Winston and Mates: Nelly Robinson Launches Bold New Dinner Series with Some of Australia’s Best Chefs

By Marie-Antoinette Issa.

Nelly Robinson is joining forces with some of Australia’s best Chefs to launch ‘Winston and Mates’, a brand-new dinner series celebrating food, friendship and the fabled Australian spirit of mateship at Winstons - the innovative gastropub tucked inside The Nag’s Head Hotel.

"Everyone on the line-up has had a real impact on food in Australia and we’ve all got very different styles. I think that’s what’ll make each night so special,” says Nelly.

 

 

Launching Thursday, June 12 with Colin Fassnidge (of Four in Hand and 4Fourteen fame), the series will debut with an exclusive one-night-only event where just 50 guests will be treated to an eight-course tasting menu curated by two of Australia’s most celebrated culinary talents.

At just $120 per person, it’s a rare chance to experience the kind of Chef-driven magic usually reserved for fine dining institutions - this time in a relaxed, pub-inspired setting.

"Colin and I just wanted to cook food we love,” says Nelly, Executive Chef and co-founder of Winstons and Nel Restaurant. "Nothing too serious, just great stories and great food.”

 

 

The menu will alternate between dishes from both Chefs, reflecting their signature styles and celebrating the dishes that made them household names. Expect a prawn tart featuring caviar and charcoal, Wagyu corned beef bresaola with goats’ curd and Nashi pear and a pig ear schnitzel drizzled with green sauce - a cheeky nod to Colin’s signature nose-to-tail roots cooking style. 

"It’s about having fun with the food, but still executing at the highest level. There are no egos here. Just mates in the kitchen,” Nelly adds, spotlighting a culinary collaboration where camaraderie and creativity combine. 

The Winston and Mates series will continue throughout the year, bringing together some of the country’s most respected and innovative Chefs. The lineup reads like a who’s who of Modern Australian dining, with upcoming events featuring Justin North (July 24), Julian Cincotta (August 28), Shaun Christie-David (September 11) and more - including yet-to-be-announced dates with Damian Brown and Manu Feildel.

 

Each dinner will be held upstairs at Winstons, Sydney’s first true gastropub. Set within the newly renovated Nag’s Head Hotel - a Glebe institution since 1836 - Winstons brings together elevated pub fare and creative culinary flair in a way that feels both nostalgic and cutting-edge.

With only 50 seats available for each event, diners are encouraged to act fast to avoid missing out a meal that promises to deliver a truly memorable Modern Australian dining experience. 

Bookings: nagsheadhotel.com.au.