Local Favourites: Ryan Pollock

But it’s his passion for LGBTQIA+ representation and education that led to him co-founding Margi Pride with some like-minded friends, who identified the need for a group that connects and advocates for the local queer community. Their goal is to provide a safe space, where inclusivity is celebrated and no one feels left out.

“Margi Pride is also our way of helping educate not just LGBTQIA+ people but also our allies. We are using our social media to highlight incredible queer people who have paved the way for us today. LGBTQIA+ people have not always been able to walk freely, so we are also helping push the ‘Welcome Here’ project which supports businesses and services throughout Australia to create and promote environments that are visibly welcoming and inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) communities” says Ryan.

Ryan is ‘in-the-know’ and definitely the kind of person who you want to ask for great local spot recommendations, so luckily for us he has shared some of his favourites.

Gracetown – it’s such a beautiful peaceful place.

L.S Merchants – it has such a laid-back chilled vibe. The wine is delicious, the banter is some of the best in the region and it’s suitable for everyone.

Anywhere Normal Van is – seriously they would have to be the best burgers. If you follow them on socials, you can track them down quite easy and every now and then they have something special on the menu, like chicken and waffles.

Chow’s Table – I am always blown away every time I go to Chow’s. It’s always good to go with a little group so you can pass the plates around the table and get a little bit of everything. The location is fantastic as well, after lunch you can pop into House of Cards for a cheeky tasting and then head into Gabriel’s for a delicious warm cookie.

Miki’s Open Kitchen – I cannot recommend Miki’s enough to everyone. Everything is just executed so well, the presentation, the food, the service. Walking out of Miki’s you always feel well taken care of and trying to pick your favourite part of the night.

Last year I was introduced to Orchid spotting, and I learnt so much more about Margaret River, funnily enough there’s more to Margs than just surf and wine, it is an official global biodiversity hotspot, so trekking through the walk trails around Margaret River is a must. You’d be amazed at what you find out there.

Djilba (August-September) as it’s the beginning of the orchid season so you see all the new flowers starting to develop. The nights are still cool, so it’s still good to sit around the fire with Pinot and the days start clearing up slightly, so it’s great to get out and start exploring.

Rivermouth – it’s the most ideal location. Having the grassed area just sets the scene for those sunset picnics, or if you’re there on a Tuesday night you may see Normal Van so burgers and sunsets.

Without sounding too bias – the sparkling flight at Howard Park is pretty special. Tasting four Méthode Traditionelle sparklings and a prosecco just makes for a great experience.

McHenry Hohnen – as a chardonnay lover, this is an essential stop. There is such an amazing collection of different chardonnays from different blocks, you will feel like you have walked into Chardonnay heaven.

A stop in at Soundwaves. As a vinyl collector Soundwaves always has a little treasure to pick up and Pete always does his best to track down vinyls that you may need for your collection. The best spot for any music lover.