The Bartender: Australian Bar Awards 2015 took place last week and Dominion League took out the State Winner - Cocktail Bar of the Year and Mechanics Institute won the NATIONAL AWARD - Small Bar of the Year. Well played to the managers, chefs and all the barstaff.

Aren't awards funny things? Mechanics Institute (and the ground level Flipside Burgers) was completed in 2012. Thats right - 3 years ago! Im not sure how it works with the Bartender Awards, but perhaps these awards are like the Architecture Awards and selected by other peers within the industry (ie other architects)? I always wonder when i see 'award winning' what this really means? Who picked you as a winner, who are the judges and what do the owners, staff, punters, postman, delivery guys and general walkers past think of it? Awards in my experience are for the ego - a way to slap yourself on the back to say 'yes you are accepted - well done'