With the closure of bars in Singapore last week, many people in the F&B industry have been put out of work. Venues that remain open have also experienced a steep decline in business, and have had to lay off employees or cut hours. The good folks at Barbary Coast want to make sure that those impacted are still fed, so it's providing 20 free meals per night for the next 30 days.
These free suppers are available to anyone working in a restaurant, café, bar or hotel – this includes front-of-house staff, back-of-house staff, cleaners and office managers. The supper programme at Barbary Coast started as a way for those in the industry to share an end-of-shift meal at cost in order to encourage a sense of camaraderie and community. But thanks to the generous support of donors, the two-storey venue near Boat Quay is able to sponsor nearly 600 plates to those that need them.
“We are humbled and honoured to offer this,” say co-founders Celia Schoonraad and Michael D. Callahan, “With restaurants across the island having to cut back on staff meals and shifts due to a revenue crunch, we can now offer the wider community a place to eat that was paid for by another, no questions asked.”
To redeem your meal, RSVP by WhatsApp (+65 8869 4798) between 5pm to midnight from Tuesday to Saturday, swing by from 1am and enjoy. Barbary Coast remains open to the public, so if you're in a position to pay it forward, let the staff know.
Barbary Coast is not the only one passing it on. Restaurants like Labyrinth and Alma by Juan Amador have been donating meals to healthcare workers. No Sleep Club is offering all industry and medical front-liners 20 percent off their bill – regular customers can also redeem a free shot by showing a same-date receipt from any local bar. And Temple Cellars is calling for cocktail bars to list and sell their bottled cocktails with them – the bottle shop will not take a cut, giving 100 percent of the proceeds back to the bars.
Read more on how you can support local restaurants and bars during this period of uncertainty