Best Retail Liquor Outlet
JUDGING (100% ANONYMOUS SITE INSPECTION)
*ELIGIBLE FOR ENTRY INTO THE AHA NATIONAL AWARDS
OVERVIEW
To be eligible to enter this category, entrants must have a drive-in or walk-through bottle shop or, a combination of both.
GENERAL CRITERIA
- External and internal approach of the venue
- Popularity of the establishment
- Design characteristics
- Beverage experience and offerings (presentation, accuracy, appearance, variety, and quality)
- Hygiene and cleanliness
EXPERIENCE CRITERIA
- Professionalism and outstanding customer service
- Staff neat, clean attired and well groomed
- Ambience
- Staff friendliness and knowledge
- Knowledge and implementation of Responsible Serving of Alcohol
- Efficiency of operations throughout the experience
MARKETING CRITERIA
- In-house promotions on offer
- Website – ease of search, use and finding information
- Social Media presence
- Range of promotional products and activities
RETAIL LIQUOR OUTLET CRITERIA
- Ease of entry and exit (car parking, disabled access)
- Condition and overall appearance of the outlet
- Signage
- Design, layout, and presentation of the bottle shop and or drive-in
- Ease of navigation through the bottle shop
- Extensive product range that is relevant to local market (if applicable) i.e., local, interstate, imported, low alcohol, non-alcoholic beverages
- Creative promotional/specials displays
- Promotion of the outlet (marketing and advertising)
- Excellent customer service and staff product knowledge
- Staff presentation and quality of interaction (easily identifiable i.e., uniform or name tag)
- Hygiene and cleanliness of the venue (fridges well stocked, glass clean, labels facing towards front)
Categories
Experience Awards
- Best Family Friendly
- Best Regional Local
- Best Metropolitan Local
- Best Outdoor Experience (including rooftop bars)
- Best Late-Night Venue
- Best Sporting Entertainment Venue
- Best Wagering Venue
- Best Retail Liquor Outlet
- Best Draught Beer Quality
- Best Wine List
- Best Cocktail List
- Best Regional Gaming Venue
- Best Metropolitan Gaming Venue
- Best Unique Bar Experience (Including small, cocktail, lounge or themed bars)
The following category is judged 25% by written submission WRITTEN SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS, 25% by interview and 50% by anonymous site inspection.
The following categories are judged 100% by written submission WRITTEN SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS.
- Heart of the Community
- Best Environmental/Sustainability Practices
- Best Bush Pub
- Best Marketed Hotel
- Best Social Media Campaign
Property Awards
The following categories are judged 75% by written submission WRITTEN SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS and 25% by guided site inspection.
Food Awards
- Best Steak
- Best Parmi
- Best Steak Sandwich
- Best Burger
- Best Sunday Roast
- Best Cheap Eat Meal (under $20)
- Best Chip
- Best Regional Casual Dining (Northern, Southern, Western)
- Best Metropolitan Casual Dining (CBD & Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western)
- Best Restaurant
People Awards
The following categories are judged 30% by WRITTEN SUBMISSION and 70% by INTERVIEW.
The following categories are judged 100% by practical interview.
NOTE: Entries are limited to ONE nomination per venue in each category
Overall Hotel Awards - nominations are not required
- Individual Hotel Operator of the Year
Note: All finalists in the 2026 Awards are eligible to win this award - Group Hotel Operator of the Year
Note: All finalists in the 2026 Awards are eligible to win this award - Regional & Metropolitan Hotel of the Year
Note: All finalists in the 2026 Awards are eligible to win this award - People’s Choice Award
Note: Every AHA NSW member venue is eligible to win this award
