UK restaurants and bars boycott Russian products

Several UK hospitality groups have stopped serving Russian products following the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Bar group Arc Inspirations, which runs 18 sites across the north of England, tweeted: “To show our support to the people of Ukraine we will no longer be pouring any Russian vodka in any of our bars”.

Sarah Willingham, founder of Nightcap, wrote on Twitter that all Russian vodkas had been removed from the group’s bars, which include the Adventure Bar and London Cocktail Club brands, last week.

Bundobust founder Marko Aleksandr Husak also urged the hospitality industry to boycott Russian products.

He wrote: “I’ve had quite a few messages from my colleagues in the restaurant, bar and beer industries asking if there is anything that they can do to help, so I’ve suggested that they can help by stop stocking Russian products.”

Nightlife association Half of Europe, an advocacy group in Eastern Europe, has released a statement urging the world’s late night businesses to “support Ukraine and boycott Putin’s Russia”. It suggested clubs, bars and restaurants stop serving Russian drinks or products and encouraged operators to raise money to assist Ukraine.

The group said: “Our movement is based on peace, love, unity and respect. Putin has shown he understands none of these things.

“We therefore ask our friends and colleagues around the world to isolate and boycott Russia until Ukraine’s sovereignty is no longer under threat from Putin’s aggression.”

UK hospitality operators have been fundraising, collecting donations and offering to help pay for visas for displaced Ukrainians.

James Chiavarini, owner of Il Portico restaurant in London, has updated his menu to raise money to support Ukraine. Yesterday (1 March), he tweeted: “From today chicken Kyiv will be back in the menu at Portico for the first time in over 40 years. With every order we will donate £5 to the Red Cross in Ukraine. Please help by RTing to spread the love. #chickenkyivnotkiev”.

Image: mayk.75 / shutterstock