Restaurant keeps on cooking through the crisis

A West Yorkshire restaurant is bucking the COVID-19 downturn, despite the hospitality sector being cast into crisis by the pandemic.

Punch Bar & Tapas has served almost 3,000 meals and seen engagement on its social media channels mushroom over the last five weeks.

The business, which is in Honley, near Huddersfield, adapted its operations in anticipation of the Government’s stringent lockdown measures.

The restaurant launched its NHS Menu initiative to offer free meals for doctors, nurses and NHS staff to enjoy with their families, as a treat after a long shift.

Over 500 meals a week have been served since mid-March and most of the dates are sold out until June.

Punch Bar & Tapas’ social media channels have also been boosted by the initiative, which was launched following an initial donation of £20,000 from Honley residents, Ian and Jill Swire.

Through a crowdfunder, members of the public have so far donated an additional £7,500 which has enabled the team to add an extra day of meals a week for the next two months.

Co-owners and chefs Wayne Roddis and Richard Dunn have now launched Saturday night takeaways for members of the public – partnering with sister bar KRAFTY to offer one-litre bottles of draught craft beers for customers to enjoy at home.

Roddis said: “Following the Covid-19 restaurant closures in France and Spain in early March, we could see it was likely to happen in UK as well.

“We partnered Jill and Ian to come up with the NHS menu and takeaway idea and the response since has been incredible.

“We’ve been really busy and it’s keeping the business ticking over through this challenging period. And it means we won’t have a standing start when the lockdown is lifted.”

The fundraiser currently stands at £7,514. A donation of £10 provides a meal for an NHS worker and their family: www.gofundme.com/f/9yrd84-nhs-menu-punch-bar-amp-tapas

With the chefs locally-sourcing their menu ingredients, Yorkshire-based food suppliers are also benefiting from Punch’s activities – including Atkinsons Butchers in Holmfirth; Roger’s Bakery in Marsden; CJ Fresh Foods in Honley; Birkby Cheese Company in Huddersfield; and J Wilson Fruit and Veg in Huddersfield.

NHS staff are invited to complete an online registration form to receive a link to make their menu selection, on a first-come-first-served basis. The family meals serve up to four people.

The restaurant is ensuring no food goes to waste by providing Honley Volunteers group and the NLCC Foodbank in Thongsbridge with any excess meals to distribute amongst vulnerable people.

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