Daylesford Hotel

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2 Burke Square, Daylesford, Vic 3460
Phone: 03 5348 2335 or 03 5348 3723
http://www.daylesfordhotel.com.au/
This is the most convenient pub is Daylesford, located right in the centre of town. For this reason, it is also the most disappointing as it has consistently remained just average in every facet of pub-ness. It's a great old-fashioned pile of a place, full of rooms and corridors and nooks and crannies, including accommodation (I haven't stayed there so can't comment). There is a wide upstairs veranda around two sides, ideal for warm-weather hanging out. So what's the problem? Well, for one thing, the public bar (with pool table) is not an especially friendly place. They usually have something nice (non-Carlton Draught) on tap, but the locals who hang out there aren't the most welcoming to strangers, or even semi-strangers. Service in the various bars and food areas also tends to be lacking in hospitality. The country-pub meals being served can be fine one time and less-than ordinary the next. Also on the plus side, it is the drive-through bottle shop for Daylesford so the selection of wine by the bottle is good.

News from Britain

Robin Millard reporting from London for AFP writes: "While Britain is in the grip of a recession and its world-famous pubs are closing at an estimated rate of 52 per week, the traditional craft beer industry is celebrating its annual bash in a cheery mood. Despite a poor year for the pub and brewing industries, cask ale sales performed comparatively well, dipping by 1.3 per cent, compared to 8 per cent for the total beer market. Meanwhile The Society of Independent Brewers estimates its members' sales are growing by 10 to 11 per cent a year. About 60,000 beer lovers were expected to attend the event organised by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, which was founded in 1971 and has just passed the 100,000-member mark. As well as fighting the incoming lager tide, CAMRA is fighting high pub prices, pub closures, beer taxes and the dominance of global brands. 'The good news is that real ale brewers are doing very well and some companies have been reporting double-digit growth,'' CAMRA chief executive Mike Benner said. 'There's a real, genuine move by consumers back to local products and people are looking for drinks with provenance that actually mean something to them. Consumers are getting fed up with having these huge, global, over-marketed brands shoved down their throats.' ''

Dooley's Old Hepburn Hotel

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236 Main Road, Hepburn Springs VIC.
Phone: 03 5348 2207
oldhepburnhotel.com.au/
If you're exploring around the Daylesford/Hepburn Springs area, the Old Hep, or Dooley's, is the last outpost on the way out of town on the way to Lavandula. Jason Dooley and his crew run a friendly, comfortable neighbourhood pub that does most everything right, from well-cooked traditional country-pub cuisine to a tap-beer selection that of late has included Squires Golden Ale and Coopers pale. There's also an impressive wine-by-the-glass list and a good choice of beer in stubbies. They also specialise in some fairly exotic-sounding cocktails. There's a pool table, dart board, and plenty of big windows with nice views. It's in frequent use as an entertainment venue, a good place to listen to live music or, as we experienced recently, some bush poetry (not as bad as it might seem). They also operate a shuttle bus into Daylesford and back.