Getting U.G.L.Y. for the Leukaemia Foundation’s U.G.L.Y. Bartender of the Year campaign is something personal for Ronnie Pou from the Hamilton Bar and Bistro. Experiencing the impact of blood cancer first hand, through the tragic loss of her cousin and grandmother from leukaemia, Ronnie knows the full extent of how blood cancer changes lives. Commenting on the impact of her cousin Aaron’s diagnosis Ronnie…

Grey Goose has teamed up with Chef Brent Savage from Pott’s Point restaurant Yellow, as well as Sydney staple Luxe Bakery to create ‘La Boulangerie’, an innovative artisan experience aimed at highlighting the history behind the French vodka brand. By day, Yellow will be transformed into an inspired bakery where freshly baked bread and pastries will be fashioned from the same winter wheat that is used to m…

  Following a recent trend, Urban Purveyor Group has announced an ongoing scholarship for continued training with support from wine distribution company Samuel Smith & Son. The hospitality giant, which comprises 20 restaurants and bars across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, launched the scholarship in honour of its late board member Mike Spithill, who provided education and training exp…

Sydney airport has announced plans for iconic area venue Chur Burger to headline a new casual dining precinct in the T2 Domestic terminal. The high-profile burger brand and brainchild of famed chef Warren Turnbull, will be one of the first casual dining offers to open as part of T2 Departures’ transformational refresh of its food and beverage offering. The announcement of Chur Burger follows an extensive …

Fully underway for 2015, the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge has completed its first two regional finals, with winners named in both South and Western Australia. The two heats took place this past week with Joe Sinagra from Bobeche and Roman Tazdhynov from Bibliotheca taking out the WA and SA comps respectively. Both Sinagra and Tazdhynov have now earned spots in the National Final, taking place in Sy…

The Australian Government has negotiated a new labour agreement to provide increased flexibility for hospitality industry workers, adding skilled migration positions for cooks and chefs. Trade waiter positions are also expected to be included in the skilled migration additions following national endorsement of the occupation. The industry labour agreement provides a tailored skilled migration arrangement …

Hugo’s Lounge, a popular hangout and high-profile King’s Cross stalwart has announced plans to close as early as next week after being placed into voluntary administration. The closing comes after a significant decline in revenue (owner Dave Evans stated as high as 60%), since the tightening of area specific alcohol restrictions from 2012. Further hits levied from 2014 lockout legislation put the company …

From Byron Bay to Broken Hill, Canberra to Cronulla, Deniliquin to Downtown Sydney and everywhere in between, NSW/ACT bartenders are super excited for U.G.L.Y. Bartender of the Year 2015! Long time supporter of U.G.L.Y. Bartender of the Year campaign, The Cat and Fiddle Hotel in Balmain are back for their third year in 2015 with Colin Stefanello (pictured above) at the helm. The Cat and Fiddle joins other…

This week the New South Wales Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) has once again enforced a mandatory closure on Sydney’s Imperial Hotel in Erskinville. This is the second time the venue has been shut down in a little over a month as a result of serious ongoing licence breaches. The hotel was ordered to close from 7pm on Friday 24 July until this past Monday after inspections during the past two we…

Tourism Australia has announced its role in a ten-week relocation of one of the world’s best restaurants, Noma, to a space in Sydney’s Barangaroo beginning January 2016. Noma will temporarily close in Copenhagen, Denmark to open its new waterfront home at Barangaroo on Sydney Harbour, as part of an exciting collaboration with Tourism Australia and Lendlease. “I have always been attracted to the incredible…