The Source: Kensington restaurant serves up Cougar and Sugar Daddies meet-and-greets

Trivia night no longer cuts the hospitality mustard. A Melbourne eatery is now serving up Cougar and Sugar Daddies meet-and-greets to lure diners battling the cost of living.

Rick's Place in Kensington is serving up Cougar and Sugar Daddies meet-and-greets.

Putting the squeeze on Victoria’s movers, shakers and headline makers.

Ask any restaurateur, from the uppity to the suburban, and you hear a story about the Covid doldrums, followed by the blitz of interest rate rises, leading to the industry’s slow death of empty tables.

Cue unusual dining offers to get the customers back.

Rick Sciberras, who owns Rick’s Place in Kensington, calls himself an innovator. Everyone does trivia nights, he argues. And he wants to stimulate real sales growth.

That’s why he says he is promoting Matchmaker Night at the restaurant — 25 men, 25 women, on tables of six, so that the conversation does not ebb.

There’s Cougars Night — 25 women, aged 45 or over, and 25 males, aged 25-35.

Then there’s Sugar Daddies night — 25 males aged 45 or over, 25 females aged 25-30.

Gay and lesbian customers are also encouraged to contact Rick, given he is “planning something for you as well”.

Plans remain in their infancy, as Sciberras sorts out the intricacies.

“We’re just trying different things,” he tells the Source. “It’s all trial and error. And it’s been rough.”

We trust that both Rick and his customers will get lucky.

Rick's Place in Kensington is spicing up its menu

Got a tip? Let us know [e-mail]

Dreaded divide ditched in new Festival Hall

With Melbourne’s live music holy grail Festival Hall back in action, punters traumatised by the venue’s not-so-invisible barrier — the dreaded chicken wire between the standing room floor and side seats — have had their prayers answered.

The chicken wire has been removed as part of touring giant Live Nation’s relaunch of the historic Melbourne venue.

Hillsong Church, which owns Festival Hall, came to an agreement with Live Nation for the promoter to take over the lease of the venue. Picture: Tim Carrafa

“I’m particularly proud of the chicken mesh going,” Live Nation Australia boss Roger Field said.

“It was a really unfortunate physical demarcation of people on the floor, and those in the seats. It’s gone.”

Hallelujah.

Live Nation boss Roger Field at the Lionel Rose stage door of Festival Hall. Picture: David Caird

The ceiling has also been painted black to put the “focus back in stage ... where the spectacle is,” Field added. “The white roof detracted from the focal point.”

Hillsong Church, which owns Festival Hall, came to an agreement with Live Nation for the promoter to take over the lease of the venue.

It was lost to Melbourne’s music scene when Hillsong bought the building for $23m in 2020.

Live Nation will relaunch Festival Hall on Thursday night.

ARC, featuring members of Jet, You Am I and Spiderbait, will christen the rebooted venue.