With pubs closed due to coronavirus social isolation, Furphy Refreshing Ale are keeping up with their mission to celebrate storytelling and bring mates together over an ice-cold beer by welcoming its drinkers to a virtual pub experience every Friday night.
Coined Furphy Fridays, the ‘pub’ will be open for an hour from 5.30pm AEST each week up until May 29, hosting up to 1,000 people who will be able to share a beer and a tall tale with some familiar faces around a virtual wooden pub table.
The inaugural virtual pub experience will be hosted by actor, author, host and comedian Matt Okine, and Australian cricketer Aaron Finch, giving people the chance to experience some of the things we miss most about Australian pubs at the moment (which is literally everything). During the hour, three furphies will be told: one by Matt Okine, one by an audience member, and one by a mystery guest, with pub-goers using the clues behind the bar to try and guess the guest before their identity is revealed.
“While we can’t physically be with our mates to connect and share stories from the working week, this will be the next best thing as we navigate this period of physical distancing,” Furphy Brand Director Malcolm Eadie explains.
“While our favourite pubs and bars are shut, people are forced to enjoy their Friday Furphy remotely in some pretty dull settings. We are stepping in to bring people together for an hour of great stories, pub traditions and entertainment – as we all try to stay digitally connected.”
Another great Aussie pub tradition will also live on through the Furphy Fridays virtual pub, with one lucky guest to win a meat tray each week, while a virtual tip jar will allow patrons to rate their hosts’ hospitality, with contributions going to GIVIT’s COVID-19 relief fund, which Furphy will match dollar-for-dollar.
To fully complete the virtual pub experience, Furphy will partner with pubs, clubs and bars around the country who have adapted to the times for takeaway sales, giving pub-goers the opportunity to support their local during this difficult time.
Time to pull up a virtual bar stool and crack open a Furphy this Friday.
Spots are limited so pub-goers Australia-wide will have to register for Furphy Fridays by visiting furphybeer.com.au/furphy-fridays
