Red Hill Hotel - Elphinstone

I searched online for a great country pub for a party location for next year. I came across the red hill hotel, thought it looked promising, so my partner and I had a ride from ballarat. to check it. we fell in love with the hotel when we were in. my dear was complete when I saw beautiful barbara margaret mary sitting on the wall. jimmy the owner greeted us cordially, surrounded by its beautiful eclectic facility and historical original bar. we explained the reason for our visit and he was super courteous, showed us around his beautiful pub and beautiful beer garden. and even brought us into the very cool, sparse, hunted cellar! we sat and enjoyed a drink, some delicious olives and an entertaining chat with the very knowledgeable and friendly jimmy. we have already locked ourselves in the red hill hotel as our fixed party location, and we explained on our journey to home that it will now also be our favorite Sunday destination!

Curiosity drew us to stop yesterday (late Sunday afternoon) to see what was behind the autumnal red curtain of vines that screen Red Hill Hotel's frontage. So glad we did! There was a folk music group jamming and the ambiance and vibe in the spacious...verandah was delightful. We each had a wine and shared a dish of olives and stayed about 45 minutes.

We are locals and regulars but lately this place is going to the dogs. Called in on a Sunday for a bit of music and ordered a beer. Well they change the taps all the time putting up every new fad brew and you take...pot luck on what you get. This IPA beer was horrible. And at $14 overpriced. $11-12 everywhere else in town) And then a sudden Sunday surcharge which was NOT signed). $15.40 for a pint of barely drinkable beer. Didn't get my usual second, Was going to order food but as I getting the bums rush to suit the kitchen I bristled and yeah, at $33 for fish and chips? NOT interested. Used to love the place but it's getting tickets on itself, Wise up guys, you're a COUNTRY pub.

I love this pub , the ambiance of the building , the bar and outside areas are delightful ........ BUT thats where it stops ! I ordered Calamari with which you needed a microscope to find the calamari , the fries were cold the salad...nice ..... but for 30$ overpriced and under delivered big time. The pub was cold inside you had to leave your coat on and I cant say the staff are very friendly ...... I've gotta say heading down the road to The Five flags hotel much better , friendlier welcoming atmosphere.

As always when something is not right with the food you tell the owner so that things can improve and they don’t lose good customers. Well the guy that runs the show basically told us to take our business elsewhere when we let him know...that the food wasn’t super. The Red Hill has a great history and generally I have had a great time there but DO NOT EAT THERE unless you want wilted lettuce and cold chips and a rude owner telling you not to come back. Seriously this guy has problems as I wasn’t rude to him and there was no need to be rude to me.