During Mental Health Awareness Week starting May 18th , bartenders, artists and chefs, join together to raise awareness of mental health issues by the innovation ‘Wrestling Demons’, at the same time raising funds for charities such as The Drinks Trust and Hospitality Action, who are helping many within hospitality who have been affected by COVID-19.

Helping to feed the conversation on mental health, London bars who deliver cocktails will be collaborating with artists and icons across the hospitality industry to help express their personal hopes, dreams and fears- not only during this unprecedented time, but in their everyday life.

Wrestling Demons mixes both virtual and tangible elements bringing the campaign to life with honest videos posted online via social media, affordable art with proceeds going to charity, and cocktails that can be ordered and brought straight to your door from some of the top bars in London.

How does it work? Seven iconic people across the hospitality industry will be sharing touching stories with seven awesome artists who interpret the icon’s ‘demons’ and create a beautiful piece of art. This artwork will be sent to seven bartenders from some of London’s top bars who will create a cocktail based on their interpretation of the art.

With every cocktail ordered the relative piece of affordable art will be delivered, creating a new, exciting and interactive art exhibition whilst raising awareness of mental health and funds for charities through affordable art and cocktails to enjoy at home – prompting conversation.

 

This project was created by Alex Fatho-Bland from Place of the Way who identified a necessity for a campaign like this. “There is a stigma, but also a challenge expressing ones’ own mental health, with many wrestling their demons each day. ‘Wrestling Demons’, offers different expressions from a variety of people, that you will be able to find something to relate to, go on to discuss mental health”.  Alex went on to add, “the hospitality industry treats us so warmly passing through their doors, at home, or even on the frontline. Hopefully we can all support an industry that shows so much kindness by thinking of their health as well as our own and donate”.

As this cause and campaign is dear to many people’s hearts, ‘Wrestling Demons’ has managed to gather some great contributors. They include; Chef Andrew Clarke of Mental Health campaign Pilot Light, and Chef Sally Abe who won Gastropub Chef of the Year. They will be sharing their ‘demons’ with ethical artists; Nic Mac, Beavertown Beer’s very own Nick Dwyer or tattooist Steve Vinall. These demons will be brought to life in the form of a cocktail by some of London’s top bars including; The Cocktail Trading Company, Callooh Callay, Three Sheets and Heads & Tails with proceeds going to the hospitality industry’s charities The Drinks Trust and Hospitality Action.

Ross Carter, CEO of The Drinks Trust shared his enthusiasm for the campaign stating, “we are living in a time of uncertainty and isolation, for an otherwise social and community-oriented industry. Assisting members of the drinks industry to live a constructive and healthy life is at the heart of what we do and initiatives such as this are so important to the individuals within it and we are delighted to support it.” Hospitality Action’s Marketing Director, Jeremy Gibson also shared a similar feeling adding “Many within hospitality have their identity bound in work often before they are a husband/wife, partner, or parent. Their working life is defined by providing others with joy and they feed off the energy this brings. To have both income and the sense of self so suddenly taken from them is debilitating and scary. That’s why financial and psychological assistance is key”.

 

Wrestling Demons will be going live from 18th May on social media, with affordable art and cocktails available to purchase from participating bars delivery pages.

 

 

For more press information, please contact LaLa Communications
E: abbie@lalacommunications.com T: 07931106965

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