Pubs go that extra mile in lockdown

A number of Dorset-based Hall & Woodhouse Business Partner (tenanted) pubs have adapted their usual service to support the local community during the lockdown.

They include The Cock & Bottle in Morden and The Inn at Cranborne.

The Cock & Bottle is operating a popup shop from Monday to Saturday from 10am-12 noon.

Locals can phone ahead and order fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, dry goods and frozen food. Shoppers are given an allocated pick-up slot to collect their purchases, limiting the number of people in the shop to two at a time.

Paul Solway, owner of The Cock & Bottle, said, “There are many vulnerable people in the community who are unable to go out to the larger supermarkets. Through our usual suppliers, we are able to order the basic essentials with a 24-hour turnaround, so we wanted to extend this facility to the whole village as it felt like the right thing to do.”

At The Inn at Cranborne, free meals are being offered to NHS workers and their families every Sunday; currently this can range from 30 to 40 roast dinners a week. A temporary takeaway service is also available seven days a week for lunch and dinner. The pub is also offering locals the opportunity to order fresh fruit, vegetables, bread and milk.

The Inn at Cranborne

Matt Clark, owner of the Inn at Cranborne, explained, “We are doing our best to help our community, which has been reflected in the fair pricing of our takeaway options. The team at The Inn wants to bring a bit of cheer and support to our locals in these difficult times, so it’s great to be able to help people enjoy their favourite home-cooked dishes in the comfort of their own home.

“In addition, we are using this ‘downtime’ to deep clean and revamp our premises by creating a new outdoor kitchen and repainting the whole interior so that when we are given the go ahead by the Government to re-open our doors, we’ll be able to welcome everyone back to a great, fresh-looking pub.”

Takeaway orders for The Inn at Cranborne are received over the phone. Customers are then given an allocated pick-up slot to ensure they practise social distancing. If people wish to remain in their cars, team members are able to place their orders directly into the car boot.

Chris Chapman, head of Business Partnerships at Hall & Woodhouse, added, “It is great to see so many of our Business Partners supporting their local communities, especially the most vulnerable people during these difficult times. It is only by all of us working and supporting one another that we will come through this. That is why at Hall & Woodhouse we are committed to providing our Business Partners with the financial support and advice needed to help them through this period of uncertainty.”

Up to date information on delivery services, takeaway menus and grocery services are available on each pub’s Facebook pages or websites, or by telephoning the pub in question.

Hall & Woodhouse has confirmed its support of its Business Partner estate by cancelling all rent and service charges and suspending loan repayments for eight weeks from Sunday 22 March.