Pub landlord to open online food shop from two of his closed country pubs

WITH a ‘nightmare’ burst water pipe and Covid-19 restrictions keeping two of his pubs closed, a pub landlord is launching a ready-meal shop from his closed venues to overcome adversity.

By Richard Lemmer

Published 8th Dec 2020, 12:42 BST

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Pub owner Giles Babb has taken over the Southsea venue The Greenwich and is due to open this week. As well as the new venture, he will be running an online shop at his two other pubs – The Blue Bell in Emsworth and The Star and Garter in East Dean early next week.

The two pubs will be offering frozen and fresh ready meals, including chilli con carne, cottage pie, and vegetarian pumpkin and goats cheese lasagne, available via collection or a 10-mile delivery service.

Giles said: ‘It’s all local produce – we’re using Goodwood Home Farm, MR Starr butchers in Emsworth, and Richard Foot, a farmer in Chidham.

Giles Babb, owner of the Start and Garter, East Dean, and The Blue Bell, in Emsworth.

Giles Babb, owner of the Start and Garter, East Dean, and The Blue Bell, in Emsworth.

‘We’re also getting fish from Fresh From The Boat in Emsworth.’

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The Blue Bell remains closed due to a burst water pipe, while the decision to keep The Star and Garter shut was ‘extremely tough’, according to the landlord, with more than 30 members of staff across both venues placed on furlough.

Addressing social distancing and household bubble restrictions, Giles said: ‘We’ve chosen not to open the Star and Garter because we’d go from a 40-seater restaurant to a 12-seater restaurant.

The Star & Garter and The Blue Bell will be offering fresh and frozen ready meals for delivery as of next week.

The Star & Garter and The Blue Bell will be offering fresh and frozen ready meals for delivery as of next week.

‘The biggest problem for me is the government has been very contradictory.

‘Now you can go to Fratton Park with 2,000 people and have a pint at half time, but you can’t have a drink in a pub.

‘And a lot of businesses were relying on the Job Retention Bonus of £1,000 per employee – this has been withdrawn by the chancellor and sort of forgotten about.

‘It’s a bitter pill to swallow.’

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It comes as The News continues its #SupportLocal campaign to encourage support for local businesses, with the hospitality sector taking the brunt of economic damage caused by Covid-19 restrictions.

Giles added: ‘It’s testament to how good a business we were before the lockdown for us to afford to stay closed.

‘But we don’t know how long we will be able to afford to stay closed.

‘I’m probably going to have two businesses that will run at a loss this year – and that will be difficult going forward.’

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Southsea Emsworth