Staying at the Lodge overnight when coming to Ararat for a tour of the gaol and asylum made all the…read moreexperience and ensured a cosy night after several hours digging up history. Although this hotel's features are quite dated, for a budget hotel the room itself was quite spacious and very homely. There was a nicely set out lounge area, with a small table and chairs next to the full length window next to the door where I was able to set up my laptop and not be facing against anything. A definite winner. The kitchenette area had a bit of a strange layout. The bathroom sink in some way doubled up as a kitchen sink, with the mini bar fridge and microwave to the left of it on a type of low bench with coat hanging railing above it. The bathroom was in a separate space to this mind you. The shower went over the bath tub, with no glass screens or curtains, which was also capable of being a single person spa bath. The motel offered up a selection of room service breakfast items. Fairly traditional western foods like toast, cereals, variety of spreads, coffee and tea. The bathroom also came with a generous amount of hygiene products, including a conditioner and a bubble bath/body wash, which I've noticed a lot of places don't bother offering. The Lodge was a lovely place to stay. The owners are Chinese I think, and there is a Chinese restaurant at the reception area of the motel which is handy. On Saturdays they offer up a buffet dinner, and Sunday's the restaurant only do dinners for patrons who ask for room service dinner. I'm yet to try out the restaurant, which I'll do one day as I would consider staying at this motel again. Was a great experience.

I'm really starting to see a bit of a pattern when it comes to these pubs. Well, I should say…read morecountry pubs because there does seem to be a bit of a difference. Basically, the front bar is where it all happens and a bistro, if any, is basically tacked on in the back. This is certainly one of those pubs, and don't expect to find anything all that fancy here because country pubs really don't specialise in fancy. It's an okay pub, but nothing really all that great.

Their chicken parma with a beer, is a bloke's repast without peer. No fuss, no stuffing about,…read moreservice good. Compliments to the landlord & staff.

This is one of those really charming country pubs. Okay, I wouldn't expect anything all that fancy…read morehere, just your standard Australian beers, so don't expect any of the craft beers you would find in the city. However, there is a charm about this place that I really liked. Sure, it is one of those pubs that has its residents, yet it was quiet enough that I could sit out the back in a really comfy chair and read a book. Well, okay, I was greeted by the dog, which I guess is why I really loved the pub, because a pub with an animal is simply awesome. And the dog is heaps friendly as well (which I suspect is because it is used to a lot of strangers wandering through).

Okay, this wasn't one of the best pubs that I have been to in Ararat, but it still had some country…read morecharm about it. Actually, I probably shouldn't say that because it really came across as being rather basic, at least on the outside. Still, it wasn't what I would call a bad pub, just a rather standard one. The service was okay, though as can be expected, they didn't have a huge selection of beer available.

Not quite a gastro pub but the food was hot hearty and enjoyable. I had the fish and chips with…read moresalad and a couple of cold beers. Great place to stop for a traditional pub meal.