Pubs provide lockdown meals to those struggling

South west London pub the Hunter’s Moon has lent the venue’s kitchen and team of chefs to support an initiative to provide meals for key workers and the vulnerable. 

The Chelsea pub has offered its services to Family Meal, a charity which provides food to NHS staff, essential workers and disadvantaged members of society.

Chef director Oliver Marlowe and director Hubert Beatson-Hird are prepared for the pub to provide more than 1,000 meals a day to those in need.

No brainer

Beatson Hird said: “When we were approached by Family Meal to provide the Hunter’s Moon as its base for this lockdown, it was a no brainer for us. While we can’t welcome customers in, the least we can do is support the NHS and the disadvantaged, and this is our way of giving a little back. It’s great to have Oliver back in the kitchen with his team and to be supporting the incredible work Family Meal does.”

Charity co-founder, Christopher Evans-Gordon said the pub’s cooperation meant the charity could “scale-up” its production and delivery of cooked meals to those in need.

“Oliver and Hubert have been incredibly generous with their time, team and space, as have our army of volunteers and many monetary donors such as Glen Point Capital amongst others,” Evans-Gordon added.

Pubs across the country have been helping their communities tackle food poverty in lockdown, from helping families by providing children with ready-made lunches to setting up food banks.

The Horse and Jockey pub in Melling, Merseyside, has set up a food bank with the help of around 20 local volunteers.

Big thanks to Darren and the guys at maccies aintree. The team have been collecting for our food bank and dropped of 8 cases of food that will go straight out this week to people who need a little help. ☺️ #bossbehaviorpic.twitter.com/9Iriq6xNrD

— Horse and Jockey Pub, Melling (@HorseJockeyMel) January 17, 2021

Chef operator Adam Franklin told The Morning Advertiser​ the pub intended to “ramp up” its volunteering efforts in the third lockdown.

While the pub had focused most of its volunteering efforts on those shielding in the first lockdown, Franklin said the pub was seeking to help a different group of people  in dire need this time.

Job losses and school closures have hit communities hard up and down the country. 

“It’s tough out there,” Franklin said.

“We have got the biggest kitchen in Melling so we’ll put it to use as we wait to rejoin the world.”