Both Hippo Inns and Beds & Bars are donating to charities that will help and protect wildlife through their rescue, and mitigate the collateral damage from the fires.
Hippo Inns founder Rupert Clevely said: “This catastrophe has been affecting Australia for the past few months and, having lived and worked in this amazing country, it’s very dear to my heart.”
On Australia Day (26 January), team members from Hippo Inns, known as the hippo herd, will donate £1 to the Wildlife Victoria charity for every roast lunch or dinner sold.
Unprecedented devastation
Clevely continued: “At Hippo Inns, we want to do what we can to help support this important appeal and by donating £1 for every roast sold, this will hopefully help make a difference to rescuing wildlife through the amazing work Wildlife Victoria is doing.”
The Wildlife Victoria charity’s mission is to help and protect wildlife through their rescue, education, and advocacy activities, which is key at this challenging time with the bushfires.
Belushi’s Bars is also contributing to the cause. It is donating 100% of profits from Europe’s biggest Australia Day celebrations to the bushfire relief appeal and is urging other operators to get involved too.
The international bar chain Belushi’s will be launching a group-wide campaign as part of its bushfire relief appeal to assist those facing the unprecedented devastation to communities and wildlife as fires continue to ravage Australia.
All proceeds raised will be distributed to the Australian Red Cross, The Australian Salvation Army and WWF Australia that specialise in animal protection.
A helping hand to Australia
Belushi’s hosts the UK and Europe’s biggest annual Australia Day events and this year, Belushi’s has decided to put a focus on supporting the bushfire relief efforts and is encouraging customers and other hospitality businesses in the UK to do the same.
Keith Knowles OBE, chief executive of Beds & Bars, which owns Belushi’s, said: “Getting behind this cause is incredibly close to our hearts and it’s the right thing to do.
“We urge other hospitality businesses to show their support to help the families and wildlife who are currently suffering. Let’s give a helping hand to Australia.”
All 14 of Belushi’s sites will be taking part in the campaign, including bars in London, Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Berlin, Edinburgh, Bath and Newquay. The campaign will also involve several other staff-based initiatives and localised onsite activities all aiming to raise as many funds as possible.