Bars March

Bars March mixes cocktails & canine welfare

February 28, 2020
By Alana House

BARS MARCH, Australia’s annual charity celebration of bar culture and canine welfare, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary next month.

Established in 2010, BARS MARCH will once again bring together some of Australia’s most iconic venues for a month-long celebration under the banner #haveadrinksaveadog

Most of the participating venues will create and sell a special BARS MARCH cocktail all month – while some are doing ‘Pints 4 Paws’ or a Puppy Parma, with proceeds going to the Animal Welfare League NSW (AWL) and Save a Dog Scheme (SADS) in Victoria.

The cheeky alternative to dry charity months, BARS MARCH has shown for a decade that it’s possible to do good while having fun responsibly, with $90,000 raised so far for animal charities – all through enjoyment of some of Australia’s best bars.

Bars March

BARS MARCH celebrity ambassadors include TV vet Dr Katrina Warren, garden guru Jamie Durie (above).

The special BARS MARCH cocktails will be sold by big-hearted bars, with venues ranging from craft cocktail bars to big lively pubs, urban breweries and distilleries.

New to BARS MARCH this year is Melbourne’s Newmarket Hotel, which has created a special Puppy Parma; Sydney’s The Phoenix, venues across the Laundy Group; plus regular supporters Bartolo, Lobo Plantation and Applejack group venues including The Botanist (Kirribilli), Bopp & Tone, Socal, plus cool little CBD bars such as Old Mates Place and Bancho.

“We’re excited to be celebrating 10 years of Bars March next month,” said founder Amy Cooper. 

“We fundraise and shine the light on the ‘adopt don’t shop’ message, and have a lot of fun along the way. This year, the push to change the laws to allow dogs in pubs is threatening the very essence of what Bars March is all about – so we’re also going to do whatever we can to fight that,”

In Sydney, the celebrations will kick off from 12pm at The Erskineville Hotel in Sydney this Sunday March 1 with a special public ‘Pints 4 Paws’ launch, with $1 from every 4 Pines beer sold going to BARS MARCH fundraising for the AWL.

Also supporting BARS MARCH this year is the UK’s Warner’s Distillery and their famed Rhubarb Gin. Tom and Tina Warner (above) are mad dog people – and their pooch Leia is also their Executive Morale officer. 

Bars March

They are travelling down this way in March and are supporting the cause with bespoke BARS MARCH Warner’s cocktails on pour at Sydney’s The Duke of Clarence (The Warner’s ‘Halfway to Harrington’ is pictured above) and The Barber Shop, plus Madame Brussels in Melbourne.

The annual Good Times for a Good Cause also shines a spotlight on bar culture, said Cooper.   

“While some of our participating venues welcome dogs and others are human-only, each one supports the cause,” she noted.

“And each represents the dog-loving spirit of Bars March – a celebration of communities joining to eat, drink and connect in their favourite locals.

“All our venues serve amazing drinks made by talented staff in inviting surroundings  and we urge everyone to check out the list on our website and head to these big-hearted venues in support of the doggos for Bars March 2020!”

During BARS MARCH, members of the public can show their support by visiting participating venues and buying a BARS MARCH charity cocktail, attending fundraising events and taking part in social media competitions.

Venues wishing to support BARS MARCH and canine welfare can sign up on the online registration at https://www.barsmarch.com/rego/

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