Connections Nightclub was nominated for the Seventh Annual Bartender Awards in the category of ‘Best New Nightclub.’ To many that nomination may seem ironic, given Connections legendary status as one of Australia’s oldest nightclubs, but Connections qualifies as a new nightclub because of their recent renovations, which gave the dance floor a snazzy new look and marked the opening of a rooftop garden bar.
The awards were sponsored by Bartender, a publication for the bar and nightclub industry and encompassed the whole of Australia. There were a total of eight categories with 10 finalists in each category. Connections was one of just four Perth venues to be nominated in the whole competition. Other Perth-based nominees were: the Brisbane Hotel, the Manor and Must Winebar.
While Connections didn’t win – that honour went to Sydney’s Savela – club owner Tim Brown told OUTinPerth, ‘It’s a really great recognition of what we have done. I felt great we were just in the competition. I didn’t expect to win – some of the places we were up against, including Savela, were multi-million dollar operations. Just to be up against places like that was impressive.’
That nomination, as Tim Brown reported, was more than enough reason to celebrate (read: wake up with a hangover) with the other Perth nightclub owners who made the trip to Melbourne for the awards and industry trade show. Rumour has it they lost the boys from Luxe at some point in the night…
