The iconic Subiaco Hotel is stumping up the bucks in the name of herd immunity, offering jabbed punters weekly draws from the $10,000 ‘Cash for Vax’ kitty.
The pub has launched the promotion in support of the Government’s call for everyone to get vaccinated, and to help the hospitality industry get back towards some certainty.
Pubs around the country have experienced multiple lockdowns, and the huge impacts of forced closures and ongoing exposure site scares.
Starting this week, every customer who comes into the famous Perth pub and spends $10 or more on food or drink – and shows their vaccination certificate (digital or print) – will be entered into the weekly cash draw.
“It’s challenging to re-boot each time and its unfair on our loyal team,” offers Subiaco publican Dane Oddy. “So we want to help push WA out of this.
“The overwhelming health advice is we need mass vaccination, and get to an 80 per cent vaccination rate by December, to be able to live with COVID-19 and hopefully have less lockdowns.
“We’re going to give away $500 cash a week from now until December to reward punters who have been vaccinated and help highlight the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry.”
After half a century under the same owners, the heritage-listed Subiaco Hotel was bought late 2019 by Dave Allan and Lawson Douglas, who executed an extensive renovation last year and are working to position the pub with the market.
“We’re trying to make it that friendly local again,” says Oddy.
Running in-house promotion this week, the pub has so far collected 25-30 entries for the first draw, with more coming in. Each week’s draw will include one entry placed on behalf of Premier Mark McGowan, and if successful the prize will be donated to a charity of the Premier’s choosing.
The hope is the $500 will be made up in sales, and Oddy feels sure the campaign will grow in popularity over the coming 20 weeks, but if not, the activity will at least help them stay open.
“You can come down and buy a meal or soft drink, whatever you like,” clarified the publican. “It’s more about giving the hospitality industry a leg up … if this is what it takes, so be it.”
