How to Help Your Favourite London Restaurants — Right Now
Now is the time to support the restaurants you love. Nearly every small business is feeling the shockwaves of the coronavirus pandemic — coffee shops, bars, brasseries, upmarket destinations, bakeries, breweries. Restaurants have always been there for you; it’s now time to rally for them. Here are some ways to do that.
Check in on your favourite restaurants directly.
Each business is different, so make the effort to see how they are asking for help. That could mean calling directly, or simply checking a website or Instagram account, or even sliding into their DMs. (For example, an increasing number of restaurants are transitioning to delivery or selling restaurant bonds to mitigate concerns around immediate cash flow, a fluid situation that’s constantly changing for most — which is why it’s often best to go straight to the source.)
Make donations.
- Hospitality Action – Hospitality Action’s COVID-19 Emergency Appeal was created specifically for restaurant and bar workers facing sudden hardship and unemployment due to the current crisis.
- City Harvest – City Harvest takes excess produce from restaurants and redistributes it to the elderly and at-risk groups.
- London Restaurant Cooperative – Donate meals to charitable destinations of your choosing (including any UCL hospital and St. Martin-in-the-Fields homeless charity), all prepared by recently laid-off restaurant staff.
- Lina Stores – Lina Stores’ fundraiser was set up to feed those most in need, from high risk individuals to hospitality workers facing sudden hardship.
- Berber & You – Berber & Q’s fund was set up to provide uplifting and nutritious meals for NHS workers battling COVID-19 in local hospitals.
- Mildreds – Vegetarian institution Mildred’s has set up a fund that aims to provide 400 meals per week to four major London hospitals.
- Angelina – Created in conjunction with charity Made in Hackney, this fund was set up to provide 300 meals a day to the most vulnerable of Hackney’s residents.
Order takeaway and delivery.
Many restaurants across the city are trying to stay open with new delivery and takeaway services. It’s unknown how long this forced experiment will be sustainable, but in the short-term, many are hoping it can keep the lights on.
We’ve compiled a map-based list of Resy restaurants in London that have shifted to takeout and delivery options.
Resy Guide to Takeaway and Delivery in London
Find other ways to give restaurants money.
Gift certificates: Many restaurants are offering some type of gift certificates via various platforms. Here are a few of our favourites.
- Native
- Leroy
- Fallow
- Cornerstone
- Trullo
- Ikoyi
- Darby’s
- Perilla
- Sam’s Riverside
- Mei Mei
- Bleecker
- Hawksmoor
Products and Merchandise: If your favourite restaurant sells t-shirts or pantry items like hot sauce or jams, chances are you can buy them now.
- Ikoyi
- Monty’s Deli
- Yard Sale Pizza
- Bodega Rita’s
- Patty & Bun
- Grind
- Bao
- St. John
- Voodoo Ray’s
- Pastaio
- Wine & Rind
- CookDaily
- Sweet Chick
- Made of Dough
- Noble Rot
This story will be updated. Please let us know any further suggestions.
