July 20th, 2009

THE Coolangatta Hotel is officially the best pub in Australia but local drinkers say it always has been.

The 'Cooly' was named Hotel of the Year at the Australian Hotels Association Awards for Excellence at Conrad Jupiters on Friday night.

It qualified for the gong after being named Hotel of the Year at the AHA's Queensland awards in 2008.

Tweed Heads West resident Kat Charity , 22, said she visited The Cooly every day without fail.

"Does that sound sad?" she laughed.

"I love it because of the friendly atmosphere, the staff are the best, it's been revamped and looks better and cleaner, it's right on the beach. You can't get a better view from a pub than this one."

Tweed Heads South residents Russell Smith, 27, Nathan Brassington, 28, and Innocent Maramba, 30, said they visited the pub at least twice a week.

"We come here as often as we can but we're not alcoholics," said Mr Brassington.

"It's relaxing, easygoing and there's not too many fights."

Hotel manager Natasha Flint said they were not told exactly what got the pub over the line as the judges assessed the venue secretly.

The AHA has a long list of criteria, including tourism appeal, cleanliness, security, quality of beer, variety of wine, food, friendly staff, environmental sustainability and even temperature inside the pub.

Ms Flint said she believed The Cooly's unpretentious feel played a big part.

"It's got a bit of something for everyone," she said.

"It's not too top-end and anyone from any walk of life can come in right off the beach."

Other finalists in the Hotel of the Year category were The Home and Exchange hotels in Victoria, The Winston Hotel in NSW, Shenannigans in the Northern Territory, The Shoreline and The Stanley hotels in Tasmania, The Gate Bar and Bistro in Western Australia and The Lion Hotel in South Australia.

"We were stunned at first to win against those finalists," said Ms Flint.

"Then there was great satisfaction. It's a great result for the staff."

Barmaid Amy Jenkins has worked at the hotel for just six months but said it was the best job she had ever had.

"It's really fun, there's something new happening every day," she said.

"It is the best pub in Australia."

The Coolangatta Hotel will celebrate its 100th birthday in February.

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