West Norfolk pubs pull in orders for takeaway and collection food and drink options
Some West Norfolk pubs forced to lockdown in March who have turned to offering food and drink delivery and collection services say the response has been overwhelming.
From beer collection to the delivery of Sunday roasts and fish and chips, the take-up has kept landlords and their staff busy.
At the Fox and Hounds in Heacham, Marie Bristow, who has been landlady there for 20 years, said orders had rolled in for their fish and chip meals on a Friday and Sunday roast dinners.
She said: "This is the first week we have tried it. We have been overwhelmed by the response. We will probably continue with it next week too. We will keep trying.
"I have been able to get meals out to some of my regulars, who always come here for their Sunday dinners. Some of them are senior citizens who cannot get out. We do traditional roasts with eight veg and also offer vegetarian and vegan options."
There is also a brewery on the pub's site in Station Road, and Marie and her husband, Mark have been working flat out bottling beer. People can put in orders for beer and collect from the car park observing social distancing rules.
At the Live and Let Live in Lynn's Windsor Road, landlady Rozi Woods, said they were doing a takeaway service on real ales and cider. The cider has been made in Wells.
She said: "When people come to collect, we make sure they are aware of the social distancing requirements and have put signs up to remind them."
She and her family are going to be taking part in the Stay at Home VE party on Friday. "I have plenty of bunting which I will be putting up outside houses and will be delivering teas of scones and cake.
"Some elderly people are self-isolating, so this is a way hopefully of keeping morale up and letting them feel they are taking part in something."
At The Winch in West Winch, landlord Rick Scholfield said they had been operating a meals takeaway or collection service for the last four weeks.
"The response has been fantastic. We are doing this service, seven days a week from noon to 10pm. We have not cut back on the quality of the food. It is exactly what you would expect to get eating in the pub.
"All the food is sent out in microwavable dishes, but usually they are still hot on arrival at the customer's address." The meals are delivered within an eight to ten mile radius of the Main Road pub.
The Fox and Hounds, Live and Let Live and The Winch can be contacted for orders over the phone or messaging on their Facebook pages.
This is the latest list of pubs thought to be offering some kind of service in West Norfolk, although it is subject to change: Live and Let Live, Lynn; Squirrel's Drey, Sporle; Red Lion, Swaffham; White Hart, Swaffham; Rose and Crown, Harpley; The Stag, West Acre; Dabbling Duck, Great Massingham; Red Lion, Hockwold; Windmill, Necton; Blackstone Engine Bar, Denver; Black Horse, Castle Rising; Foldgate Inn, Stradsett; The Winch, West Winch; Fox and Hounds, Heacham.
CAMRA's WhatPub pub guide has a special search option, that shows pubs offering takeaways or deliveries regionally.
