TEAMS of staff from Edinburgh restaurants gathered on Portobello beach last weekend to serve up volleyballs rather than dishes and drinks.
Raising funds for mental health support, the charity event was organised by the team at cult faviourite pizza joint Civerinos, and involved staff from El Cartel and Dishoom, all swapping aprons for speedos on what turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year.
Michele Civiera, the mind behind Civerinos, stressed the importance of making time for team building in the hospitality industry: “It’s just good for your head to get out, enjoy the sunshine and be around other people.
“Working in hospitality does mean working long hours, and after that you’ll often find us hanging out in bars and places where the focus can be around alcohol.
“We figured this was a good chance to create a day for Scotland’s hospitality grafters that was just good vibes – who doesn’t like hitting a ball around on the beach and eating some pizza, while making money for charity?”
Money raised will go to the Joseph Nolan Foundation, which offers access to trained mental health professionals skilled in talk therapy, with the aim of reducing suicide rates in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
The Civerinos team – who won this year’s tournament – is currently working on their first Glasgow venue, which will open on Radnor Street near Kelvingrove Park this September.
