Coronavirus: Cosham and Knowle restaurant owner funds 100 food bags every other day to help homeless through lockdown

A RESTAURANT forced to close in lockdown has turned its hand once again to helping its community by providing food bags for the homeless.
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Eighteen days before the first lockdown George Madgwick opened his first restaurant in Cosham before he was forced to shut the doors and his team spent the next few months making meals for the vulnerable and those in need.

Eighteen days before the second lockdown, he had a soft opening of his second restaurant in Knowle, on the site of the former Clifford Brown’s Brasserie.

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Now with both restaurants having to shut due to government guidelines, George and his team have stepped up again and are providing 100 lunch bags every other day for the homeless as well as grocery delivery services.

George Madgwick and his team at The Wicks in Cosham and Knowle are providing food bags to the homelessGeorge Madgwick and his team at The Wicks in Cosham and Knowle are providing food bags to the homeless
George Madgwick and his team at The Wicks in Cosham and Knowle are providing food bags to the homeless
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George said: ‘Obviously it is frustrating that we have had to close again but now we get to give back again to our community and help those who need it most during this time because there is a lack of support at a government and council level for the homeless.

‘We are working with councils and small charities to identify those who need the help and my delivery drivers are volunteering during the day to get the bags out to those who need it. This time as we have branched out with the business, we have also branched out with our help and we are covering Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport and Winchester.’

The 31-year-old from Portsmouth had hoped for a big bash to celebrate the opening of The Wicks Bar and Grill in Knowle, which will also feature in a TV series on the W Channel, but is unsure restrictions will lift on December 2 to allow the hospitality industry to reopen.

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He said: ‘We managed to have a soft opening with the locals and also have a few days filming before we had to close which was good.

‘But I think that, after speaking to other people in the industry, it may not be December 2 that we will be allowed to open because the furlough scheme has been guaranteed for much longer than that and it has raised some eyebrows.

‘It may be that we will be allowed to open for the Christmas and New Year week but we have two plans ready for whatever will happen.’

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