Model and Sussex village publican Jodie Kidd speaks out on hospitality trade hit by virus lockdown

Supermodel and Sussex village publican Jodie Kidd has spoken out about her hopes for the future of Britain’s pubs and restaurants following the coronavirus outbreak.
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Jodie, along with every other pub landlord in the country, was forced to shut her pub - the Half Moon at Kirdford - at the start of lockdown in March.

But she has now launched a local takeaway meal service and is full of hope for the future.

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“There will certainly be a large number of pubs and restaurants that won’t survive this,” she said.

Jodie KiddJodie Kidd
Jodie Kidd

“The industry is so incredibly tricky. We were losing three pubs a day before the crisis.

“It’s going to be very tough times but we are going to get through this. We are doing everything in our power to make sure we get through it.

“I can’t wait for the day for us to open up our doors. There will be a few tears.”

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Meanwhile, she paid tribute to all the local village shops and food suppliers in Kirdford, Loxwood and Plaistow. “They have gone above and beyond to help people. There is a huge sense of support.”

Jodie pictured with some of her staff when the Half Moon opened in 2017Jodie pictured with some of her staff when the Half Moon opened in 2017
Jodie pictured with some of her staff when the Half Moon opened in 2017

The Half Moon itself is now providing a weekend takeaway service with Friday and Saturday dinners, along with Saturday teas, and Sunday roasts. Jodie is also now planning to introduce ‘curry night’ takeways.

“The support from the locals has been wonderful,” said Jodie, “and many said ‘we have been waiting for this’. But the most important thing is I want to support local producers.

“The whole reason we got The Moon is for the community. Now we have to start thinking in a different way now we can support everyone. Now is a time to get all our heads together.”

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Meanwhile, she admitted that while in lockdown with her family, food has become the focus of the day. Former TV Masterchef star, Jodie lives with partner Joe Bates, son Indio, eight, and 90-year-old Rachel Carpenter, her grandmother’s best friend, “who brought me up and taught four generations of the Kidd family to ride.”