Bartender of the Year alleges sexual assault at Swillhouse as SafeWork NSW probes claims

The NSW government is probing claims of sexual assault, harassment and drug use at the Swillhouse Group as a former Australian Bartender of the Year alleges she was sexually assaulted while working for the company which runs six of Sydney’s best-known venues.

SafeWork NSW has begun investigating Swillhouse’s operations following days of reporting by The Sydney Morning Herald and Good Food that revealed claims Swillhouse pushed female staff out of the company after they reported sexual assaults, encouraged staff to have sex with customers and take drugs while on shift, and discriminated against women as it expanded from Shady Pines off Oxford Street to Le Foote in the Rocks.

Le Foote restaurant at The Rocks on Thursday during lunch service.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

“The allegations of serious work health and safety issues highlighted in recent media reports relating to Swillhouse Group are concerning,” a SafeWork NSW spokesman said.

“SafeWork NSW is making inquiries into the allegations raised in these media reports.”

The government agency is responsible for ensuring workplaces are meeting their duties on workplace sexual harassment and alcohol and drug use in the workplace.

Staff can report workplace sexual assault to SafeWork NSW as well as NSW Police.

Le Foote during lunch service on Thursday.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

Jenna Hemsworth, the Australian Bartender of the Year in 2018 and a former global finalist in the prestigious industry award, told this masthead on Friday she was now willing to be identified. She issued a statement saying she had been sexually assaulted while working at Swillhouse.

Hemsworth, who requested her photograph not be published with this story, said she was told she was a “square peg in a round hole” after she reported the alleged assault to the company.

The company has denied it discriminated against employees who raised allegations of sexual assault.

“I stand by what I said in this article,” Hemsworth said. “My choice to remain anonymous until now has been to place the onus on the culture that allowed this to happen - not on me as a victim.

“I can sleep well at night knowing I’ve done all I can to make this industry a little bit safer than it was when I entered it. Can you [Swillhouse]? I hope you learn. And I hope you grow. And I hope to god this signals the beginning of the end of this cycle of abuse.”

Allegations of sexual harassment and assault within Swillhouse venues have had far-reaching impacts in the industry. Swillhouse and its six venues have been removed from the list of finalists vying for an Australian Bartender Bar Award. The prestigious industry awards night, now in its 23rd year, is scheduled for September 11, during Sydney Bar Week.

In a statement on Thursday night, Australian Bartender co-owners David and Amy Spanton said they consulted Swillhouse before making the call.

“We reserve the right to remove finalists from the list if they threaten to jeopardise the integrity of the awards, which are now in their 23rd year,” they said. “Both parties have agreed to the removal.”

Swillhouse bar Le Foote, at The Rocks, won New Bar of the Year in 2023.

The lesser known, bartender-led Idiot Savant awards, also held during Sydney Bar Week, announced it would change award categories such as “hottest bar team” and “best toilets” following public criticism.

“We aim to bring together the industry in a light-hearted and relaxed way, providing an opportunity to shine a light on long-standing contributors, great bars, venues and the fun side of our industry,” a spokesperson said in a statement posted to social media Thursday night.

Swillhouse has also cancelled its first festival after partners, musicians and sponsors pulled out following accusations the major hospitality group failed to support staff who reported multiple alleged sexual assaults.

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