An exclusive nightclub frequented by high rollers is facing explosive allegations of sexual assault, harassment and grooming, along with copious drug use thanks to CCTV “blind spots”.
Level 6, located in Sydney’s CBD as part of the Ivy-branded group of venues owned by billionaire Justin Hemmes as part of the giant Merivale group, was “one step away from becoming a brothel”, an anonymous manager told Nine newspapers.
Staff at the luxury venue, where membership costs $10,000 a year, have detailed allegations of sexual assault and being pressured to please the mostly wealthy male clientele.
In exchange, the carefully selected group of glamorous young women, mostly between 18 and 21, employed as “hostesses” would take home Gucci handbags and up to $600 in tips for a couple of nights of work.
The club’s raunchy tone is set by the decor and furnishings, including a photo of a half-naked woman with the word ‘Dreamlover’ tattooed on her chest, as well as a stripper pole.
The poker chips are decorated with a woman in red lingerie bending over.
An anonymous member of staff told Nine newspapers that workers were “expressly told” they could not turn away a guest who wanted to buy them a drink.
Another said that when senior Merivale staff were on site drunk or high, staff were “pressured” to drink with them, and it was “very difficult” to say no.
Level 6, an exclusive nightclub located in Sydney’s CBD, is facing explosive allegations of turning a blind eye to sexual assault, harassment and drug use.
One presenter claimed a senior member of staff would throw her on the sofa and put his hand up her skirt to grab her underwear.
He claimed another asked him: ‘Why have we never fucked?’
‘I was upset. I couldn’t believe it. This is my workplace and this is happening. “You certainly didn’t feel like you could do anything about it,” the host said.
In a separate incident, another senior staff member allegedly forced himself on the hostess with such force that she was left breathless.
It is also alleged that a senior member of staff took two women to his home and locked them up, pressuring them to take cocaine and trying to drag one into a bedroom.
When the couple tried to leave, he allegedly ran in front of his car and the women eventually escaped when he passed out.
It was also claimed that a VIP guest pushed a member of staff into the bathroom to do cocaine and ripped open her shirt.
When she raised the incident with management, she was allegedly told, “Don’t beat yourself up about it.” It happened, now move on.’
The establishment, which has a terrace, costs $10,000 a year and primarily serves a wealthy male clientele.
Merivale told Nine newspapers that he took the allegations very seriously but was unaware of them.
James Henderson, who was a barman at Ivy and another Merivale business, Bar Totti’s, but resigned from the group in August. He said what happened at the venues was ‘disgusting’.
“They use women as objects,” she said.
Henderson, 21, claimed venues were “grooming” female staff and customers for VIP entertainment.
An anonymous presenter told Nine newspapers it was not unusual to walk into a room and see a senior member of staff having sex with three girls on a sofa or in a shower.
They claimed staff sometimes positioned themselves to protect vulnerable young girls who were often scouted from other locations in Ivy below.
Henderson also alleged that the company failed to keep him safe when a guest attacked him at work.
Ivy staff claimed the internal WhatsApp chat group had a code phrase ‘blue lights’ to warn about police.
Staff said Level 6 was alerted every time police went there so they had time to “hide things.”
He also said he had been offered cocaine by a senior member of staff and had witnessed another open use of narcotics at the Slip Inn bar in Merivale without fear of repercussions.
If staff alerted police to any irregularities at Merivale properties they would be sacked, he said.
Another senior member of staff said there were ‘blue lights’ and ‘code blue’ warnings in an internal WhatsApp chat or over the radio to alert Level 6 staff that police were about to visit “so that anything they was happening…they could hide it. he’.
The company said alerting staff about police was “standard industry practice.”
Henderson submitted an email detailing to management the allegations of two sexual assaults.
Merivale rejected Henderson’s claims and described him as “well known in the human resources department.”
They said staff undertook extensive and rigorous training that encouraged reporting incidents to management and police.
Former employee James Henderson said he emailed Merivale management to complain about a lack of action on serious incidents.
Staff also alleged there were large CCTV blind spots in the club where people could openly have sex or take drugs.
In his statement to Nine, Merivale said he has appointed prominent human rights and discrimination lawyer Kate Eastman, SC to lead an investigation into allegations of misconduct at the company.
“If any of these allegations are even remotely true, we sincerely regret any distress caused,” Merivale said.
However, the company rejected claims that it had fostered a culture that exploited women and endangered its staff.
‘In all hospitality businesses, including Merivale, incidents occur affecting both customers and staff. “There is no denying this,” a spokesperson said.
“However, Merivale handles complaints made about such incidents in accordance with its policies and procedures, as well as its legal obligations.”
Level 6 is part of the Ivy-branded venues owned by hotel billionaire Justin Hemmes as part of the giant Merivale group.
SafeWork NSW is also investigating Merivale after the ABC published claims in September that it tolerated drug use on its premises, failed to respond appropriately to sexual assault allegations and screened uncensored CCTV footage of people having sex on one night. of prizes.
Merivale said it had no records of the incidents and that it was legal for the company to capture CCTV footage.
Swillhouse, another major Sydney hospitality venue owner, is also under investigation by SafeWork NSW after allegations of sexual assault, harassment and open drug use were made at his venues.
The company’s chief executive, Anton Forte, resigned on Friday.
Merivale has been contacted for comment.