Devonport’s Formby Hotel has been recognised as having the best bistro in regional Australia.
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On the Gold Coast on Monday the Formby took out the best bistro regional award at the Australian Hotels Association’s national awards for excellence.
Mark Cadle, operations manager with Formby owners the Goodstone group, said it was fantastic news for the company but also for the state.
“We were shocked just to win the state award but literally amazed to win the national,” Mr Cadle said.
He said he believed the award was voted for by ‘mystery shoppers’, and the Formby had obviously scored well.
Mr Cadle said the Formby was a little special in his eyes.
“Obviously it’s important to have good food, but you’re only as good as your staff and we’ve got a great bunch of staff,” he said.
He paid tribute to head chef Lucas Edwards for his consistency in leading the kitchen team at the Formby.
“He’s a tower of strength, and they are backed up by great floor staff.”
Mr Cadle said it would be a great shot in the arm for the region.
“We get a lot of tourists who come to the state and leave pretty quickly, so hopefully this will help to put Devonport on the map, and give people another reason to stay for a while and have something to eat,” he said.
“It adds to the overall attraction for Tasmania which really does have a great reputation for food and dining.”
He said the Formby menu featured a mix of everything, with a slow roasted shoulder of roast lamb its signature dish, amongst a modern Australian menu featuring a lot of local lamb and pork.
Other winners in Tasmania were Frogmore Creek and MACq 01, which took out two awards.
Frogmore Creek won best regional restaurant for the second year in a row.
Tasmanian Hospitality Association CEO Steve Old said it goes to show the quality of food and operators we have in our state and it was great to see our venues get the acknowledgments that they so richly deserve.
“The judges were very impressed with the overall quality and presentation of the food at Frogmore Creek and the outstanding service.” Mr Old said.
“Congratulations must also go to The Formby Hotel in Devonport for taking out the Best Bistro Regional award ahead of many fine establishments around the country.
“Finally, a big congratulations to MACq 01 Hotel for taking out two prestigious awards on the day, those being Best Superior Accommodation and Overall Hotel of the Year – Accommodation Division.
“With Hospitality being the third (3rd) largest employing industry in the state with around 10% of the workforce, it is vitally important to our state that we have a strong and vibrant industry.
“Tasmania did unbelievably well in all categories and feedback from the judges suggested that we were not far from winning many more awards on the night with several of our venues running a close second in their chosen categories.”
Luke Sayer
Luke Sayer became the editor of The Advocate Newspaper in mid-2017, after beginning his media career in the late 1980s. He is passionate about sharing the best regional news from North-West Tasmania and what matters from around the nation and world. He's been known to throw himself around a hockey field and jump in a surf boat, and loves to spend time with his kids and grandkids.
Luke Sayer became the editor of The Advocate Newspaper in mid-2017, after beginning his media career in the late 1980s. He is passionate about sharing the best regional news from North-West Tasmania and what matters from around the nation and world. He's been known to throw himself around a hockey field and jump in a surf boat, and loves to spend time with his kids and grandkids.
