Great hotel, you can bet on it

Goondiwindi's iconic Victoria Hotel went from potentially being a pile of rubble to being the best pub accommodation in Australia.

Last year the Hotel received the best pub-style accommodation in Queensland but recently the Hotel was given the title of the best pub-style accommodation in Australia for 2013.

Owners, John and Michelle Klein couldn’t be happier.

“It’s good to get an Australian pub award in Goondiwindi and we are stoked,” said John.

For the past seven years John and Michelle have been working hard to get the Victoria Hotel up there with the best of them.

In fact, before the couple took over the pub council said if it wasn’t bought it would be bulldozed and a  tavern with an arcade and shops was going to be built.

“It’s gone from (almost) a pile of rubble to being the best pub accommodation in Australia for 2013,” said John.

The pub recently had some renovations completed with a brand new self-service TAB which will be formally opened this week.

“It’s easy to use and will be big with the Melbourne Cup just around the corner,” said John. Renovations were completed by Michael Bell who has taken care of the restoration of the pub.

Michael’s father, Bill Bell built the hotel’s second storey. Injecting another dose of life to the hotel is the B&B (Beer and Bullsh*t) tours.

A tour of the hotel and lunch on the veranda has been a popular expedition for many travellers.

“It has attracted travellers to town and they really enjoy it.”

In just under two years, close to 1000 people have participated in the tour. John and Michelle would like to mention partner Tim Herden.

Source: The Goondiwindi Argus, 16 October 2013