AHA NSW Awards 2025
A Big Night Out for Flower Hotels at the AHA NSW Awards for Excellence
L to R: David Weston, Darren Ninness, Binoy Pinto, Ash Mitcham, Kirk Caracciolo, Tom Todd, Anna Osborne, Naomi George, Zoe Archer. Rhiannon Kennedy, Shane Curry & Alistair Flower.
Twelve of our crew swapped pub gear for party gear and headed to Randwick Racecourse in Sydney for the AHA NSW Awards for Excellence — one of the biggest nights on the hospitality calendar. It was a huge night celebrating the best pubs in the state, and after the formalities, Hot Dub Time Machine kept the dance floor pumping well into the night.
We’re proud (and a little bit stoked) to say our team brought home some serious recognition!
🥈 Settlers Inn – Highly Commended, Best Regional Casual Dining
This one means a lot. Settlers Inn is known for great quality, great value food — the kind of hearty pub meals that keep locals coming back. For our busiest kitchen to be recognised in this category, up against some of the biggest names in Sydney, is a huge credit to our kitchen and front-of-house teams.
🌟 Zoe Archer – Industry Rising Star
A massive congratulations to Zoe Archer, Venue Manager at Settlers Inn, who took out the Industry Rising Star Award. This category shines a light on hospitality professionals aged 30 and under who go above and beyond. Zoe has been part of the Settlers Inn family for almost ten years, and her leadership, commitment, and genuine love for the industry make her so deserving of this recognition. We couldn’t be prouder.
Zoe Archer accepting her award as the Industry Rising Star.
🏆 Long Flat Pub – Best Marketing Activity
We were also humbled (and pretty chuffed) to win Best Marketing Activity for the Long Flat Pub. When we first took on the venue, there hadn’t been any marketing at all — but we saw it as a diamond in the rough. Our approach was simple: stay true to who we are, make it fun, and build something that fits the scale of the pub.
With a modest budget and a creative spark, we developed the quirky cast of characters that now define Long Flat Pub’s branding. They’ve helped us tell the pub’s story in a unique, down-to-earth way that’s resonated with the community.
It was an unforgettable night celebrating our people, our venues, and the industry we love. A huge thank you to everyone across the Flower Hotels family who keeps raising the bar every day — these awards are a win for all of you.