These Sydney Venues Are Offering Free Meals to Those Impacted by Lockdown
If you're doing it tough, these venues are here to help.
Sydney's second extended lockdown has hit the city's hospitality scene hard, with venues forced to close their doors and rely entirely on takeaway and delivery trade for at least two weeks. That's seen a drop in income for a huge number of employees across the state, as the hours and shifts used to pay for essential bills are cut.
While Sydney residents can apply for one-off Government assistance, it's a tough time for casual workers. Thankfully, some industry legends are coming to the rescue, lending a helping hand in the form of a few much-needed free feeds, no questions asked.
Inner west pub The Oxford Tavern is offering a free meal to anyone who's lost work due to the lockdown. "Casual workers are the backbone of the hospitality industry, and are the first to be forgotten when restrictions intensify," it posted to Instagram.
Similarly, The Oxford Tavern team's other inner west pub The Duke of Enmore is offering hospo workers that have lost shifts a free flatbread off its new menu and one of its signature pickleback shots.
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Over in Darlinghurst, you can head into craft beer-haven The Taphouse and request a 'hospo meal' if you've been impacted by the lockdown, no questions asked. The pub's offering a free chicken schnitzel or a vegetarian pasta puttanesca as well as a shot of bourbon to commiserate the tough times. Darlinghurst residents who have been fortunate enough to keep employment can also be treated to The Taphouse's hearty meals as it's launched complimentary delivery on its entire menu for anyone within one kilometre of the venue, including its famed roast on Sundays.
"We know what a hard time it is for our community and hospo workers are especially vulnerable right now. We wanted to give back to our local community, and recognise how invaluable hospo workers are to our industry," said Joshua Thorpe, Owner of The Taphouse said.
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Chippendale's Sneaky Possum is still serving up its burgers and toasties for pickup or delivery, plus if you swing by you can grab beers and cocktails for the full at-home experience. It's also offering anyone who's lost work free meals to help them through this time. If you're doing it tough at the moment you can drop in for a chicken burger or a brekkie bowl on the house.
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On Monday, July 5, anyone with an RSA can drop into Door Knock in the Sydney CBD for some lockdown care. The Pitt Street bar will be open from 1pm–5pm on Monday to supply care packages to hospitality workers. Or, venture across a couple blocks to Burrow Bar's new location on Clarence Street. The underground cocktail bar has a full takeaway menu on offer as well as delivery options for anyone in the CBD. Anyone struggling during the lockdown can hit up the bar for support in the form of a full belly. The bar has been collecting donations from other venues around the CBD and putting together care packages filled with meals, fruit and a couple of drinks with plans to distribute them a couple of days a week throughout the lockdown and for a couple weeks after as things slowly go back towards relative normality. If you're struggling for food during this time all you need to do is DM Burrow Bar on Facebook or Instagram, or email [email protected].
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Continental Deli is also still operating out of both its Newtown and CBD digs, offering next-level deli treats and its signature tinned cocktails. All this weekend, from Friday, July 2 until Sunday, July 4, both stores will be offering discounted hospo meals. Anyone with an RSA can come in and present their card for one of Continental's deli meat-packed rolls and a three pack of Aperol spritzes for just $10. The deal is available each day until sold out.
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Sydney's current restrictions are set to run until Friday, July 9. For a full list of restrictions and exposure sites, visit NSW Health.
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