A new meaning is being given to the phrase ‘Girls Night Out’ at a local pub.
The Morrissey House, a popular London restaurant known for both their food and beer, has launched a new promotion which gives women a 13% discount on their meals every Monday.
The promotion is called “Mind the Gap” and is an acknowledgement towards the gender pay gap. According to Stats Canada, women are paid 87 cents for every dollar a man is paid, equating to a 13% difference.
Mark Serre is the owner of The Morrissey House and initiated the promotion that symbolizes a statement towards the pay gap. After being in the restaurant business for 26 years, Serre has witnessed the abuse and harassment that occurs within the industry.
“It’s always been something at the forefront of our industry. The harassment and the abuse that goes on in the kitchen, as well as the harassment and abuse that occurs at the front of house. We need to be addressing this.”
This promotion is not the first time The Morrissey House has given a nod to gender inequality. They held a similar event three years ago, which helped spark the idea for Mind the Gap. “It was on International Women’s Day. We offered discounts to women and we just thought it was something we could expand upon.”
While Serre recognizes that it is a restaurant promotion, he hopes the community recognizes what the conversation is ultimately about. “Restaurants are social gathering places, they welcome community and conversation. And conversations like this should be happening in restaurants and bars.”
With the Monday profits, The Morrissey House will be making donations to local charities including London Abused Women’s Centre, My Sisters’ Place, and Anova.
Unlike the gender pay gap, women will be the ones who benefit from this promotion, which is exactly what Serre is aiming for.
“I think it’s well worth my 13%.”
