Some awards celebrate a single night.
This one tells a much bigger story.
After 14 years of ownership by three local Warrandyte guys, years of reinvestment, hard work, setbacks, wins, long days, late nights, and a relentless commitment to raising the bar… The Grand Hotel Warrandyte has officially been named Victoria’s ‘Overall Hotel of the Year – Metropolitan’ at the AHA (Vic) State Awards for Excellence 2026.
We were also proudly awarded ‘Heart of the Community’ ❤️ — an honour that speaks directly to who we are and what The Grand stands for.
For General Manager Peter Appleby, our leadership team, and every staff member who has played a part in this journey, this recognition means so much because it reflects something bigger than awards.
Because The Grand has never just been about being a pub.
It’s about being a place where people gather.
A place for families.
A place for celebrations.
A place for sport, local connection, community, and making memories.
At 131 years old, The Grand has seen many chapters in its long history.
This is another one.
A proud moment in a legacy built on hospitality, resilience, reinvention, and heart.
But the truth is… this award belongs to everyone.
It belongs to our past and present employees.
It belongs to our loyal locals.
It belongs to the customers who moved away but still come back, the weekend driver passing through, the family celebrating a milestone, the sporting clubs, the regulars, and the new faces walking through our doors for the very first time.
It belongs to every person who has supported The Grand across the journey.
Because a pub like this isn’t built by one person.
It’s built by people.
And now… we take these awards to the national stage, where we will proudly represent not just The Grand Hotel Warrandyte, but the entire Warrandyte community on hospitality’s biggest stage.
💛 131 years strong. 14 years in the making. This award is for everyone.
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