Earls Barton landlord launches Pub-in-a-Box to fund free stews for village's most isolated residents

The Old Swan has launched its Pub-in-a-Box to fund a weekly free stew night for the village's most isolated residents.

There's no chance of a trip to the pub nowadays - so a Northamptonshire landlord is bringing the pub to his customers.

Landlord Paul Dexter has launched a new direct-to-door treat from The Old Swan pub in Earls Barton to help keep Northamptonshire's spirits high during the lockdown.

The Swan's Pub-in-a-Box can be delivered straight to the door and brings all the fun of a night down the local - namely with a mix & match of four drinks and five pub-favorite snacks like nuts and pork scratchings.

The Pub-in-a-Box - four drinks and some pub favourite snacks delivered to your door.

But at the heart of the doorstep treat is a plan to look out for his village's most isolated and vulnerable residents so they aren't left alone during the lockdown.

Pete Dexter said: "Since the lockdown, we've been delivering stew to vulnerable and elderly residents in the village every Wednesday night.

"We're delivering to two-or-three hundred each week now.

"We've had families from half the country calling and asking us to deliver some stew to check in on their elderly mum in the village and bring her some stew because they're all on their own in the lockdown.

For more information, call 01604 810044.

"Some of the calls are heartbreaking. Now, if we deliver to someone and we don't hear from them in a while we ring them and check in on them too.

"If we look after your locals, they'll look after us when the pubs open again.

"We get fresh bread free from the Co-Op and we've got three chefs who take in turns to make the stew. Now all we need is a bit of help to fund it."

The heartwarming plan to reach out to Northampton's most isolated and vulnerable residents is now being funded by the Pub-in-the-Box scheme.

The Old Swan has been delivering free stew and bread to Earls Barton's most isolated and vulnerable residents.

Every box sold means The Old Swan can deliver more and more meals to the town's residents each Wednesday night.

Pete said: "The Pub-in-a-Box is just our way of funding it. We're happy to deliver it for free to your door.

"We've had calls a parent asking to drop one off at their son's house for his birthday with a card, or by friends who haven't seen each other in a while."

The Pub-in-a-Box costs £20 and features a Mix & Match of four ales, lagers, cocktails, ciders, G&Ts and Jack Daniels with coke - or alternatively you can send a bottle of wine or prosecco. Each box also comes with two bags of crisps, two bags or nuts, a bag of pork scratchings and four limited-edition Old Swan beer mats.

Orders are by card order over the phone with receipt on delivery. For more information or to order, call The Old Swan on 01604 810044 seven days a week.