Several Banbury area pubs convert to home delivery service during coronavirus outbreak

While most of the pubs and restaurants have closed their doors to customers they now offer much of the same cuisine but through a home delivery service.

The Pickled Ploughman pub in Adderbury offers people a pop-up shop along with its takeaway and delivery services.

The pop-up shop offers meat, dairy, bread, fresh fruit and vegetables and wine and beer.

Trevor Brown, the pub's owner, said: "We will also deliver both groceries and meals within a four mile radius (minimum order £20), but are encouraging people to collect when they can so that we can focus our very limited resource on those who are elderly or self-isolating.

"Finally we are delivering hot meals to those most in need free of charge, again within a four mile radius.

"We will keep doing all of this whilst the government allows us to. We may be at the edge of the village, but we will remain at the heart of the community."

Lenny's Cafe and Bar restaurant in Parsons Street, Banbury is offering a takeaway and home delivery service to the residents in Banbury town.

The new takeaway / delivery adjusted menu, listed on their website and Facebook pages, includes a variety of options from burgers to chilli chicken stripes called the The Doggies Dooda's.

Andy Leeming, who runs the bar and restaurant with his partner, Yvonne, said: "It's about providing a service to the community. It's about keeping our name out there as we are relatively new. We only opened in September."

The takeaway and delivery services from Lenny's Cafe and Bar restaurant will be offered from 12 to 8pm.

The services will be something that's constantly under review as things continue to change during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Horse & Groom Inn pub has also closed its doors to the public and has transformed itself to a home delivery style business.

The pub has posted its menu on it's website, and Facebook page. They offer free delivery to the villages of Milcombe, South Newington, Broughton,

Bloxham, Tadmarton, Swalcliffe, Barford, Milton and Hook Norton. There is a £5 charge for deliveries to Banbury and Bodicote, unless the order is £25 or more then it's free delivery.

It has already sold out of its chef's special for today (Tuesday March 24) chicken tikka masala. The daily special has now replaced by two Steve Betts' Cumberland Sausages with Yorkshire Pudding, Vegetables, Mash and Gravy.

The pub is also taking orders through the following email address: [email protected] and each email must include name, delivery address, phone number, requested time and any special delivery instructions.

Jim Tyler, the owner of the Horse and Groom Inn pub, said: "We're just trying to keep some cash going through the till, and keep a skeleton staff on at this difficult time."

The Fox at Farthinghoe pub is now also offering takeaway specials most days five out of seven days of the week. The pub also holds an outdoor shop called the 'The Fox Shop' where villagers can buy bread, milk, eggs, fruit, flour and other basic supplies.

A spokesperson for the pub said: "We thought what could we do going forward, not only to help ourselves but to help our community?

"To anyone self isolating or unable to get to us we are offing to deliver to them free of charge.

"This is a win win for us. It helps keep us occupied and also helps the village."

The Fox and Farthinghoe lists its daily specials on its Facebook page. On Monday they offer takeaway ready meals, Tuesday is takeaway burger night, Friday is takeaway fish and chips night, Saturday morning people can get takeaway bacan sandwiches, Saturday evening is takeaway curry night and Sunday they offer takeaway roast dinners.

The Malt Shovel pub in Gaydon is also offering a delivery service offering traditional pub fare with its menu options posted on its Facebook page. The Malt Shovel also offers beer deliveries too.

If there are any other pubs and or restaurants offering a service to the community feel free to let the Banbury Guardian know.