Sydney Bar Week starts tomorrow and is booked out! Owners announce it’s their final year for the event & Australian Bartender magazine

With Sydney Bar Week kicking off tomorrow, Dave & Amy Spanton have announced that this will be their final year hosting the Sydney Bar Week events, the Australian Bartender Magazine Bar Awards and publishing Australian Bartender Magazine.

Dave started publishing Bartender magazine back in 1999, marking 25 years and 285 editions of the magazine when it wraps up at the end of the year. The events kicked off in 2001 and have been the industry leaders in Australia for more than two decades. Amy joined Spanton Media in 2003 and has filled various roles over the years, from bookkeeper to event manager and editor.

“In Covid, we didn’t know what was going to happen with the events, so we pivoted and opened Piccolo Bar,” says Dave. “Since then, we have opened two more bars – Vermuteria & The Hook – and it’s time to focus on them.”

“We want to thank all our sponsors, the bars and all the people who have supported us and given us so much love over the years,” says Dave. “It’s great to that Sydney Bar Week and the Bar Awards is booked out again this year and pleases us to be able to finish these events on a high.”

Dave adds: “We will, in coming months, be holding conversations with a handful of potential people who are interested in taking over the business and continuing to run these popular events, but only if we are confident the same passion will be put in.”

For more on the Sydney Bar Week line-up of events kicking off tomorrow, head to www.sydneybarweek.com.au