The Lane wins award for ‘best outdoor non-enclosed area’

By George, The Lane has been a success.

The cafe and entertainment venue was named ‘best outdoor non-enclosed area’ at the Australian Hotels Association Victoria Awards on Monday night. 

The Lane was also a finalist for the ‘best restaurant-country’ award at the presentation event.

The honours are a vindication of the decision two years ago by George Hotel proprietor Gary Browning to close Rafters nightclub and give the precinct new life.

“We have been extremely happy with how The Lane has come up,” Mr Browning said.

“It was designed to be a bit different from the norm, with a cider-type flavour.

Jan and Gary Browning with the Australian Hotels Association award for The Lane.

“We needed to be a more multi-faceted venue rather than concentrate on the nightclub only.

“It was something the City of Ballarat was pushing for, the interconnection of Armstrong Street with Lydiard Street as part of the CBD plan and it now complements Lydiard Street as a Ballarat tourist attraction.”

The Lane opened in early December last year.

It is now entering its peak season following a quieter winter.

Source: The Courier, 22 November 2013