In the midst of the greatest threat to individual liberty – not to mention health and livelihood – that most of us have experienced in our lives, it is a sad inevitability that the hospitality industry has taken the first economic hit. What we don’t know at the moment is if this is a recoverable, if irritating, situation that can be overcome with patience, good humour and forbearance, or if it spells the end of many of the interesting drinking and dining options that we have in this country.
Yet there is something that individuals can do to support their local restaurant rather than simply writing posts of solidarity on social media (and those help, too). A surprisingly and hearteningly large number have converted themselves into temporary takeaways, with many also offering home delivery.
It has now become something of a civic duty to support your local restaurant or pub in these straitened and deeply unsettling times.
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