By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier
The Moseley Bar & Kitchen was named South Australia’s Best Overall Hotel for 2016 at the AHA SA’s Hotel Industry Awards for Excellence.
The Awards were held on Tuesday, 26 July at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, and was attended by over 800 people within the South Australian hotel industry.
Besides taking out the largest award, the seaside pub also won Best Bar Presenatation and Experience – Metropolitan, Best Entertainment Venue and Best Bistro/Casual Dining – Metropolitan. The latter award was shared with The Mile End Hotel, whose venue manager, Allan Robinson noted that the win was "a fantastic booster for our staff that have put in all the hard work since the renovation, especially our Head Chef, David White."
The Moseley Bar and Kitchen in Glenelg was redeveloped by owners RD Jones Group in 2014, moving away from a traditional pub format and transforming into a multi-level space with various food and beverage offerings.
AHA SA’s general manager, Ian Horne, said the awards recognised the venue’s innovations.
“The Moseley Bar & Kitchen has shown excellence in 3 categories – Best Bistro Metropolitan, Best Bar Presentation, and Best Entertainment Venue. Having also won three awards in 2015, it is an extremely deserving winner of Best Overall Hotel for 2016.
“This hotel is successfully catering for a changing and more discerning patron, looking for a high quality, value for money and memorable experience.”
Horne also took the time to pay his respects to Richard Jones, founder of the RD Jones Group, who passed away recently.
“The AHA SA congratulates the RD Jones Group for their tremendous win and in particular wishes to acknowledge the enormous contribution of Richard Jones to the development and promotion of the hotel industry over nearly four decades. This great industry icon has sadly recently passed, and will be greatly missed.”
Luke Donaldson, operations manager of the RD Jones Group and son-in-law of Richard Jones, dedicated the win to the patriarch and matriarch of the Jones family.
“Having also won three awards in 2015, we’re extremely proud and appreciative of the team’s efforts in winning another three awards this year, including Best Overall Hotel.
“The award recognition this year is more sentimental for our team given the recent passing of Richard Jones, founder and managing director of the RD Jones Group.
“As a family business, we will be forever grateful to Richard and Denise, along with our thousands of employees, for the opportunity to be involved in such a dynamic and progressive business.”
Another RD Jones Group venue, the Woodcroft Hotel, was named joint winner of Best Redeveloped Hotel – Metropolitan, alongside Cathedral Hotel.