#EatLocal #SupportLocal

Now we're easing out of lockdown, we can see a bright light through that gloomy tunnel, and I'm excited!

Businesses are keen to get back to some normality, but the hospitality rules have changed. Now we have limited outdoor seating areas, distancing at bars, face masks, and polite smiles from a distance. These changes represent high costs to businesses. While a national chain may better absorb these, they have a considerable impact on the bottom line for smaller independents.

Your local pubs, restaurants, and cafés support your community and keep it healthy not just through local employment but also by supporting local businesses from butchers, bakeries, florists, local wholesalers, and many more. As we get back to business, choosing to support your local establishments gives a much-needed lifeline so #EatLocal and #SupportLocal where you can.

In my area, we have a mix of independent pubs and restaurants that have opened their doors to outdoor drinking and eating, but of course, the rules have changed, and we now have to book ahead. On one of our Saturday walks with the dogs, we had an impromptu diversion to our local. It looked packed, so we weren't expecting to get a table. However, they had gone from being fully booked to having three no-shows for two 4's and a table of six.

They had managed to fill one of the 4's, and then there was us, but as we were only there for drinks, they had effectively lost three tables of eaters.

We all know that circumstances change, but please let the venue know if you can't make it so they can release your booking. Not only is it polite, but it will enable them to try and fill the space, arrange stock and staffing and help with their much-needed cash flow.

On a positive note, all the outdoor areas are busy as escaping cabin fever has driven us into open spaces and pub gardens benefit. I cannot wait for May 17 when we can sit indoors. I have a compilation of local eateries on my hit list and already have two venues booked that are within walking distance from our home. One is our local Indian with friends and a special birthday family meal with our favourite Italian.

#EatLocal, #SupportLocal and spread the word how great your experience was. Our community businesses need us more than ever.

June 21st = Freeeeeedom!

Contributed by Paul Hunt, Development Chef, food stylist and chef trainer with 40 years of experience working in the UK and Europe