Bars March 2019 spreads its wings

25 February, 2019 by Andy Young

Bars March, is a month-long celebration of bar culture which also supports animal welfare, and this year is spreading beyond Sydney to Victoria, Queensland and Byron Bay.

Organisers describe Bars March as ‘the cheeky alternative to dry charity months’ with the aim of raising funds for the Animal Welfare League through helping people enjoy the best bars.

Bars March founder Amy Cooper said: “Our other key mission is to showcase the creativity, talent and hard work that makes the Australian bar scene truly world class. While our ‘why’ is helping animals, we’re also a hearty cheer squad for the hardworking people who drive the hospitality industry. Put simply, we love bars, and we want to spread that love.”

Melbourne bars The Tipsy Cow, Loch and Key and Golden Monkey have all signed up to be a part of Bars March, along with Toowoomba’s Bar Wunder and Balcony Bar & Oyster Co in Byron Bay.

In Sydney Caffe Bartolo will have a three-day brunch cocktail special for the first three days of March and The Erko will hold a Paws for a Pint dog party on Saturday 2 March.

Top fundraising bar of the last two years, O Bar Dining returns again this year, with Sydney’s other participating venues including The Commodore (Milsons Point), The Rio (Summer Hill) The Carrington (Surry Hills), Frisco Hotel (Woolloomooloo); Kittyhawk (CBD), The Lobo Plantation (CBD), The Swinging  Cat (CBD), East Village Sydney (Darlinghurst), Big Poppa’s (Darlinghurst), Watsons Bay Hotel, (Watson’s Bay) and The Royal Leichhardt (Leichhardt).

In another first for 2019, Bars March will be supported by dog-loving Tito’s Handmade Vodka. With a slogan ‘vodka for dog people,’ the US craft spirit is a dedicated supporter of its local animal shelters and the distillery is home to various rescue dogs. Bars March charity fundraising cocktails in select bars will feature Tito’s Handmade Vodka.