The renovated Warradale Hotel has been named the state’s best overall hotel at the Australian Hotels Association SA annual awards, winning accolades for the way it has met the challenges of the modern pub scene.

“When The Warradale first opened in 1963, like most hotels in the state until the mid-90s, it was owned by the South Australian Brewing Company and they were all built the same,” said AHA SA general manager Ian Horne.

“You wouldn’t recognise it now. In the last two years, the hotel has undergone a significant renovation.

“Millions of dollars have been spent on The Warradale. It has all the components of a traditional pub – dining areas, bars, gambling – that now sit comfortably within the modern footprint of a social centre and economic and social driver for the community.

The Warradale, owned by the Palmer Hotel Group, also won Best Bistro/Casual Dining (Metropolitan) jointly with the Hackney Hotel, and Best Gaming Venue (Metropolitan) at last night’s awards.

“People’s expectations of pub food are different to what they were 10 years ago,” said Horne.

“The award reflects the casual style and new generation of pub food that offers somewhere you can take everyone from your children to your grandparents, as well as exceptional service, attention to detail, cleanliness and maintenance. The quality and the variety of the food and service caught the attention of the judges.”

Horne said that with the gaming awards, judges also considered the “service ethic” of staff and compliance with responsible gambling requirements – “the venue must have a tick in every box”.

So what does the AHA consider to represent excellence in a hotel?

“The old adage ‘a pub is a pub is a pub’ doesn’t fit any more,” said Horne. “Pubs have changed. Historically there was a heavy focus on bars and there was no competition.

“We didn’t have cafes, we didn’t have Coles and Woolworths, and we didn’t have a casino. Metropolitan hotels now have to be so much more.

The customer base has changed; people are so much more affluent and better informed today. Hotels now have to appeal to everyone from tradies to families to hipsters. The challenges for a local have never been greater.

“In a perfect world, hotel excellence would capture all the traditional services of a hotel, but hotels also have to respond to their marketplace, be innovative and commercially successful and show a commitment to staff.

“The reality is that these award-winning hotels are successful because customers are attracted to them and because they have a heart.”

 2014 AHA|SA Awards for Excellence winners

Best Mid-Range Accommodation
Largs Pier Hotel

Best Apartment/Suite Accommodation
Miller Apartments

Best Superior Hotel Accommodation
Lakes Resort Hotel

Best Deluxe Hotel Accommodation
The Playford Adelaide

Best Bistro/Casual Dining – Country
Rising Sun Hotel, Auburn

Best Bistro/Casual Dining – Metropolitan
Joint Winners – Warradale Hotel & Hackney Hotel

Best Restaurant – Accommodation Division
The Playford Adelaide

Best Restaurant – General Division
Stirling Hotel

Best Bar Presentation & Experience – Country
Coopers Alehouse @Wallaroo Marina

Best Bar Presentation & Experience – Metropolitan
Lion Hotel, North Adelaide

Best Outdoor or non-enclosed facility
Eyre Hotel, Whyalla (Country)
Republic, Norwood (Metropolitan)

Best Live Music Venue
Governor Hindmarsh Hotel

Best Sporting Entertainment Venue
Arkaba Hotel

Outstanding Community Service & Achievement
Vine Inn Barossa

Best Marketed & Promoted Venue – Accommodation Division
Intercontinental Adelaide

Best Marketed & Promoted Venue – General Division
Ramsgate Hotel

Best Tourism & Regional Promotion
National Wine Centre

Best Environmental Practice & Energy Efficiency
Lakes Resort Hotel (Accommodation Division)
Alberton Hotel (General Division)

Best Gaming Venue – Country
Renmark Hotel

Best Gaming Venue – Metropolitan
Warradale, Hotel

Best Function Operation/Facility – Accommodation / Specialist Division
Lakes Resort Hotel (Accommodation Division)
National Wine Centre (Specialist Division)

Best Function Operation/Facility – General Division
Hackney Hotel

Best Retail Outlet – Metropolitan
Stirling Hotel

Best Redeveloped Hotel
Beach Hotel Seaford (Metropolitan)
Waikerie Hotel (Country)

Outstanding Achievement in Staff Development & Training
Strathmore Hotel

Outstanding Apprentice Development and Training – General Division
The Highway

Hotel Industry Rising Star Award
Natasha Court, Brahma Hotel

Best Overall Hotel
Warradale Hotel