Bridgeport Hotel named the best in regional Australia at AHA awards

It’s official: Murray Bridge’s Bridgeport Hotel is the best pub in regional Australia.

After being named South Australia’s best hotel at the Australian Hotels Association’s state awards last October, it went one better on Monday night.

At a presentation dinner in Hobart, owners Graham Hobbs and Ian Tregoning collected the association’s award for the best regional hotel anywhere in the country.

AHA president Scott Leach saluted each of the 500 hospitality industry figures present for their resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Against all odds, industry operators right around the country have continued to provide the highest possible levels of industry service and customer experience,” he said.

“Their innovation, their optimism and their commitment has shone through.

“As we rightly celebrate our winners, we also acknowledge and salute the wonderful contributions of each and every one of our industry operators during the toughest period in the industry’s long history.”

Several other South Australian pubs also rated mentions at the awards.

The Stirling Hotel was recognised for its bistro, Adelaide's Duke of Brunswick for its community service and the Watervale Hotel for its energy efficiency.

Employees at Mount Lofty House and the Uraidla Hotel were recognised at an individual level.

The redeveloped Bridgeport Hotel opened on June 8, 2021 and hosted Premier Steven Marshall at an official opening event the following month.

It recently gained a new general manager, Ian Muller, following the departure of Mary-Lou Corcoran to a resort at Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain.

The original Bridgeport Hotel had stood on the same site since 1884.

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