HERE in Somerset, so many people are doing a wonderful job of helping those in need and lifting everyone’s spirits during difficult time.

One of the ways our restaurants and café’s are helping is by offering a takeaway and delivery service to people in the local community.

Together The Mango Tree and Granny Smiths are planning to make fresh soup every day to give to people who need it the most.

And at Oake Manor, they are offering fruit and veg boxes for people to collect or have delivered, as well as a takeaway menu too.

There are so many places in Somerset that are providing food, so we spoke to a few to find out exactly what they are offering.

Somerset County Gazette:

The Farmers Arms in Coombe Florey are opened as a takeaway/delivery service yesterday (March 25).

Tim Young said: “Closing is the sensible thing to do - I don’t want to catch this. The London hospitals are on verge of being overwhelmed already.

“We are making fresh bread every day for the village and fridge/freezer meals. We have also offered to get the daily groceries (through Bidfood and Philip Denis where we can) and let people collect from the pub car park rather than risk the supermarket.

“We are going to be using the wood fired oven for takeaway pizzas and tapas mainly and we will be offering a kids menu.”

Laura Magee, at The Anchor Inn, said: “Our takeaway menu includes gluten free and vegan dishes.

“We have sourced recyclable and compostable takeout packaging too. For people who are self-isolating, but happy to still drive, we are taking it to their cars in the car park.

“We are also delivering to all our Hillfarrance village residents who are self-isolating.

“Customers have been so supportive. The majority of food served at the Anchor since Monday has been via takeaways with people travelling a far distance to collect.”

The Rising Sun in West Bagborough are offering a takeaway service, as well as basic food provisions such as eggs, homemade bread, sausages, bacon and toilet rolls.

They will also be taking payments over the phone to prevent customers having to pay by cash.

Somerset County Gazette:

Linda Hendrie, owner of The Exmoor White Horse Inn, said: “We are looking after our community now. There are so many elderly people here who struggle getting the basics.

“We can order anything from cheese and flour to loo rolls from our suppliers.

“By using our suppliers, we help them stay afloat in these times when so many big hotels are closing.”

They have introduced a local delivery service for takeaway meals from 11am until 9pm and will help anyone who is struggling to source food or supplies.

Linda added: “We always put the safety of our guests and staff first and with this in mind, we feel that it’s important to assure you of the stringent procedures we have in place, to help protect our guests and staff during this time.

“Our advice is the same as most companies in that people who have been in contact with those infected or have recently been to high risk areas should self-isolate for two weeks and not run the risk of infecting others.”

The Little Wine Shop & Social’s wine shop and delicatessen is open, serving wines, cheeses, salamis, cured meats, olives, humus and even cremes brûlées. They will also provide free home deliveries in and around Taunton (within 15 miles).

The Chapel in Cotford St Luke are opening their kitchen from 5pm for takeaways and are offering bags of sweets from FizzyWhizzyWoo from £1.50 each.

The Mango Tree in Taunton are also serving takeaways between 12pm and 3pm each day and Eat the Bird will be doing the same via Uber Eats and Deliveroo.

Dan Aldridge, owner of Eat the Bird, said: “Food delivery is an essential supply chain and supermarkets can be a risky place to go to.

“Food delivery is a safe option – you don’t have to eat pasta for fourth day in a row! We are keeping a delivery option going for the community and all they have to do is download an app to get food delivered.

“Chef’s have been practicing self-isolation for years, because of unsociable hours, we never socialise anyway.

“Keeping people safe and reducing risk of food contamination is something we have to do every day. You can trust us.”

There are so many more places that are delivering food, or starting to, in and around Taunton and West Somerset. So if you are struggling why not give them a call?

READ MORE: list of places in and around Taunton that offer deliveries

But remember to stay safe, stay well and don’t come into close contact with anyone delivering, or with anyone when you are collecting food.