The Lucky Hotel has been given the nods as one of the best casual pub dining experiences across the whole of New South Wales, with the Hunter Street venue narrowly losing out to Hotel Gosford for the spot spot at the 2023 AHA NSW Awards last week.

It’s a return to the winners’ circle for the inner-city establishment after it dominated the AHA awards in 2015, including winning country hotel of the year, best deluxe pub-style accommodation, and best burger. Then co-owner Hayley McCloy was also named best single hotel operator. At the time she declared The Lucky had hit a space “Newcastle had been crying out for.”

While Newy’s pub and venue scene has roared to life again since then, The Lucky continues to impress at the judge’s tables and proved as much with its 2023 second-place recommendation.

It’s a taste of success for the new owners after the venue changed hands earlier this year.

In May, the Hunter Street venue was sold for around $20 million to a Sydney private equity banker, Martin Scott, who helms Partners Group. Sisters Blake and Hayley told the Newcastle Herald the sale was “bittersweet” but said they were eager to spend more time with family. The sale was concluded off-market.

Scott also owns New Lambton’s Duke of Wellington, which he bought in October last year for $16 million.

Image via The Lucky Hotel on Facebook