Top Hunter pubs shine in new food directory

A handful of Hunter pubs have been shouted top ratings in the 2013 Good Pub Food Guide.

Hunter Street’s Clarendon Hotel won the Best Service (Team) award, which publican Shaun Raymond attributed to general manager Raymond Grills and the staff.

‘‘I think it’s a great award and the fact it has been won by a region hotel is awesome,’’  Mr Raymond said.

Several of the region’s other establishments were also recognised in the guide to the state’s best pub meals and beer lists, with Carrington Place and the Cessnock Hotel both clinching the top ‘‘three schooner’’ rating.

Merewether’s Burwood Inn and Harrington’s at Pokolbin earned two schooners.

Australian Hotels Association chief executive Paul Nicolaou said clinching the guide’s top accolade was a major achievement in a competitive culinary scene across the state’s pubs.

The Clarendon Hotel restaurant.

The Sydney Morning Herald Good Pub Food Guide 2013 will be available on Saturday with the paper for $5. 

It is also available for pre-purchase from the Sydney Morning Herald bookshop.

Source: The Newcastle Herald, 12 December 2012