A pub landlord is offering meals for just 50p to help families in the cost of living crisis.
Chris Jones, 32, is serving cut-price meals after hearing heart-breaking stories from regular punters at his pub struggling to pay their utility bills and see their friends at the local.
Chris admitted the pub called the Ivor Hael Hotel in Llwynypia, South Wales, is just about breaking even – and is having to fork out more than ever for their own bills.
He said: ‘We are managing to get back to normal now after Covid and we can pay staff wages and keep the lights on, so we’re in a position where we can help people in the area.
Now the pub is offering spaghetti Bolognese, bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, sausage casserole and chicken curry from 50p to 80p for those with a voucher from the local food bank.
The cost-of-living crisis has hit almost every section of households’ finances in recent months as Britons battle to balance the books at home amid 9 per cent inflation, soaring energy costs and rising food prices.
A string of bill increases took place in April, including rises in council tax, a 1.25 percentage point national insurance increase to help pay for health and social care, and a rise in the energy price cap to a £1,971 average.
The typical cost of filling up the car has also jumped to record levels, just as many people are spending more time heading to and from the office after the pandemic lockdowns, with a full tank of now at about £94.
Chris said: ”Last week one of the regulars came into the pub and they began explaining to one of the staff how they were really struggling.
‘We gave them some free food and began talking about it.
More and more people have come in saying similar things.
‘We could never commit to doing it for free but we knew we wanted to do something that could make a difference.’
He said they would be served frozen for people to take home with them.
‘It was the least we could do,’ Chris said.
‘I saw something the other day about a friend’s electricity bill going from £90 a month to £300.
‘I see it on Facebook all the time.
I know one woman who is literally selling her clothes to pay for her kids to eat.
‘It’s crazy.
‘We shouldn’t forget that we couldn’t do this unless we were busy too. The fact that our customers have always supported us and we’re busy makes it possible for us to do things like this.’
Millions of households will receive a £400 discount off their energy bills after Rishi Sunak moved to counter the soaring cost of living.
The Chancellor unveiled the emergency measures yesterday as part of a £15billion package to tackle the impact of soaring inflation, which has reached a 40-year high.
As well as the universal payment there was targeted support for the poorest, the elderly and the disabled – and a £5billion tax will be levied on oil and gas giants.
However, the plans have been criticised by some struggling families who say they ‘need a long-term plan from the Government’ amid concerns the new pay outs are ‘only scratching the surface’.