AFTER six consecutive years as finalists in the AHA awards, Jack Duggans Irish Pub was placed highly commended in the Best Casual Dining Venue for 2014.
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The win has delighted owners Glyn Daunt and Peter Barrett, who said even to be nominated as a finalist is an achievement in itself.
The AHA awards are the most prestigious of their type in the industry.
“It is highly prestigious to receive a nomination for the award; Jack Duggans was nominated for Best Casual Dining Venue and our sister pub Biddy Walshs Irish Pub in Orange was nominated for two awards – Best Casual Dining Venue and Best New/Redeveloped Hotel,” Mr Daunt said.
“Of the pubs in both Orange and Bathurst that were nominated, Jack Duggans was the only venue to receive an award,” he said, which was six years in the making.
“It’s a good pat on the back foreveryone. We are all really happy,” Mr Barrett said.
The awards, a black tie event at the Dockside Darling Harbour, were held on Monday night.
Mr Daunt said while he was delighted both Jack Duggans and Biddy Walshs were nominated, he knew the competition would be extremely tough.
“You’re up against the best of the best. There are 1600 members in the AHA so it’s really tough competition,” he said.
As to the secret of their success, Mr Barrett said it was simple; consistently good food.
“Consistency is everything for us. Food drives our pub, so the consistency has to be the same,” he said.
“Our customers want to know they are getting the same quality dish every single time.”
Having celebrated their win, Mr Barrett said the restaurant had just introduced a new menu and was eagerly awaiting the next mystery shopper to judge their efforts.
“For this year’s AHA awards we had no idea who the mystery guest is, we don’t know who they were or when they came,” he said.