On Monday, August 5, the Bar Awards honoured the winner of Rookie of the Year, a rising star in the Newcastle bar scene who is already making an impact.

A huge congratulations to this year's winner: Mia Kha from The Underground.

The Underground is a thriving cocktail bar, hidden underneath The Grand Hotel. If you stop by for a drink, chances are you'll catch Mia shaking up some excellent cocktails and bringing a bubbly energy to the bar, even in the middle of a busy shift.

Find out more about the Rookie of the Year award below.

Rookie of the Year

This one is for the up-and-comers; the rising stars; the ones to watch; the movers and shakers. Rookie of the Year celebrates the next generation of talent in Newcastle’s bar industry.

Rookie of the Year can make excellent drinks, sure – but they also bring plenty of passion, dedication, and ambition to the table.

This award recognises a talented individual who’s committed to on-going training and furthering their career in the industry – and we’re celebrating them right here, right now.

This year's finalists were:

- Coal & Cedar | Reeve Leonard 
- The Beach Hotel | Jacqui Dorian
- The Koutetsu | Jayden Wright 
- The Stag & Hunter | Harry Taylor
- The Underground | Lawrie Hansen
- The Underground | Mia Kha

And here's the full list of nominees:

- Alfie’s Italian | Daniel Antonio Troconis
- Bar Mellow | Poppy Bailey
- Bar Romeo | Grace Cameron
- The Beach Hotel | Jacqui Dorian
- Bernie’s Bar | Dominic Vun
- Bernie’s Bar | Beth Steel
- Bernie’s Bar | Natey Siudek
- The Blind Monk | Julian Vogrig
- Blue Kahunas | Joe Carter
- The Bogey Hole on Darby | Maryann McDonald
- Casa Nova Honeysuckle | Lalit Tamang
- Casa Nova Honeysuckle | Sapana Gurung
- Casa Nova Honeysuckle | Kiran Joseline
- Castle Del Mar | Elijah Thompson
- Castle Del Mar | Rosanna Jennings
- Coal & Cedar | Reeve Leonard
- The Edwards | AJ
- The Falcon | Edie Bocking
- The Falcon | Janelle Turcios
- The Grain Store | Jade Griffiths
- The Grain Store | Ky Humby
- The Grain Store | Luciana Clews
- The Grain Store | Rhys Schultz
- Grainfed Brewing | Finn Flanagan
- Granddad's Bar | Hunter Blunden
- The Hamilton Station Hotel | Luke Muras
- Jams Karaoke & Bar | Mackenzie O'Donnell
- Junction Hotel | Dusty Cameron
- The Koutetsu | Jayden Wright
- The Lucky Hotel | Angus Durie
- The Lucky Hotel | Jordan Wise
- Meantime | Hannah Black
- MEET | Toby Scotts
- Method Brewing | Charlotte Russel
- Modus Merewether | Adrian Kontekakis
- Modus Merewether | Charli Toyne
- Modus Merewether | Mia Hancock
- Rooftop at QT | Nick Rogers
- The Rogue Scholar | Lydia Scholey
- The Rogue Scholar | Olivia Gavel
- Rombergs | Harrison Saggers
- Rustica Newcastle Beach | Flynn Hosie
- Scratchleys | Calissa King
- Sydney Junction Hotel | Kurdt Marchant
- The Stag and Hunter | Harry Taylor
- The Underground | Mia Kha
- The Underground | Lawrie Hansen
- Urban Deli and Bar | Ans Dar

* All applicants must have worked as a bartender for either less than two years as of June 23, 2024, OR be aged 23 or younger by June 23, 2024. 
** This award is open to all rookies who are working in a venue that is located within the Newcastle LGA.

Thank you to our category sponsor Urth Fitness for their support.