Sydney Pub Lord Gladstone Is Hosting A ‘Sunday Service’ To Protest Hillsong Getting A Free Pass
"In the name of the father, the son and the holy cheeseburger."
Beloved Sydney pub The Lord Gladstone is rebranding as The Gladsong Hotel on Sunday, January 23 in protest of the government’s double standards when it comes to COVID restrictions for hospitality venues and religious institutions.
Next Sunday, the pub will be transformed into The Gladsong Hotel for one holy sabbath as an ode to Hillsong Church — which is continually given exemptions to allow singing and dancing, behaviour that is strictly prohibited in nightclubs and hospitality venues around the state.
Throughout the day — which will be celebrated “in the name of the father, the son and the holy cheeseburger” — punters will be able to knock back jugs of $15 House Holy Water (the Lord Gladstone’s house beer) or $10 Bloody Lords while being blessed with the sounds of DJs blasting your favourite hymns and gospel anthems.
Venue owner Mitchell Crum expressed his frustration about the double standard to Purple Sneakers, stating:
“It’s been an absolutely frustrating period of time for all venue owners. Right now and over the past couple of years. Once again it feels like our leaders are leaving our poor struggling musicians and artists back in the darkness. Live music venues, musicians, pubs and clubs all across the state have been the hardest hit without any support or closure. I can’t say I’m terribly religious though I worship live music. Does that make us exempt?”
The news comes after major NSW music festival Grapevine Gathering was forced to cancel just four days before it was due to take place in the Hunter Valley, costing the region an estimated $5.2 million and 1400 jobs after the New South Wales Government amended the public health order to include outdoor events in its singing and dancing ban.
The ban is in place until January 27, with exemptions for weddings and for performers. However, there’s also an exemption for places of worship, which means the Hillsong megachurch will still be allowed to press on with its massive service from the Hills Convention Centre in Sydney’s north on Sunday.
When asked about the double standard, NSW Health defended its decision.
“People attending religious services generally remain in fixed positions and masks are mandatory for these indoor gatherings,” a statement from NSW Health read.
Gladsong’s “Sunday Service” kicks off at 12pm on Sunday, January 23.