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Humans of Applejack: Alastair James

We sat down for a chat with Opera Bar Beverage Manager; Alastair James.

After an impressive career with Applejack across several of our venues Alastair is now helping lead the beverage team at Sydney’s most iconic bar.

Alastair has been part of Applejack for 5 years now, starting as a casual bartender before working his way up to Assistant Beverage Manager and now Venue Beverage Manager at Opera Bar. He sure can shake a mean cocktail, and he’s not afraid to jump in front of the camera either, with viral moments like the Aussie Schooner Scorer (38K+ views) and our Sydney Swans reel (55K+ views) to prove it.

We are so excited to showcase Alastair and his progression into management at Opera Bar.

Keep reading to discover more about his experience, why Applejack and his go-to Opera Bar order.

Let’s Chat…

Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your experience in hospitality?

“Applejack has been my entire hospitality career. I started at Tap Rooms back in 2021 where I first fell in love with bartending and service, and it was there my love for hospo, especially beverage, has continued to grow. From there, I moved to Forrester’s where I worked as the Assistant Beverage Manager for a year learning as much as I could in a passionate, positive environment before then progressing there as the Venue Beverage Manager. I’m honoured to now be working at Opera Bar as the Venue Beverage Manager helping usher it into the new era!”

What do you love about working in the hospitality industry?

“I love hospitality for the people. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with, and learn from some truly amazing hospitality professionals and all round amazing humans. I used to think of myself as a massive introvert but hospo has given me the quiet confidence to be myself. I love service too; the special moments where you get to really make someone’s day, whether it’s through really personal service, an amazing drink, or a meal they truly enjoyed. Whatever it is, it really just does it for me.”

Why Applejack?

“Applejack is a great place to learn. From on-shift training, cocktail competitions, to enabling myself and others to be put through courses such as WSET (which as a wino was massive for me), education is at the forefront of their ethos. I thrive off learning and I hope to pass on any knowledge I’ve learnt to those around me as well.”

Favourite Applejack memory?

“It’s still surreal to me that I was there working at Opera Bar on New Year’s Eve. Even months later it still hasn’t quite hit how cool that was to be working underneath the sails of the Opera House at the heart of one of the biggest parties on earth. From all the planning that went to it for months beforehand, to actually witnessing it firsthand and helping make it happen with such a dream team. Bloody loud fireworks though…”

What's your go-to Opera Bar order?

“Favourite Opera Bar order has to be our Lamb Sirloin out of Winnie’s kitchen, sharing a bottle of Two Hands Barossa Shiraz with a loved one. The Lamb is rich and decadent, which the shiraz matches perfectly. Having that on the seawall over winter whilst watching the sunset over the Opera House doesn’t feel real.”

See Alastair at Opera Bar leading the beverage team!

Explore career opportunities to work with Alastair, or as a Bartender at our other venues across Sydney.