Coronavirus: the positive hospitality industry moves
- From tomorrow (27 March) Wasabi will be gifting free Home Bento meals to 500 NHS staff in London every day until further notice. The meals, which can be kept in a fridge and microwaved, will be delivered by Wasabi from their west London kitchen at a time and place to suit each NHS worker (within a few days depending on demand). All requests should be sent to paul.hine@wasabi.uk.com from an NHS email account.
- A mystery man has bought his entire village fish and chips to bring the community together during the lockdown. The Fox Inn in Denchworth, Oxfordshire, will be delivering the meals and there are plans to do more in the coming weeks. Stephen Davidson, the pub’s owner, told the BBC the mystery buyer wanted to show “how important pubs are to village life” and hoped others would follow his lead.
- Speciality Drinks has partnered with Edrington-Beam Suntory UK to supply wellbeing packs to people working in the drinks and hospitality sectors. The packs contain essential food items and the first 1000 were made available on 25 March. There are plans to keep replenishing the stock to meet demand. All members of the industry who find themselves out of work or struggling to buy essentials can apply for a pack by providing their details online here.
- Spirits giant Bacardi has pledged to supply 1.1m litres of alcohol as a raw material to make hand sanitiser. Eight of its manufacturing sites across the world have joined the efforts, including its Bombay Sapphire gin distillery in Hampshire. The Laverstoke Mill site is producing a small quantity which will be donated to local doctors, chemists and care homes.
- The Oystermen restaurant in London’s Covent Garden has re-branded as a grocery store offering free delivery within a two-mile radius. It is offering fresh fish, meat and cupboard staples such as pasta, eggs and sourdough bread. Those further afield and workers on difficult shift patterns are encouraged to get in touch and the restaurant will work deliveries around them. The Oystermen are also keen to help anyone elderly or unwell who may struggle to get to the shops. vasb@blfgrezra.pb.hx
