Pub turns into soup kitchen to help city

The Crafty Scholar, in Church Street, was refurbished to the tune of £200,000 six months ago.

Like so many businesses it suffered from no power but with its fridges full of food ready to cook for Christmas parties general manager Adam Hulme took the decision to cook and serve it for free for those in need.

Adam drove to Blackburn, picking up gas cylinders and cooking facilities, torches and candles.

Within hours a temporary soup kitchen was up and running, with Adam and his team serving homemade soup, roast turkey sandwiches and tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

A sign outside the Crafty Scholar, welcoming in customers to eat and drink for free, led to queues of more than 100 people.

“We are one of the lucky ones as we have not suffered from flood damage, but many haven’t fared so well,” Adam said. “We had fridges packed with food when the storm hit and we didn’t want it to go to waste when so many people were homeless or without power.

“It’s at times like this community life is so important and we are just pleased we have been able to help by using temporary gas stoves to provide people with free food and hot drinks.

“We have been helping out too by warming babies bottles; in fact any way we can to make the situation easier for those around us.”