Mural highlighting mental health in hospitality industry to be created at PINS Social Club

So Let’s Talk, a not-for-profit platform looking to provide education and support on all aspects of mental, physical and financial health inside of the hospitality industry, has unveiled a dedicated mural at Pins Social Club in Liverpool.

Working with hospitality-focused individuals, businesses, groups and organisations, along with renowned experts from the fields of mental health, nutrition, exercise, finance and beyond, So Let’s Talk looks to develop bespoke solutions for the specific needs of those who operate in or with the hospitality industry.

The mural project will see So Let’s Talk and graffiti artist Shawn Sharpe, Good Good Graffiti, bring to the forefront specific issues that workers in the hospitality industry face, while the money raised throughout the campaign is set to help run crucial sessions for hospitality professionals, aiming to make a much healthier and happier industry.

Sharpe, a self-taught artist has been painting for just over 10 years, having painted with professional spray can art for 4 years. Starting out at the age of 18, he paints everything from classic graffiti, portraits, type, anamorphic pieces and more. He has also worked for the likes of Corona, Smirnoff and Revolution Bars.

Sponsored by Liverpool Cocktail Week (The Cocktail Week Co), the mural created by Sharpe is situated on the side of Pins Social Club on Duke Street, taking over 24 hours to create and using 40 spray cans. The Cocktail Week Co is exceptionally proud, excited and honoured to be working with So Let’s Talk to help bring an end to the silence and darkness surrounding the hospitality industry.

Following the 18 months of intermittent closures, lockdowns and uncertainty the hospitality industry has seen a real decline in mental health.

Measuring 3.8m width and 2.9m length, So Let’s Talk hopes the mural will spark important conversations to trigger a much needed change of attitude towards hospitality workers.

The idea behind the mural is to ask healthier questions before a work shift. Employees will usually ask their teams if they have the equipment they need to do their work, such as a bar blade, pens, lighters, etc. The question in hand becomes irrelevant if the person operating the equipment is funding it hard to function.

So Let’s Talk looks to use the mural to change the questions up, asking how much valuable sleep did we get last night? When was the last time we had a home cooked meal? Without using the words ‘ok’ or ‘fine’  how are we really feeling today? Asking healthier questions will get a healthier response.

PINS Social Club

Speaking on the project, Patrick Howley, founder of So Let’s Talk said:

“The idea behind these murals was to raise awareness about mental, physical and financial health in the hospitality industry, but also, what we do here at So Let’s Talk. We’re so grateful to Pins Social Club for gifting us the space, and for Shawn for doing such an incredible job. The money raised will not only help us to support a local artist, but it will also help us to run sessions for hospitality professionals; making it a much happier and healthier place to be.”

Alongside Liverpool, So Let’s Talk has previously brought the mural project to Manchester’s Northern Quarter – with plans to take the campaign to other major UK cities, including Glasgow, Birmingham and London.

So Let’s Talk was created by Patrick Howley in January 2020. Howley has spent well over a decade in the hospitality industry, where earning his stripes led to a destructive cycle of long hours, disrupted sleeping patterns, poor nutrition, high alcohol consumption and recreational drug use.

The decision to create ‘So Let’s Talk’ was inspired by Howley’s experiences and lessons learned in not having an avenue for help during his time of need. He hopes to support others in a similar situation.

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