Both the Hospitality and Restaurant Award provide coverage for businesses serving food and alcohol to customers.

The Hospitality Award covers bars, taverns and pubs. Bars, taverns and pubs mainly serve or sell alcohol to customers. They might also have meals available for purchase.

A restaurant connected to a business covered by the Hospitality Award is also covered by the Hospitality Award.

The Restaurant Award covers businesses that mainly serve food to seated customers. They may also serve alcoholic drinks or also have a bar area that serves alcoholic drinks.

Employees working for a bar or restaurant will be covered by an award if there’s a classification that matches their level of skills, experience, training and responsibilities.

See 'Award Classifications' for more information on how to apply classifications in awards.

Tip

Other awards may have coverage and classifications for restaurants and bars that operate as a part of the primary business.

Make sure you always check the award coverage clauses and exclusions.

Combined restaurants and bars

Sometimes it’s unclear whether the Restaurant Award or the Hospitality Award applies to a business.

When working out which award applies, consider:

• whether the business mainly sells alcoholic drinks or meals
• what kind of liquor license the business has, for example a liquor license could require the business to sell food as its main activity
• if alcoholic drinks can be ordered without a meal
• whether the business is operating in connection with another business which is covered by the Hospitality Award.

Example

Simnel and Ginger is a medieval themed dessert bar.

The business specialises in making themed desserts onsite for service to dine-in customers.

Simnel and Ginger also has a selection of dessert wines and meads available. The wines and meads are paired with menu items, but customers can order them without food if they prefer.

Food and drinks are brought to customers at their table. A small bar area has seating for customers who only want to try the drinks.

The main activity of the business is the sale of food to be consumed onsite.

Simnel and Ginger is covered by the Restaurant Award.

Changes to coverage

Award coverage for a business can change when the nature of the business changes. A restaurant can become covered by the Hospitality Award if it becomes connected to a business covered by that award.

If coverage for a business remains unclear we recommend seeking independent advice. You may also refer to our legal help page for more information.