Coronavirus: the positive hospitality industry moves

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A regular round-up of the positive action the hospitality industry is taking to fight back

- Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen in London’s Hackney is being turned into a community kitchen for Hackney Wick and Bow for the next three months, but it’s asking for help to fund the operation. As such, the team has launched a crowdfund campaign on Crowdfunder, aiming to raise just under £15,000. The money raised will help with the supply and delivery of hot meals and mini-well being kits to vulnerable people in the local community, as well as help support the business as it tries to navigate the Coronavirus crisis. For more details, click here.

- Industry-facing music curators C-BURN MUSIC is launching a series of initiatives to help support hospitality venues, whether they are C-BURN MUSIC client or not. The C-BURN team will be offering all hospitality venues the opportunity to request a bespoke playlist for their brand to share with their customers, to help them stay connected while their doors are closed. They will also be launching a 14 day ‘#ROCKTHELOCKDOWN’ series of playlists, covering a range of themes to help anyone working from home or in self-isolation.

- UK distilleries across the country are joining forces to support the ´Spirit of Britain´ campaign by refocusing production lines to produce hand sanitiser. Hundreds of bottles have already been delivered into the precious hands of healthcare providers, care homes, police officers, and elderly residents by craft distilleries up and down the country. It is anticipated that through collective efforts another 136,592 litres will be made available in the coming days. Large, micro and craft distilleries alike including Leith Spirit, Conker Spirit, Cotswolds Distillery, and Psychopomp are switching resources to help combat the hand sanitiser shortage in the UK caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

- Plant-based meat company THIS has teamed up with London-based charity City Harvest to donate over a tonne of its vegan products. The business is also donating products to Made in Hackney, to support those in need of food during these uncertain times. Both foundations distribute their food supplies to chefs who then cook it and provide meals to members of society who need it most. "Right now, more than ever, we need to support the hospitality industry,” says THIS co-founder Andy Shovel. “So we're doing everything we can to support food charities and to keep people fed and remain positive.”

- Camden Town Brewery has launched a virtual pub, The Camden Bre.www.ery Bar, in partnership with industry charity Hospitality Action. The interactive space is designed for lager lovers looking to enjoy an IRL pint in a URL venue. As part of the scheme Camden Town Brewery has set up a ‘digital tip jar’ through JustGiving to raise money for Hospitality Action’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund, which offers one-off grants to eligible workers suddenly facing hardship in the hospitality sector as a result of the Coronavirus crisis.