And it took only four years.

Originally from Curlewis, a small town 16 kilometres south of Gunnedah, Patrick Rankmore moved to Armidale to study for a degree in ag business at the University of New England.

"I needed a job, and I'd always wanted to go into a bar role, and one of the girls that I knew from cattle stuff was working at the Rydges by Powerhouse Hotel Armidale as a waitress," Mr Rankmore said.

"So I went in for an interview, was successful, and then it kind of just grew into what it is today."

Read also:

During his rapid rise to the top of Rydges Armidale, Mr Rankmore has worked as a casual barman, a full-time food and beverage attendant, and a bar and Azka restaurant supervisor.

This managerial role was where he developed his first wine list, which was subsequently given a two out of three wine glass rating in the 2020 Australian Wine List of the Year Awards. His 2021 wine list also received two wine glasses and consists of 203 wines, with 53 of those available by the glass.

Judges said the list was obviously a 'labour of love'.

"...the word impressive being an understatement for the quality of the offering. Its strengths are too many to mention...." they said.

2021 was the third consecutive year in a row Azka's wine list has been awarded two wine glasses.

Midway through 2021, Mr Rankmore took on the duty manager role for the hotel while he continued to run the restaurant, effectively making him former general manager Monty Maguire's second-in-charge.

When Ms Maguire's family sold the Rydges by Powerhouse Hotel in Armidale to John Zeckendorf's Mandala Hospitality Group last November, it became a fully licensed Rydges Hotel. She moved on to Tamworth to become CEO of the family's flagship Powerhouse Hotel and the new owners promoted Mr Rankmore to the top job - making him one of the youngest Rydges Hotel general managers in the country.

Read more: Why the regional pub boom might just be getting started

Asked if he thought the Maguire family approved of the move, Mr Rankmore said it was what they had prepared him for.

"The family worked to get me to the stage where I could take over, and obviously, they were quite influential in getting me to where I was in the hotel," he said.

And his colleagues are also on board with the promotion, he said, even though he is one of the youngest staff members.

"Because I have been here and have worked on the frontline for so long, it's probably given me quite a bit of respect," he said. "There is still a little bit of respect you have to earn when you change roles, but that's just part of taking on a new job."

Of all his responsibilities, Mr Rankmore said food and beverage is his passion - declaring himself an oenophile.

"I've always loved wine, and working here with such an extensive wine list just increased that," Mr Rankmore said.

"When I first started and learned what goes with what, I realised that this is where my passion is."

While Mr Rankmore is the only wine obsessed member of his family, he is no stranger to the hospitality industry. His parents were the licensees of the Curlewis Hotel for many years while he grew up.

And while he did not start out intending to make a full-time career in the hospitality industry, he is delighted with how things have panned out.

"The best part of my job is walking around and talking to everyone," Mr Rankmore said.

"Hospitality is an industry where the world's pretty much at your doorstep. If you want to travel with it, you can go here, there and everywhere."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: