Bars March celebrated a shiny new name that leaves no doubt what we’re about: good times for a good cause. Sydney’s only month-long celebration of bar culture relaunched for its fifth year with a name-swap from Parched March, but the same beloved cause: Animal Welfare League NSW. Our winning formula also remained unchanged: a whole month of responsible socialising and tippling in great bars to have a drink, save a dog.
The launch party was held at Darling Harbour’s Cafe Del Mar Australia, with over 300 guests in attendance, including top media, the bar industry, and pet pooches such as Fashion Dog Sydney and Oscar & Frank from the trendy optical brand. Celebrity guests included Bars March ambassador Dr Katrina Warren, Miss World Australia Erin Holland, Home and Away’s Terri Haddy, Wade Osborn and Cameron Laing from Amy Meredith, reality TV graduates Tim Robards and Anna Heinrich, Richard Wilkins from the Today show, and TV personality David Whitehill.
Bars March partner Suntory provided a selection of dazzling cocktails for guests, including the Russian Mule made with Russian Standard Original Vodka; the Sidecar, with Remy Martin VSOP, Cointreau and lemon juice; and the Midori Fizz which mixes Russian Standard Vodka, Midori, soda and lime. Delicious Mediterranean-inspired canapés were provided by Cafe Del Mar Australia Head Chef Ben Fitton and Brand Ambassador Miguel Maestre. The talented pair served up delights such as chermoula crusted chicken, rouille and endive; watermelon, Persian fetta and jamon serrano; rock oysters with lemon sandwiches, and padron peppers, pink salt and cumin. Guests enjoyed a live art show by Mambo artists, who decorated a surfboard and Bars March ‘pup-up’ to be auctioned at the end of the month and everyone had fun posing in a photo booth provided by JL Images. Photographs courtesy of Nikki To and Belinda Rolland.