Portsmouth takeaway offers free food to the homeless​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ during coronavirus pandemic

A COPNOR takeaway is offering free food for people who are homeless during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Copnor Grill, in Tangier Road, is making the generous offer after staff saw an increase of homelessness in the area.

Chef Ibrahim Ulucan, whose brother-in-law Mehmet Benli owns the business, said: 'In Turkey, it’s normal to help the homeless like this.

‘In these times of coronavirus, we wanted to help.

Ibrahim Ulucan with a kebab at Copnor Grill, Portsmouth.
Picture: Habibur RahmanIbrahim Ulucan with a kebab at Copnor Grill, Portsmouth.
Picture: Habibur Rahman
Ibrahim Ulucan with a kebab at Copnor Grill, Portsmouth. Picture: Habibur Rahman

‘We know a lot of the homeless people around here.

‘They don’t ask for a lot of food.’

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So far, more than 30 homeless people have taken advantage of the offer.

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Chef Ibrahim Ulucan outside Copnor Grill, Portsmouth. Picture: Habibur RahmanChef Ibrahim Ulucan outside Copnor Grill, Portsmouth. Picture: Habibur Rahman
Chef Ibrahim Ulucan outside Copnor Grill, Portsmouth. Picture: Habibur Rahman

The restaurant plans to extend the charity at least once a week, advertised via its Facebook page.

Ibrahim added: ‘We want to keep it going.

‘Maybe the council could tell us where we could donate food.

‘It feels good to be helping people.’

Copnor Grill is open for takeaway orders from 3pm to 10pm, with deliveries available until 11,30pm.

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