We sat down with Michelle Silverlock, Head Batcher of Nick & Nora’s Melbourne over a cocktail to discuss hospitality and her role at The Speakeasy Group.
What do you love about the industry?
It’s something that I tried in high school, took a job while I was studying, it was convenient, and I really loved it.
I’m working at the CBD right now and I love exploring all the venues nearby. I haven’t worked in the city for hospitality when I was starting, but it’s great to see all the exciting things that everyone is coming up with.
A day in a life as a Head Batcher at Nick and Nora’s
It [Batcher] is not really a position that you hear about, it’s not really a common role. We have a lot of fancy drinks, and all the fancy drinks have plenty of ingredients. I essentially come in during the day to prep everything, get everything ready for the bartender.
What do you love about your role and working at Nick and Nora’s?
Post pandemic, I was scrolling through a job platform, and I found this opportunity, and I’m like, wow! It’s like 9 to 5, Mondays off. Tuesday to Saturday work, no late nights. It just seems like all the fun things I enjoyed about bartending without the late-night work.
I do a bit of cooking like mixing the mousse, for one of our famous cocktail. It’s really fun to get into the trial and error and a bunch of different ingredients to have new drinks for the cocktail of the month.
Favourite drink on the Nick and Nora’s menu? Why?
It’s got to be the Cafe Noir because of the mousse! I just really love that mousse!
Where would we find you on a day off?
I like to spend my days off going out with friends, there’s always another bottomless brunch in the city to try out!