There are moments when an industry reveals its true character, not in its busiest hours, but in its most difficult ones.
When the venue I worked for furloughed us a week ahead of the rest of the country, it felt like stepping off a cliff slightly earlier than everyone else. At first, the 80% wage support seemed almost generous, especially on a zero-hours contract. But reality has a way of catching up.
Like many in hospitality, I had always said yes to everything: splits, doubles, back-to-backs. Work wasn’t just work; it was momentum. And when that stopped, the financial gap became painfully clear. Because I’d worked two jobs the previous year, my furlough reflected only one. Compared to 2019, the drop was stark.
Then, by chance, something shifted.
A Lifeline When It Mattered Most
I was invited to apply for a hospitality grant.
It wasn’t just the financial help, though, that mattered enormously. It was the mental reassurance. The sense that someone, somewhere, understood what this industry was going through.
That support came from Hospitality Action.
Hospitality Action: Quiet Support, Lasting Impact
Established in 1837, Hospitality Action has long been a safety net for those working across the UK’s hospitality sector.
And when they say everyone, they mean it.
- Chefs and waiters
- Housekeepers and managers
- Concierges and receptionists
- Kitchen porters, bartenders, sommeliers
From pubs and restaurants to hotels, cafés, hospitals, and event spaces, the entire ecosystem is covered.
Their support is not limited to one kind of hardship. They offer help across a wide spectrum:
- Financial difficulty
- Mental health challenges
- Physical illness
- Addiction and family issues
And when working life comes to an end, they help people prepare for what comes next.
It is not just charity, it is continuity. A way of ensuring that people are not left behind when the industry falters.
Invisible Chips: A Brilliantly Simple Idea
Out of crisis came creativity.
Supported by Fred Sirieix and BrewDog, Hospitality Action launched one of the most quietly brilliant fundraising ideas in recent years:
Invisible Chips.
The concept is disarmingly simple.
You order a portion of chips or condiments like Fred’s 'Ooh La La Sauce,' that don’t actually exist. Nothing arrives at your table. No food is prepared.
But the money you pay goes directly to supporting hospitality workers.
It’s:
- 100% fat free
- 100% guilt free
- And 100% impactful
A small gesture from the customer becomes a meaningful contribution to someone behind the scenes—the very people who serve, cook, clean, and keep the industry alive.
More Than a Donation: A Shift in Perspective
What makes Invisible Chips so powerful is not just the fundraising, it’s the awareness.
It gently reminds diners that hospitality is not just an experience, but a workforce. A network of individuals whose livelihoods can disappear overnight, and who often operate without the safety nets found in other industries.
It turns a casual moment, ordering at the bar or table, into something reflective.
A pause. A choice. A contribution.
How to Get Involved
If you’re part of the industry:
- Pubs and restaurants can sign up to become Invisible Chips stockists, integrating the idea directly into their menus.
If you’re a hospitality worker:
- Hospitality Action offers support, guidance, and real assistance when things become difficult.
If you’re a customer:
- Next time you see Invisible Chips on a menu, order them.
Final Thoughts
Hospitality is built on service, but it is sustained by people.
When everything stopped, it became clear just how fragile that system could be. But it also revealed something else: resilience, generosity, and the willingness to support one another.
Hospitality Action stands at the centre of that support. And with initiatives like Invisible Chips, they’ve found a way to turn everyday moments into acts of care.
Sometimes, the most meaningful thing on the menu.
Is the thing you never actually eat.
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