Coronavirus: Award winning Sussex pub transforms itself into community shop overnight in a bid to beat the pandemic

A busy Sussex pub has re-invented itself as a grocery and community food store in a bid to beat the coronavirus pandemic.
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A busy Sussex pub has re-invented itself as a grocery and community food store in a bid to beat the coronavirus pandemic.

The award winning Crown in Hastings Old Town reacted as soon as Prime Minister Boris Johnson advices people not to go to pubs.

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The decision was made on Tuesday last week and the shop was up and running by Wednesday.

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Essentially the All Saints Street pub has been divided into two with half of the building still acting as a traditional pub and selling beer to customers, with a limited menu. The Snug bar has been converted to a shop.

Landlady Tess Swan explained, on Tuesday: “I have 25 staff to think about and had to react quickly and adapt to the changing situation. A few days before everything was as normal, but it changed very quickly. We have been doing everything we can to keep people safe.”

The shop contains a selection of essentials, including fresh vegetables, tinned items pasta, eggs and milk.

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Award winning baker Emmanuel Hadjiandreou will be baking fresh bread on a regular basis to offer in the shop. Cooks at the Crown will also be baking pies and other goods to offer for sale.

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They have also started to deliver to people in the area.

The crown was still relatively busy after the PM’s announcement, with regulars and locals rallying around to support it.