Lentil As Anything makes changes aimed at moving on freeloaders at Abbotsford Convent

A MELBOURNE restaurant designed to give people a leg-up has been told to make changes to get rid of freeloaders taking advantage of its “pay as you feel” model.

Lentil As Anything founder Shanaka Fernando at Lentil As Anything’s Abbotsford Convent site. Picture: Adam Elwood

A POPULAR “pay as you feel” restaurant designed to help disadvantaged and homeless people has been told to enforce a raft of changes aimed at getting rid of freeloaders.

Abbotsford Convent’s Lentil As Anything has been plagued by people taking advantage of the restaurant, which asks diners to contribute what they feel their meal is worth.

Among the changes include patrons must wear shoes at all times, refrain from consuming drugs or alcohol at the site and camping or basing themselves at the convent for “unreasonable amounts of time”.

BYO alcohol is now also banned, while the not-for-profit organisation will also introduce an a la carte menu this month.

Lentil As Anything operations manager Katrina Webb acknowledged the restaurant’s culture had slipped, with many treating it as a “second home, or even a first home”.

Ms Webb said the restaurant still had an open-door policy, but it needed to be mindful of fellow tenants and other visitors to the convent.

“We are not a place to come to every single day, hang out all day and invite your friends, that is kind of missing the point,” Ms Webb said.

The restaurant has also employed a fulltime facility custodian, who will be responsible for enforcing the changes.

If required, patrons will be asked to move on or face being banned if they don’t co-operate.

Mentors, staff and volunteers are also being trained in how to manage patrons that take advantage of the restaurant.

Restaurant manager Tim Mathison said the restaurant had embraced the changes, which were made through consultation with Lentil’s management the Abbotsford Convent Foundation.

“For customers it will enhance their experience of Lentil Abbotsford with its positive vibes and pay-as-you-feel philosophy,” Mr Mathison said.

Lentil founder Shanaka Fernando said the changes would allow for a welcoming and safe space.

ACF chief executive Maggie Maguire said it was hoped the changes would result in a more controlled environment and better financial results for Lentil.

“Something needed to shift in terms of the number of people and behaviours of some of their clientele,” Ms Maguire said.