2 days Ago By Bianca Hrovat
The alleged victims of sexual assault and harassment are going after widespread industry change, following strong nationwide support. April 30, 2025 You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more.
Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. A campaign to end sexual violence and harassment within the hospitality sector, led by former employees of high-profile Sydney hospitality group Swillhouse, is going global in June following the success of their Australian fundraising tour. The Sorry Not Sorry Collective , made up of Rachelle (Rocky) Hair, Jenna Hemsworth , Alex Hooker, Brittany Rowe and Reuby Kahl , allege they were sexually harassed, assaulted or discriminated against while working for Swillhouse, as revealed in a series of reports published by The Sydney Morning Herald and Good Food in August .
Their stories sent shockwaves through Australia’s hospitality community, where sexual harassment is prevalent but rarely discussed publicly, and they paved the way for other alleged victims to come forward. It also prompted a SafeWork NSW investigation into the Swillhouse Group, and led to compulsory sexual violence prevention training for all staff working in pubs and clubs across the state. But they can do more, says Hair.
In June, the ex-Swillhouse staff will take their stories international, embarking on a four-to-six week world tour with panel discussions and bar takeovers in Singapore, Hong Kong, Spain and Britain. Sexual harassment and assault is an industry-wide problem in hospitality, extending beyond Australian borders, and the collective aims to collaborate with local advocacy groups to encourage underrepresented voices to speak up, and to lead a widespread cultural shift. “We’re insane for doing it, but we’re committed,” Hair says.
“Our experience needs to be part of the wider conversation.” Hundreds of supporters turned up to their Australian tour over the past month, packing into participating bars, including Disco Pantera (Sydney), Caretaker’s Cottage (Melbourne) and Edward & Ida’s (Perth). “It’s been an overwhelming show of solidarity,” says Hair, who founded the collective alongside Hemsworth.
“There were moments at each event where young women or queer people would come forward and say, ‘You know, I needed this. I needed to talk to someone’,” says Hair. “As much as it was all fun and games, there was a lot of heavy stuff, and there were a lot of tears, but it was amazing to be able to actually openly talk about it.
” It’s a significant shift for Hair, a former bartender at Swillhouse venues The Baxter Inn and Shady Pines , who once believed no one would care about her story. Instead, hers is one of many that have “sparked a lot of conversations across different communities,” she says. “I’m still kind of in disbelief.
” The tours aren’t just about advocacy. The collective is also fundraising to pursue their former employer for damages, with the help of one of the world’s top employment lawyers , Sheryn Omeri KC. She has advised victims of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein and she won a landmark case defining Uber drivers as employees in Britain.
Through drink and merchandise sales, as well as GoFundMe donations , Sorry Not Sorry exceeded their financial target and raised more than half of their legal fees during the first leg of the tour. Due to high demand, a second leg of the national tour is planned for Hobart (May 8) and Brisbane (June 16), and there are talks of a regional tour with more than 10 eager bars. The collective is seeking partnerships, collaborations and sponsorships from businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors to spread the word and to bring their vision to life.
Swillhouse, which owns venues including Restaurant Hubert, Caterpillar Club and Le Foote, said it was aware of sexual assault allegations at its venues and that it “sincerely regretted and apologised to any former employees who felt unsupported and at risk”. But Swillhouse has since deleted its apologies across social media, and owner Anton Forte has declined to comment on why . A spokesman for the company said the claim that the company had been dismissive was “fundamentally incorrect”.
“Swillhouse takes all allegations seriously,” the spokesman said. “Swillhouse has responded in a timely and appropriate manner with the lawyers representing four of its former employees.” Sorry Not Sorry have confirmed that member and former Swillhouse employee Alex Hooker will also be represented by Omeri.
Since The Herald report, Swillhouse venues have been dropped from The Good Food Guide , which also introduced the award for Cultural Change Champion. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. You have reached your maximum number of saved items.
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