The company behind some of Manchester's most popular bars has defended a recent advertisement for volunteer bartenders after it sparked a backlash online.

Selina, the boutique hostel firm who bought Hatters Hostel in 2019, shared details of a volunteer vacancy to help with 'general bar duties, serving food and drinks, cocktail making, table service, and taking and processing orders'.

The company operates the large hostel on the corner of Hilton Street and Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter, as well as restaurant and bar Wilson's Social, and Irish pub The Corner Boy on the same plot.

The position advertised is unpaid, with work provided in exchange for meals and accommodation, which one user on social media described as 'scummy'.

Staff at The Corner Boy closing up back in October 2020 (Image: PA)

But the Selina group has said that the placements - which will be no longer than six weeks - will provide experience to those wanting to break into the hospitality industry, and for members of 'the underprivileged community'.

Volunteers would be given a bed in either a private room or a shared dorm, and meals, in exchange for 25 hours of help per week.

When the advert was shared on Reddit, one user commented: "Hard faced b*****ds. The Selina Group acquired Hatter's Hostel as part of a $40 million deal. It's moved into a very well established and very famous hostel in Manchester...

"How about paying at least the legal minimum wage to do a few hours cleaning up after your clientele?"

Another user asked: "Is this a joke?"

Inside Selina in the Northern Quarter (Image: Publicity Picture)

Someone else commented: "Yeah sorry, that’s fantastic that you’re paying people in two hot meals and a bed for the night, because it’s an opportunity to meet new people.

"Imagine being paid on top of that!

"You absolute d***heads."

The full statement from Selina said: "Like so many hospitality businesses over the past year, Selina has experienced the greatest unprecedented challenge during the Coronavirus pandemic which inevitably led to the need to restructure parts of the company.

The building when it was owned by Hatters (Image: Manchester Evening News)

"Whilst hospitality as a whole has taken a large hit, Selina has maintained as many of its teams on Furlough as possible in the UK.

"Selina Manchester restructured in March due to the downturn in business and intends to bring back its 30 remaining Manchester team members when the industry is permitted to reopen its doors safely.

"Given the current roadmap out of lockdown, this looks to be no earlier than 17th May 2021.

"As part of an ongoing internal initiative, Selina is looking to offer volunteer placements of no longer than 6 weeks for those looking to break into the industry to gain experience across all areas of hospitality, including members of the underpriveleged community who may have a more difficult time gaining this experience due to lack of resources or previous minor offences.

"Volunteers will be offered full accommodation and reimbursed any food expenses during their stay with us. Those volunteers who will be joining the team temporarily will be following strict Covid guidelines and self-isolating for 10 days prior.

"Selina and the NHS track and trace will actively monitor Covid checks on its volunteers as well as those team members returning from furlough on a regular basis.

"Continuing to maintain health & safety guidelines includes but is not limited to sanitizing surfaces, washing hands regularly & social distancing, and it is very important to us while ensuring that each volunteer receives the chance to learn, grow and make in person connections with our guests and team following a very difficult year from a mental health / wellness perspective.

"Following their time with Selina, depending on the capabilities of the business, the experience they have and whether they like working for us these volunteers will be offered full time work.

"All team members returning from Furlough will be covid retrained prior to opening in order to ensure the safety of our customers, guests as well as each other."

Do you think it's right for a hospitality business to ask people to work without cash reward? Have your say in the comments below.