City Hall dishes up shot at national glory in prestigious hospitality awards
- intouch Magazine
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
City of Newcastle’s iconic City Hall will be up against the cream of Australia’s hospitality venues next week as it vies for the honour of being named the national Caterer of the Year.
The winner will be announced at the 2025 Restaurant & Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence on Monday 27 October, with City Hall up against stiff competition including the historic Doltone House at Sydney Town Hall, the riverside dining experience at Blackbird in Brisbane and Australia’s fourth oldest winery, Sandalford Wines in Western Australia.
City of Newcastle’s Executive Manager of City Venues, Samantha Bullen, said this recognition reflects the dedication and professionalism of the entire City Hall team.
“City Hall is more than a beautiful, historic building, it’s a place where our community gathers to celebrate, connect and create memories,” Ms Bullen said.
“Being recognised among the best catering venues in Australia is a testament to our passionate team and all those involved in bringing an event together, from the event coordinators, back of house, office and front of house teams, to the talented kitchen team led by our Executive Chef Jess Le Good, who works closely with our Hunter suppliers to showcase the very best of our region.
“This achievement puts Newcastle’s hospitality scene firmly on the national stage. Regardless of the result on Monday, this is a win for our city and a proud moment for everyone involved.”
The annual awards program recognises restaurants and caterers in a variety of categories in each State and Territory, with category winners then qualifying for the National Awards for Excellence.
The awards acknowledge exceptional standards in food, service and event delivery across Australia’s hospitality sector, with judges visiting each venue during an event to experience the operations firsthand.
Aside from being in the running for the major Caterer of the Year award, City Hall is also a national finalist in the Events Caterer category.
Official judging took place during Hunter Medical Research Institute’s (HMRI) Gala Ball in June, where 270 guests were treated to a fantastic night of food and entertainment at City Hall.
Chair of HMRI’s Special Events Committee, Amy-Lea Pettigrew said City Hall continues to deliver an outstanding experience for their key annual event, which this year raised a record $220,000 to support medical research.
“City Hall has been a fantastic long-term partner for the HMRI Gala Ball,” Ms Pettigrew said.
“The attention to detail, quality of service, delicious food and dedication to the community make the team at City Hall truly deserving of this recognition.”
City of Newcastle operates several landmark venues including City Hall, Fort Scratchley Function Centre and the Civic Theatre, which welcome tens of thousands of visitors each year for weddings, conferences, concerts and major celebrations.
Fort Scratchley Function Centre was also recognised at the State awards earlier this year, named a finalist in the Event/Convention Centre Caterer – Regional NSW category.
