Restaurants take urgent steps as UK locks down

Restaurants have started to take urgent steps following Boris Johnson’s decision to tighten restrictions yesterday in an effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Though takeaway and delivery services were still allowed to operate, the Prime Minister did urge the nation not to go “shopping except for essentials like food and medicine” and to “use food delivery services where you can”.

In response, some restaurants made the tough decision of either ceasing operations altogether or restricting to deliveries only in an effort to encourage customers to stay at home.

Nando’s, which caters for Halal across 76 of its 434 restaurants, decided over the weekend to close all its branches across the UK and Ireland.

The chicken chain announced on its website that “to help limit the spread of Covid-19” and to assure the “the safety and security of our customers and team… eat in, takeaway and delivery for customers will all stop until further notice”.

Sheesh in Chigwell, which had been encouraging NHS staff to collect free food parcels from its premises since last Friday, made a u-turn yesterday declaring that “due to health & safety factors” it would now be “delivering 1000 meals a day” to hospital staff in the area.

Turquoise Grill in Essex said that it too would be “closing our doors completely until further notice as advised by the UK Government and for the safety of our community of customers and colleagues”.

Describing the decision as “heart breaking”, the restaurant added: “We urge everyone to keep safe, healthy and self isolate so we all can get through this together.”

Other restaurants however continue to provide collection and delivery services including McDonald’s-inspired Bims in East London’s Walthamstow.

Posting on Instagram, the fast food joint said that it saw McDonald’s decision on Monday to close all branches across the UK as a “glass half full” opportunity adding: “Now you have an excuse to try Bims. We’ll keep taking care of your burger needs. Takeaway and delivery via Uber Eats available.”