News / BARBI Bristol
New Bristol-made delivery app cuts commission and pays riders more
More than a dozen Bristol restaurants are already signed up to an app that is going live for the first time on Friday, hoping to support independent businesses caught in a “stranglehold” by multinationals.
The BARBI App, made by the British Association of Restaurants, Bars & Independents, aims to reduce the high commissions of the likes of Deliveroo as well as paying delivery riders and drivers more money.
Restaurants signed up as the app gets ready to launch include Cafe Kino and El Jefe Jose on Stokes Croft, Marmalade Cafe on Worrall Road in Clifton, and Pizza Bianchi which will be operating from within Pasta Loco on Cotham Hill.
is needed now More than ever
Pizzas at Pizza Bianchi, who originally operated from Lakota Gardens – photo by Martin Booth
In a statement, the BARBI team said: “We will cut in half the commission rate for venues and we will pay the drivers more on their base rate. This will stop the stranglehold that these other companies have on industry (sic).”
The added: “We need to support our local independent venues more than ever at the moment. With more than 30,000 people in Bristol employed by the sector in the 1,800+ establishments, as well as the many other sectors that are within the nighttime economy from taxi drivers to farmers and suppliers, we need to do everything we can to keep these jobs sustainable and roofs over people’s heads and their families fed.
“By using the BARBI App it will allow venues to keep going and keep people employed. The money you spend through the BARBI App will also stay within the local Bristol economy. So buy local, buy independent!”
The BARBIE (now (BARBI) team, from left to right: Andy Dodd, Brendan Murphy and Adam Brittain – photo: Jess Connett
The BARBI App offers customers and restaurants the choice of delivery or click & collect, as well as having a table ordering function when sitting-in is once again allowed.
The Gloucester Road-based team also hope to develop the app in the future to include table booking and event ticket sales, with other features such as offers and hospitality news promised to be coming soon.
BARBI Bristol was founded in 2016 as BARBIE – the Bristol Association of Restaurants, Bars & Independent Establishments – but changed their name in the hope of being able to expand their brand across the UK.
The BARBI App currently offers food for delivery and for collection – photo: BARBI App
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read more: Bristol’s Deliveroo staff demand better working conditions
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