With large parts of New South Wales now in lockdown, hospitality workers all over the state face at least two weeks with no work, in response many venues have stepped up to help.
The Sydney Bartender Exchange Facebook group has a post dedicated to venues highlighting what they are doing to help, here’s just some examples of the amazing generosity being shown in the time of need.
The Duke Enmore and The Oxford Tavern are shouting affected hospitality workers with one free meal per day for the two weeks of lockdown.
Whether it’s underemployment or shift uncertainty as a result of the latest restrictions, affected hospitality workers can head to The Duke or The Tav for a free takeaway meal off a specially designed menu, which also includes vegan and vegetarian options.
The Duke will also be shouting one free pickleback shot per day (a shot of Jameson followed by a shot of pickle brine) to help soothe those lockdown blues.
Odd Culture Group General Manager James Thorpe said: “Casual staff are the backbone of our industry, and unfortunately they are the first to face shift uncertainty when restrictions affect their workplaces.
“For some, this can mean the difference between eating or not, or paying rent or not, which we know is truly scary stuff. Offering these free meals is the least we can do to help our little corner of the world get through this latest COVID hiccup.”
The Burrow Bar and Cash Only Diner team are putting together meal and drink packs for hospitality staff who can’t afford food. If you would like a meal contact Mitch Townsend at Burrow Bar – mitch@burrowbar.com.au – the meal deliveries will be starting on Wednesday.
In addition to its own meals, the team has also reached out to all the bars/restaurants/brands around the 2000 postcode, asking to donate any fresh produce for the meals for staff rather than wasting anything.
Brands can get involved by donating minis or cans that can be included in the packs. To help out email mitch@burrowbar.com.au
Door Knock has a range of takeaway deals available for hospo staff.
Sneaky Possum has a range of free food available for hospo staff and is open from Monday to Saturday, midday to 9pm.
The Taphouse in Darlinghurst is dishing up free meals and booze for all hospo workers.
For those struggling in the hospitality sector, all you need to do to get your hands on a free meal and a cheeky shot of bourbon is head down to The Taphouse and request one of their ‘hospo meals’.
The deal includes a house crumbed chicken schnitzel with gravy, chips, seeded salad, or a vegetarian pasta puttanesca with onion, garlic, little chilli, sun dried tomato, olives, capers and parmesan. The offer will be up for grabs throughout the duration of the lockdown and there’s a minimum of one meal plus one shot, per person, per day.
In addition to help for staff, there is now increased help for operators as well, with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirming financial support is on the way for NSW businesses including an extension of the Dine and Discover voucher program and grants.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet says the package is aimed at “keeping people in jobs” and “businesses in business” and is for the entire state, not just hot spots.
The NSW government will provide individual payments of $5000 (turnover reduction of 30 per cent), $7000 (turnover reduction of 50 per cent) and $10,000 (turnover reduction of 75 per cent) to small business.
The Small Business COVID-19 Support Grant is available to businesses and sole traders with a turnover of more than $75,000 per annum but below the NSW Government 2020 21 payroll tax threshold of $1,200,000 as at 1 July 2020. Businesses must have fewer than 20 full time equivalent employees.
The Hospitality and Tourism COVID-19 Support Grant is available to tourism or hospitality businesses that have a turnover of more than $75,000 and an annual Australian wages bill of below $10m, as at 1 July 2020.
An optional deferral of payroll tax payments due in July 2021 and the deferral of hotel June quarter gaming machine tax has also been announced, with the Chief Commissioner of State Revenue able to provide for appropriate repayment arrangements on a case by case basis.
The Dine and Discover program will be extended until the end of August and is available for delivery. Food must be delivered direct to the home by the restaurant or café and not picked up.
