Our beloved hospitality industry is never one to sit back and not help in times of crisis. In light of the current war in Ukraine, bars and restaurants have been stepping up and creating a series of awesome initiatives to help raise money for those fleeing the conflicts and those remaining to fight for their country. Here are 5 things the hospitality biz is doing to help and how you can also get involved.
If you've joined the boycott of Russian vodkas, there's one bottle you need to replace it all with. Dima's is a Ukrainian vodka with a deliciously creamy, soft mouthfeel that happens to pair well with one of BarChick's fave bar snacks: pickles. But if straight vodka ain't your thing, their bottled cocktails will be. Dima's have joined forces with boundary-pushing mixologists Mariane Beke (The Gibson) and Tony Pescatori (Nightjar) to create a series of bottles cocktails that bring clever twists to mixology classics (we're talking Pickled Gimlets and a bold take on an Espresso Martini: Kyiv's Coffee) and if you purchase all four creations (£50), ALL of the money (not just profit) will go to non-profit organisations Come Back Alive and British-Ukrainian Aid. The initiative follows the epic fundraiser that was held in collaboration with the Ukrainian-owned bar, Pinch, that raised over £5000 for British-Ukrainian Aid.
Buy four cocktails and 100% of the sale will go towards supporting Ukraine.
If there's one thing we've seen on the news over the last week, it's the true resilience and humanity of the Ukrainian people. The most popular toast in the Ukraine is Za Lyubov: "To Love". The Lyubov cocktail is a classic sour - strong, elegant and powerful as the Ukrainian people, made with Nemiroff Vodka, sweetened with honey with a herbal absinthe twist and lemon flag garnish, which is being served across the entire Nightcap plc family (including the likes of Bar Elba, Barrio bars, Tonight Josaphine, Blame Gloria and the London Cocktail Clubs) all through March, with all profits going towards supporting the people of Ukraine.
Venues across London have begun running their own raffles, and unlike a village fete raffle, buying yourself a selection of tickets could win you an epic meal or experience rather than a box of Milk Tray. Love wine? The crew at Peckham's Forza Wine is running a raffle to help raise money for UNICEF Ukraine with the prize including a table for four with a litre of wine and the whole menu to choose from. Each ticket costs a fiver and you’ve got until Monday to buy as many as you like. Alternatively, the fam at the Catford Bottle Bar & Shop have £3 raffle tickets up for grabs, with the money going towards UNICEF UK's Ukraine appeal via #CookForUkraine, with a prize of a meal for 2 with cocktails in their South East London bar.
If you haven't heard the clip of the Ukrainian soldiers telling the Russian warship to go f*ck themselves, go and find it on YouTube and then head to Dark Arts Coffee and buy their single-origin coffee named for the already iconic soundbite. The Hackney coffee roasters are donating £2 of every sale to help those fleeing Ukraine.
Clerkenwell Boy and the crew who founded #CookForSyria have once again been using their awesome influence in the hospitality industry for the greater good by setting up the #CookforUkraine campaign. The aim is to raise both awareness of the crisis and cold hard cash to help Unicef’s efforts over there, and support can be given in many forms. Restaurants, bars, cafés and hotels can (and have in their droves) add voluntary donations of £1, £2 or £5 to the bill through March. People are also invited to join the#CookForUkraine movement by hosting their own supper clubs and suggesting a donation to this Just Giving page.
All proceeds are being directed to UNICEF UK’s Ukraine appeal, supporting children and families.