Andy Freeman owns Sneakers & Jeans Hospitality Group and is one of Western Australia's leading hospitality professionals. The Sneakers & Jeans portfolio consists of five Perth venues: Varnish on King, The Flour Factory, Cabillitos, Pirate Life Perth, Hadiqa. Mr Freeman is one of the most awarded and recognised Perth hospitality professionals for his advocacy of the local food and beverage scene and the revitalisation of the Perth CBD.
He started his career in Perth working in bartending and management at several WA venues before moving to London where he was employed at Marco Pierre White's Titanic Bar. Under Mr Freeman's management, the venue was voted the best bar in London. After his return to Perth, Mr Freeman worked at C Lounge Restaurant and Bar and Luxe Bar. He was then approached to coordinate and manage high profile events such as the Big Day Out, the Lion Nathan Roadshow, Johnny Walker Classic, Good Vibrations and the WA launch of Bacardi Black.
In 2007, Mr Freeman bought his first venue, Luxe Bar. He then opened the neighbouring venue BamBOO; an outdoor amphitheatre for holding live performances. A few years later, Mr Freeman launched Perth’s first American Whiskey Bar, Varnish on King. The venue has won Small Bar of the Year 2014 (nationally) and Bar of the Year (State) at the annual Australian Bartender Magazine awards. In 2015, it won the title of Best Bar Food (nationally) and was inducted into the AHA Hall of Fame after winning Small Bar of the Year three years running. In 2014, Mr Freeman opened Darling's Supper Club. Soon after, he jumped on the opportunity to launch another Perth venue, The Flour Factory, located in an old flour mill. Following the success founded in the CBD’s west end, in 2017, Mr Freeman opened the city’s first late night tequila and Mexican cantina Caballitos. A year later, Mr Freeman opened the city’s first Middle-Eastern inspired venue Hadiqa. Most recently, he established CBD-based brewery Pirate Life Perth.
Luxe Bar, BamBOO and Darling's Supper Club have since closed.
