Central Highland pubs make up three of the best 10 regional pubs to plan a road trip around, food writer Richard Cornish says in an article in The Age’s Good Food, published on January 2. 

The Guildford Family Hotel, above left Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville, above right, and the Daylesford Hotel, below, all made the grade. 

The Guildford Family Hotel is run by hospitality stalwart Megan Evans and her partner, music industry long-timer Tom Allen. The perfect pair for a hospitality and music venue. 

The couple took over the pub in 2021 and it’s now a great place for locals and visitors who enjoy the bar baner, beer garden and dining room. 

Megan, who is well known to Daylesford locals after working at a number of hospitality venues in the town, loved the idea of running her own pub and “getting the old girl back to life”. 

“I have loved hotels and pubs my whole life, in fact I have spent pretty much 26 years in hospitality working in country pubs, and I just love the locals. I have a very genuine smile when anyone walks in and that is what country pubs are all about.” 

Jackie Airey and Ken Parfrey bought the Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville in 1997.

The 90-year-old pub, once owned by TV and radio personality Ernie Sigley, had been closed for years but the pair slowly renovated and 11 years later, The Centre of the Universe opened. 

Ken said he knew they had something special. And the people who wander in, realise that too. There’s no television, no wi-fi, no pokies, but there is plenty of great chat, excellent meals and always something new to discover in the wonderful decor.

Throw in plenty of live music, the Back Beach Bar and the Henri Langlois Screening Room – and it’s a winner. 

The Daylesford Hotel, with some of the best deck views in town, has recently been taken over by those who did such a great job at Cliffy’s Emporium and Beppe.

They have also engaged chef Rob Kabboord, formerly of three-hatted Quay in Sydney. The food, including drive-through pizza, is fantastic, and the old pub is quickly becoming “the local” with its Friday night charity raffles and down-to-earth vibe.

Words: Donna Kelly | Images of the Guildford Hotel and Radio Springs Hotel: Photoshopped by Kyle Barnes 

Nick Carpenter’s new art exhibition, Sight Of Sound, goes on show at the historic Guildford Hotel Music Hall this month.
The exhibition includes 15 new hanging works based on the theme of music. They are mostly 3D works made from timber, acrylic paints, wood stains and oils. Elements from the world of music have been captured in these visual artworks, making the 1860s-built music hall the perfect venue to display them.
The opening night is Saturday, September 9 from 6pm with all welcome.
The exhibition will then be open on Saturdays, during hotel hours with entry free – except for during the Banjo Jamboree on Saturday, September 16. Jamboree ticket holders will be able to view the exhibition.
The Music Hall is just behind the Guildford Hotel on Fryers Street in Guildford.

Words: Donna Kelly | Images: Kyle Barnes

I RECKON the road to Castlemaine has probably never seen so much traffic since Megan Evans and Tom Allen took over the Guildford Family Hotel at the end of 2021.
In a story back then, Megan, who is well known to Daylesford locals after working at a number of hospitality venues in the town, said she was excited about running her own pub and “getting the old girl back to life”.
And they have certainly done that.

Open five days a week, it is a huge drawcard for not only locals but also for those making the short trip past Mt Franklin from over Daylesford and surrounds way.
The chef is Lee Littlepage, who also has a following from around the region, and she is doing great things in the kitchen with pub classics and a few surprises.
We headed there last Saturday for lunch and grabbed a table in the bar. There are plenty of dining spots to choose from – check out the dining room, it’s fab, the bar itself where Tom is always up for a chat, or the beer garden, where music is happening again.
Entrees
For entrees I chose the pea, mint and haloumi fritters with a mint yoghurt dipping sauce (4 for $16) while Kyle decided on the battered scallops with cauliflower puree, aioli, crispy bacon and lemon (4 for $22). Both were delicious with the fritters a really lovely texture, beautifully crisp on the outside and moist inside. Loved them. Kyle, who would happily eat seafood for three meals a day, said the combo of the cauliflower, bacon and scallop was a winner, with the scallops perfectly cooked.
Mains
Time for mains and it’s always hard to choose – especially with 15 really good options – something for everyone.
I decided to be boring and went for the chilli and garlic prawn spaghetti with olive oil, butter, cherry tomatoes, spinach and parmesan ($28). Yum! I am never going to call this dish boring again. It is a zinger with loads of flavour, big plump prawns and pops of tomato. A bowl of deliciousness.
Kyle chose the southern fried chicken burger with cheese, slaw, bacon, pineapple, chipotle mayo, onion rings and chips ($28). This is massive and delivers everything it promises. Kyle said nothing about this, he was just busy eating, but I stole an onion ring and it was crisp and fluffy and full of flavour. Maybe they should do a bowl of onion rings as a side?

Oh, we had a friend with us, on the sly, and they went for the chicken parma with a housemade Napoli sauce and cheese blend with chips and buttered vegetables ($28). Did I mention Lee very kindly added a couple of extra sauces – pepper and mushroom. Served oozing with goodness, it was proclaimed “one of the best parmas ever”. And this is someone who has had more parmas than Kyle.
Desserts
We were done but there are three desserts to choose from, all are $14 and they all sound good. Chocolate pudding with chocolate sauce and cream – chocolate coma-inducing perhaps, my favourite, vanilla panna cotta with mixed berries and housemade lemon tart with cream and strawberries.
Kids
It’s a family hotel, so children are happily catered for with parma and chips for just $11, napoli pasta, or nuggets and chips for $12, or fish and chips for $13.
Drinks
This is a pub so there is plenty to choose from. I chose the 2021 Cloud St chardonnay from King Valley which was $12 for a glass, the same price as all the many glasses of wine available. Meanwhile bottles of wine range from $45 to $75 – very nice pricing I think.
Another thing
We have known Megan and Tom many years and they are lovely people who have taken the “old girl” and really breathed life back into her. It’s been lovely to watch the pub get the love it deserves and also give people another option in this region.
There is a Friday night raffle for various charities, which is always fun, and Tom has got music happening again – something the pub was known for in an earlier life.

I really recommend making a booking or calling in to see what many people have already discovered. A lovely old pub with great food, service and atmosphere.
See you at the Guilly!