INDEPENDENT restaurants across Chester are joining forces to help feed the homeless during the coronavirus pandemic.

Every day a different restaurant – temporarily closed due to the crisis – will take it in turns to cook hot meals for the homeless support group, Soul Kitchen, to distribute.

The restaurants supporting the initiative are Sticky Walnut, Chef's Table, Joseph Benjamin, The Suburbs, Death by Tacos, Meltdown Chester and Covino.

Chef and owner of Sticky Walnut, Gary Usher, posted on Twitter: "Because of Soul Kitchen no homeless person in Chester through the coronavirus lockdown will go without a daily meal (if they don’t want to). 

"Every day Chester indies will take it in turn to cook for them. They will cook for them in their closed restaurants.

"Lots of you messaging about helping fund this. We will definitely need help if the government don’t act quick on grants for it. Things like the take away containers will be needed too."

Soul Kitchen in Chester said: "As a result of this fantastic initiative, many people have been offering financial support. If you would like to you can donate via the Soul Kitchen paypal account – soulkitchenchester@yahoo.com.‬

"‪But if you can't – no worries – just remember these awesome guys when we get to the other side."

Over the weekend, Gary Usher and Soul Kitchen helped feed 70 homeless people.

Soul Kitchen posted on Facebook on Saturday (March 28): "Thanks to Gary Usher at Sticky Walnut we were able to feed 70 people who are temporarily housed in hostels and a hotel tonight.

"Thank you to Hoptons Butchers in Hoole for the ingredients and to Soul Kitchen volunteer David for playing delivery boy."