RESTAURATEURS across Warrington have seen a boost in trade in the most trying circumstances from an unconventional source – a Facebook group.

Mark Broadstock, 40, set up the ‘Restaurants Delivering Warrington’ group in March for users to share their eatery recommendations and provide a platform for business owners to advertise their Covid-19 delivery services.

It has since proved to be a huge hit, attracting more than 8,400 members, and a swathe of praise from the town’s restaurant and takeaway owners.

Mark, who works for Altum HR, said he created the group to help.

He added: “All of a sudden [owners] were being told to shut down their operations and send their staff home.

“I thought ‘is there a way we could keep the businesses going and keep their staff on?’”

The Rixton resident added: “I think we’ve got the beginnings of what could be a very good hospitality sector – probably the best we’ve had in the town for quite a long time – and it’s just starting to get going with some really good anchor restaurants.”

Mark’s initiative has seen a thank you message from The Station House pub in Padgate come in, with managers saying the group has kept the business alive.

Similar messages came from Latchford’s Fishnet and Tao in Padgate, with business owners being happy to be able to build relationships with their local customers.

Reflecting on the group, Mark hopes it will continue after coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

He added: “It’s been good, it’s brought the community together.

“Warrington’s a very proud town, we’re close knit and we seem to come together in times of crisis.

“I think it would be great to see it continue afterwards, so people could get good-quality food to their door without using these big brands.

“It’s just [generated] a nice community feel, really.”

Restaurants and pubs are hopefully of being allowed to welcome back customers to ‘eat in’ from early July when the government is next due to consider relaxing the current lockdown laws.