Devon restaurant making more dinners but less money this Valentine's Day
For romantics looking to celebrate Valentine's Day during lockdown, there has been little choice this year but to make 'staying in' the new 'going out' .
This weekend would normally be one of the busiest of the year for West Country restaurants but with lockdown meaning they're unable to open, many have transformed their menus to serve takeaways.
One of the unexpected benefits of transferring to takeaway menus has been that eateries are no longer restricted by the size of their restaurant.
Owner and Head Chef of The First and Last Bistro in Ermington, Andrew Savery, told ITV News that whereas in a normal year, on Valentine's weekend, he'd serve between twenty and thirty covers, this year he served more than seventy covers.
Mr Savery said that Valentine's Day is always one of the busiest weekends of the year for his Bistro and that he's now already taking takeaway bookings for Mothers Day.
"We jumped, as soon as we were told to lockdown, we got ourselves a take away menu, we have done ok with takeaway, I wouldn't say it's making us money, it's reducing our losses more than anything but it keeps us busy."
Despite MPs pushing for a 'roadmap' out of lockdown, the Government still has not indicated when pubs and restaurants may be able to fully reopen.
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