If anyone is acutely aware of the impact the COVID-19 outbreak is having on the local hospitality scene, it’s Martin Lange. As owner-operator of four well-regarded venues around Brisbane, Martin has witnessed the immediate impacts of social-distancing measures – especially in recent days. Although hospitality workers are rallying around the industry, an initiative implemented down south sparked an idea to encourage punters to support local bars and his own established joints. Bulletin Place in Sydney has implemented a drink-it-forward scheme to help ease the impact of coronavirus on small and independent bars. All gift-voucher purchases were given an extra 20-percent boost in value (spend $100, get $120 of value), while guests that can show a receipt from another local venue (from a purchase made that same night) would be treated to a dynamo drink special. The idea is one Martin is bringing north.

All of Martin’s bars have added gift-card purchasing functionality to their respective websites. Although initially valid for the next three months, Martin has extended the expiry until after the crisis eases. Additionally, those that pop in to Cobbler, Death & Taxes, Finney Isles or Savile Row with a same-night purchase receipt from a nearby locale (for example The End in West End, Alba in Brisbane City, Suzie Wong’s Good Time Bar and Ling Ling in The Valley), and the crew at any of Martin’s bars will sell you a drink at hospo prices (trust us, it’s a damn good discount). Martin is committed to making each and every one of his bars a safe space to drink (including wiping down contact surfaces and increasing the availability of hand sanitiser for staff and customers), and hopes to spread the love as much as possible to keep Brisbane’s bar scene afloat.