A CHEF at a Chester pub has been doing his bit to help key workers and vulnerable residents during the coronavirus crisis – by supplying them with hundreds of home-cooked meals.
Phil Jones, who works at the Rake & Pikel in Huntington, decided to combine his love for cooking with a desire to help those who need it most after being placed on furlough.
In the past three weeks, the 40-year-old from Saltney has provided more than 300 people – including NHS staff, police officers and elderly people – with a variety of tasty dishes, from corned beef hash and curries to pastries and beef stew and dumplings.
Last week he launched an online fundraising page to cover food and travel costs, which has already raised nearly £900. Any money eventually left over will be donated to the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Phil, who used to work at the Queen's Head pub, has borrowed two fridges to store all of his ingredients, used a table in his living room as a conveyor belt, and got his partner Jill Boosie to help with deliveries.
He said: "The Friday we were told the pub had to shut I cried myself to sleep. Never have I experienced that before – it was heartbreaking.
"I absolutely love cooking so I got my thinking cap on about what I could do. I started posting on some Facebook community groups to see if anyone was struggling and needed some meals.
"It's just got bigger and bigger since then. I've had referrals from Huntington parish council to provide food for vulnerable people there. They've been sending volunteers to collect the food.
"Yesterday councillor Matt Bryan got in touch. There was a lady in need in Boughton so I provided some home cooked meals.
"Today I've delivered some pastries to staff at the Countess and they absolutely loved them.
"I'm not doing this for a Blue Peter badge. I'm enjoying feeding people because I love cooking. I will keep doing this for as long as I'm needed."
To donate to Phil's GoFundMe page click here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here