Reader Overview

As an EDP Reader, you are a registered member of EatDrinkPlay with access to exclusive member benefits:

• Browse unlimited venues across Sydney and Melbourne
• Save venues and events to your personal Wishlist
• Access member-only content and editorial guides
• View exclusive offers and partner perks
• Get personalised recommendations based on saved content
• Access the What's On weekly event calendar
• Manage your profile and preferences

• Cannot create or manage venue listings (requires Venue Lister account)
• Cannot access the WordPress Admin panel
• Cannot edit or moderate content

Login & Registration

Creating a Reader Account

Location: Click Join or Sign Up in the top navigation, or go to the Members page.

1. Go to the Members Page

   Navigate to the Members/Join page via the main navigation. Click user icon next to Sydney and Melbourne tab.

2. Select "EDP Reader"

   On the registration form, choose EDP Reader as your account type. This gives you browsing and wishlist access.

   
3. Enter Your Details

   Fill in your full name, email address, and a secure password. Passwords must be at least 8 characters.

4. Submit Registration

   Click Create Account. Your account is created immediately - no email verification required for readers.

5. You're In!

   You are automatically logged in and redirected to your member dashboard. You now have full reader access.

Logging In

1. Go to the Members Page

   Click the account icon in the top right navigation.

2. Enter Your Credentials

   Type your email address and password. Tick Remember Me to stay logged in on this device.

   
3. Click Login

   Click the Login button. You'll be redirected to your member dashboard.

Logging Out

Click your name or avatar in the top navigation to open the account dropdown. Select Log Out. You will be redirected to the homepage.

Reader Dashboard

After logging in, you are taken to your personal member dashboard at /dashboard/.

Dashboard Tabs

Tab	Contents
Saved	Your Wishlist - all venues and events you've saved with the heart icon
Profile	Update your name, email address, and password

City Selection

EatDrinkPlay covers two cities: Sydney and Melbourne. The site shows content for your selected city by default.

How City Selection Works

1. First Visit

   On your first visit, a city selection prompt may appear (or is accessible via the city selector in the navigation). Choose Sydney or Melbourne.

2. City is Remembered

   Your city preference is saved as a cookie for 120 days. You won't be asked again on the same device.

3. Switch Cities

   To browse a different city, click the city name in the navigation bar and select the other city from the dropdown.

Browsing Venues

Explore venues through the main navigation categories: Eat, Drink, and Play.

How to Browse Venues

1. Choose a Category

   Click Eat, Drink, or Play in the main navigation.

2. Browse the Listing Page

   Venue cards are displayed in a grid. Each card shows the venue name, suburb, a photo, and a heart icon for saving.

3. Use Filters

   Use the filter bar to narrow results by Venue Type (e.g., Cocktail Bar), Occasion (e.g., Date Night), Vibe (e.g., Hidden Gem), or Suburb.

4. Click a Venue Card

   Click on any venue card to open the full venue detail page with all information, gallery, hours, and booking links.

Venue Detail Page

Each venue has a dedicated detail page with comprehensive information.

What's on a Venue Page

Section	Contents
Hero Banner	Image carousel (up to 10 photos) with venue name overlay
About	Editorial description, "Why We Love It" quote
Our Picks	Editorial recommendations for Eat / Drink / Play at the venue
Hours	Opening hours with live open/closed status indicator
Location	Address, suburb, Google Maps link
Contact	Phone number, website link
Social Links	Instagram, Facebook links
Book / Reserve	Reservation booking button (if available)
Offers	Any active promotional offers from the venue
Promo Code	Exclusive discount code (if available for members)
Share	Share the venue via social media or copy link
Save	Heart button to save to your Wishlist

Open / Closed Status

The venue hours section shows a real-time Open Now or Closed indicator based on your current time and the venue's opening hours. If closed, the next opening time is displayed.

Search & Filters

Using the Search

1. Click the Search Icon

   Click the search icon (🔍) in the main navigation or use the hero search bar on the homepage.

2. Type Your Query

   Start typing a venue name, suburb, cuisine type, or keyword. Results appear as you type.

3. Filter by Category

   Use the All / Eat / Drink / Play toggle to narrow results to a specific category.

4. Select a Result

   Click on a result to go directly to that venue or article page. If no exact match is found, the system shows trending results.

Surprise Me

You might love these

Surprise picks chosen just for you. We'll randomly select from our collection of guides, articles, and recommendations so you can discover something new. Each suggestion is carefully curated by our team to help you find hidden gems you might otherwise miss.

To try it, simply open our site and look for the Surprise Me button in the search filters. Click it anytime to instantly receive a random guide recommendation and uncover something new to explore.

What's On

The What's On section showcases curated events, experiences, and venues happening this week in your city.

Location: Main navigation → What's On

What You'll Find

• Featured Events - Ticketed experiences (dinners, tastings, shows)
• Highlighted Venues - Venues with special weekly features

Booking an Event

1. Find the Event

   Browse What's On or search for a specific event by name or date.

2. View Event Details

   Click the event card to see full details - description, date, time, price, location, and tickets remaining.

3. Book Now

   Click the Book button (or custom button text). You'll be redirected to the external booking or ticketing platform.

Wishlist

Save your favourite venues and events to your personal Wishlist using the ❤️ heart icon. Your Wishlist is accessible from your dashboard and the dedicated Wishlist page.

Saving a Venue or Event

1. Find the Heart Icon

   On any venue card or venue detail page, locate the ❤️ heart icon (usually in the top-right corner of the card, or in the venue hero area).

2. Click the Heart

   Click the heart icon. It will fill in (❤️ solid) to confirm the venue is saved. Click again to unsave.

3. View in Wishlist

   Go to your Dashboard → Saved tab or the dedicated Wishlist page to see all saved items.

Wishlist Tabs

On the Wishlist page, your saved items are organised into tabs:

Tab	Contents
All	All saved venues and events
Eat	Saved dining venues
Drink	Saved bar/drinks venues
Play	Saved entertainment venues
Events	Saved What's On events

Guides & Articles

EatDrinkPlay publishes curated editorial guides and articles to help you discover the best experiences in your city.

Location: Main navigation → Guides (or via the Secret Foodies, Essential Guides, Trending sections)

Guide Sections

Section	Contents
Essential Guides	In-depth curated lists - "Best Rooftop Bars", "Top 10 Brunches", etc.

Offers & Perks

As an EDP Reader member, you gain access to exclusive deals and member benefits.

Location: Main navigation → Offers / Perks

Types of Offers

• Promo Codes - Exclusive discount codes for member use at partner venues

Using an Offer

1. Find an Offer

   Browse the Offers page or check the Perks section. You can also find offers directly on venue detail pages.

2. Note the Promo Code

   If the offer has a promo code, copy or note it.

3. Redeem at the Venue

   Present your membership (show the page on your phone) or use the promo code at checkout at the venue's website. Terms and conditions apply.

Profile Settings

Manage your account details from your dashboard.

Location: Dashboard → Profile tab

Updating Your Name or Email

1. Go to Profile Tab

   Log in and navigate to your Dashboard. Click the Profile tab.

2. Edit Your Details

   Update your First Name, Last Name, or Email Address in the form fields.

3. Save Changes

   Click Save Changes. A confirmation message will appear.

Changing Your Password

1. Go to Profile Tab

   Log in and go to your Dashboard → Profile tab.

2. Enter New Password

   Find the password change section. Enter your current password, then your new password twice to confirm.

3. Save

   Click Update Password. You will remain logged in.

Access & Restrictions

As an EDP Reader, there are certain areas of the platform that are not accessible:

Area	Access	Alternative
WordPress Admin Panel	❌ No access	Use the front-end dashboard at /dashboard/
Create Venue Listings	❌ Requires Venue Lister account	Register as a Venue Lister
Edit Published Content	❌ Read-only	Contact support to report incorrect information
Other Users' Wishlists	❌ Private to each user	Share links to venues directly
Venue Lister Dashboard	❌ Separate account type	Register a separate Venue Lister account