Meet the Team at Prince Alfred Hotel

David is s a punk-rock-loving vegan from Bogota, who can give you the lowdown on the best tequila behind the bar and vegan bites on the menu.

What do you like about working at PA’s?

Everything! It’s such a nice environment, with the beer garden! I like the people who come here, the food is great and the coziness!

What’s your favourite tequila?

Clase Azul Reposado, in the big bottle! My first hospo job was in a tequila bar – it was called Touché Hombre in the CBD, but it’s closed now, unfortunately. The training sessions would be like “Okay, let’s try the 50 different brands of tequila that we have”.

What’s your go-to PA’s order?

The V2 vegan parma is great. I’m vegan, and I have been for 8 years. It’s easier to be vegan now, and much easier than back home in Colombia.

Where in Colombia are you from?

Bogota. I’m going back there in November; I haven’t seen my family in 5 years so that will be good. Now, I just want to go there to see my friends, and family, and to travel.

Is punk rock your favourite music genre?

Yes! Now that we’ve opened again, I get to go to more gigs. In November I’m going to see the Circle Jerks – they’re really old school, and they’re coming with Pennywise. I also play the bass guitar myself, just for fun.

Nelson is a Richmond local who knows all the best spots for a drink and a feed, and loves a Netflix true crime binge!

What’s your favourite Netflix show?

Stranger Things, of course. Plus all of the true crime documentary limited series! My favourite one recently was Evil Genius. That was really good. I love everything scary, so horror movies too.

How long have you been working at Prince Alfred?

I’ve been working here for 6 months. Before this, I was at Richmond Social, which is just up the street.

As a local, what’s your favourite spot in Richmond (outside of PA’s obviously)?

My current favourite is Matheson’s Wine Bar – the guy who owns it knows everything about wine, plus the food’s great, and we all know him from the area. The hospitality scene here in Richmond is like that, it’s such a good little hub. There’s a reason we call it The Island – I never leave it!

What do you like about hospitality?

I love human interaction. I love the customers, being able to talk to someone face-to-face and make them happy. I’d love one day to have a little café of my own – something small and intimate. I haven’t travelled yet so I’d love to do that, but I can see myself always coming back to hospitality.

Is there something you wish people knew about your job?

Just that we’re human too. We want you to have a good time and we want to have a good time too. But we have great locals who are good to us, a lot of office workers who will come in on the same day each week. We’re pretty lucky with who comes here, and there’s a good mix of people too.

Do you have your favourites?

Of course!

And finally, what’s your go-to item on the menu right now?

It’s got to be the Tempus Two Pinot Gris.