Singapore's hidden gem, Bar Spectre, has several unusual initiatives in the works. Known for its unique focus on mental wellness, this apothecary-themed bar is making big strides for the F&B industry.

May is their Mental Wellness Month and with it comes the launch of Spectre Spirit Support. This mental wellness programme is quite the deal – offering up to 100 hours of complimentary therapy sessions to both the Spectre team and the wider F&B community. Talk about going beyond a great drink! Led by a team of licensed psychologists and counsellors, the program aims to provide a safe space for those in the industry to connect and build mental resilience.

Let's face it, the F&B world is intense. Long hours, demanding customers, and constant pressure can really take a toll. Spectre gets it, and they're out to break the stigma around seeking professional help for mental health self-care.

This May, they're rolling out a series of wellness workshops. Brush & Bubbles is a series of weekend art jam sessions with a focus on being present. Sounds like a great way to unwind! Plus, these art sessions will lean into springtime themes of renewal and change, which aligns perfectly with Spectre's philosophy of embracing life's ups and downs.

And here's one for the deep thinkers – Death In The Afternoon. This group sharing session, held on May 18th, is all about reflecting on regret and the concept of death. It might sound heavy, but the goal is to gain a better appreciation of life and its opportunities. They'll even be serving up the classic Hemingway cocktail of the same name! This open dialogue is designed to challenge anxieties about death and help empower people to prepare for their end-of-life journey.

Spectre's going strong on their mission to bring mental wellness awareness to the forefront. Through these therapy programs and workshops, they're not only setting an amazing example within the F&B industry, but also building a space for anyone to explore self-care practices that work best for them.

“Due to the dynamic nature and challenges of the F&B industry, burnout is very common amongst chefs, bartenders and hospitality workers,” says Andrew Pang, founder of Spectre. “Through Spectre Spirit Support, we hope to attenuate burnout by addressing the gap in accessibility to counselling services and break the taboo in consulting a therapist for mental health self-care. We are very grateful to the therapists who have generously carved out time for pro bono sessions dedicated towards the F&B community, and are continuously working with various partners to explore different forms of therapy through wellness workshops hosted at Spectre.”

Spectre is open on Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 5pm to 11:30pm. Reservations for the apothecary can be made here. Guests may register their interest for Brush & Bubbles, Death In The Afternoon workshop sessions and Spectre Spirit Support appointments by visiting Bar Spectre’s website.

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team