Winning five awards in the Awards for Excellence, The Crafers Hotel has cemented its position as a destination venue of choice, not only for locals in the Adelaide Hills, but also for South Australians from further afield.

Along with Best Overall Hotel, it was awarded wins in the following categories: Best Superior Hotel Accommodation, Best Bistro Dining – Metropolitan (joint winner with the Port Admiral Hotel), Best Redeveloped Hotel, and Best Apprentice Development and Training.

The Crafers Hotel dining area.

The new owners (Ed and Julie Peter, with shareholders Brett Matthews and Jodi Brumby) purchased the rundown hotel in 2014, with a vision to create the most unique culinary and vinous destination hotel in the Adelaide Hills, offering delicious food, exceptional wines and well-priced accommodation. More than three years later, The Crafers Hotel has been completely transformed into a French-inspired, uniquely stylish gastropub.

It was not the only Adelaide Hills venue to catch the eye of the judges, with The Uraidla Hotel a joint winner in Best Bar Presentation and Service – Metropolitan category, and Mount Lofty House winning the category of Best Restaurant – Accommodation Division for its popular Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant.

Uraidla’s award-winning bar.

The recently renovated Port Admiral Hotel in Port Adelaide took home an award for Best Bistro Casual Dining – Metropolitan (joint winner). This pub is now a firm favourite among locals and visitors alike, serving up all the pub classics with a distinctly modern flair, including fresh-daily seafood.

South Australia’s country venues were also celebrated, with the Sevenhill hotel in the Clare Valley winning the category of Best Bistro Casual Dining – Country, and Sporties Tavern in Port Pirie winning Best Redeveloped Hotel Country, wowing the judges with its recent transformation.

“Congratulations to all the winners in the 2018 Hotel Awards for Excellence. South Australian hotels continue to innovate and produce top-quality venues right across the state, something that hoteliers and their staff should be proud of,” said AHA|SA general manager Ian Horne.

“The flow-on effects of these successful hospitality business will be felt by their local communities and beyond, through the people they employ, the local businesses and suppliers they use, and the local community groups that they support.”

All winners from the AHA|SA Awards will now go on to compete in the national AHA Awards to be held on the Gold Coast on September 17 this year.

The 2018 AHA|SA Hotel Industry Awards for Excellence was held last night at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Full list of winners:

DRAUGHT BEER QUALITY – METROPOLITAN
Cathedral Hotel, North Adelaide

DRAUGHT BEER QUALITY – COUNTRY
Vine Inn, Barossa

MID-RANGE HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
Largs Pier Hotel

SUPERIOR HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
Crafers Hotel

DELUXE HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
The Playford

BISTRO CASUAL DINING – COUNTRY
Sevenhill Hotel

BISTRO CASUAL DINING – METROPOLITAN
Crafers Hotel (joint winner)
Port Admiral Hotel, Port Adelaide (joint winner)
The Barker – Judges Commendation

HEALTHY MENU CHOICES FOR KIDS
Beach Hotel Seaford

RESTAURANT – ACCOMMODATION DIVISION
Mount Lofty House
Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge – Judges Commendation

RESTAURANT – GENERAL DIVISION METROPOLITAN
Apothecary 1878
Electra House – Judges Commendation

BAR PRESENTATION & EXPERIENCE – COUNTRY
Sporties Tavern, Port Pirie

BAR PRESENTATION & EXPERIENCE – METROPOLITAN
Exchange Hotel Gawler (joint winner)
Uraidla Hotel (joint winner)

OUTDOOR OR NON-ENCLOSED FACILITY
Feathers Hotel
Warradale Hotel – Judges Commendation

LIVE MUSIC VENUE
The Gov

ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
The Hindley

SPORTING ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
Warradale Hotel

COMMUNITY SERVICE & SUPPORT
Vine Inn Barossa

MARKETING & PROMOTION – GENERAL DIVISION
Moseley Bar and Kitchen

TOURISM & REGIONAL PROMOTION
Port Lincoln Hotel

ENVIRONMENTAL & ENERGY EFFICIENCY PRACTICE
Electra House

GAMING VENUE – COUNTRY
Hotel Crown, Victor Harbor

GAMING VENUE – METROPOLITAN
Lakes Resort Hotel
The Barker Hotel – Judges Commendation

MEETINGS & EVENTS VENUE – SPECALIST & ACCOMMODATION DIVISIONS
National Wine Centre

MEETING & EVENTS VENUE – GENERAL DIVISION
Lion Hotel, North Adelaide

RETAIL OUTLET – ATTACHED
Arkaba Hotel

RETAIL OUTLET – STAND ALONE
East End Cellars

PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD – BEST CBD HOTEL LUNCH
The Elephant British Pub

SMALL VENUE
Pink Moon Saloon

REDEVELOPED HOTEL – COUNTRY
Sporties Tavern, Port Pirie

REDEVELOPED HOTEL – METROPOLITAN
Crafers Hotel (joint winner)
Morphett Arms Hotel (joint winner)

STAFF DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING – GENERAL DIVISION
Warradale Hotel

APPRENTICE DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING
The Crafers Hotel

HOTEL INDUSTRY RISING STAR
Ayesha Ridgway – Hackney Hotel

BEST OVERALL HOTEL
The Crafers Hotel