brewing Co, located in Erskine, finally clinched a win. This year, they took home the coveted award for best Casual Pub in the Metropolitan area.
Cynthia Graham, a director of Boundary Island, expressed the team's shock and delight at the achievement. "With the high calibre of amazing venues in the finals, we did not expect to take out the award," she said. "When they announced our name, we were genuinely shocked." She added that being recognised at this level is a testament to Perth's evolving and exciting casual dining scene.
Dual Honours for Boundary Island
The celebration at Boundary Island was twofold. Not only did the venue win its category, but the team also spent the night celebrating their head chef Jules Schliesser, who was highly commended in the Head Chef award category.
Graham described the recognition for Schliesser as "the icing on the cake," praising her "creativity, dedication and leadership" in the kitchen as exceptional and well-deserved.
Wedgetail's Focus on Quality Pays Off
Fellow Erskine brewery, Wedgetail Brewing Co, also enjoyed a triumphant night, securing the Draught Beer Quality Award. Co-owner Howie Croft said the team was "absolutely stoked" with the win.
"A lot of time and effort went into the submission so getting to the finals was good but to take the prize was even better," Mr Croft stated. He explained that their philosophy extends beyond just brewing quality beer. "We believe that producing quality beer is only half the battle, what is equally important is delivering the beer to a customer in perfect condition." This commitment is reflected in their meticulous practices, which include looking after their beer lines, chilling glasses before pouring, and comprehensive staff training.
This marks Wedgetail's first AHA win, building on the Honourable Mention they received for the Regional Casual Pub Dining Award at the previous year's ceremony.
Peel Region Shines on the State Stage
The success for the Mandurah area was part of a broader strong showing for the Peel region. Pinjarra’s Exchange Hotel was highly commended in the Redeveloped Venue Award category. Furthermore, Joey Byrne, the assistant manager at The Peninsula Mandurah, was honoured with the Best Bar Manager Award.
These collective wins underscore the depth of talent and quality present in the Peel region's hospitality industry, signalling a bright future for locals and tourists seeking exceptional dining and drinking experiences.
