Washington pub the Ox & Plough nominated for Pub Heroes award for supporting the community through lockdown

The Ox & Plough, in Oxclose, Washington, delivered more than 100 food parcels and hot meals a week to the most vulnerable people in the area through the worst weeks of the lockdown.

After being forced to close in March, the pub, its staff and its owners made it their mission to keep supporting the community as much as possible during the extremely difficult times.

As well as offering a takeaway food service, the Ox & Plough looked out for the most vulnerable in the community by delivering over 100 food packages and hot meals to the elderly and vulnerable in the community free of charge throughout the lockdown.

Now the pub’s team have been nominated for the Admiral Taverns Pub Heroes award as part of the Great British Pub Awards.

Pub landlord Anthony Payne only took over the Ox & Plough six months before they were forced to close, and wanted to return the pub back to the people of Oxclose, making it more than just a local boozer, but a community hub for all.

He said: “It’s hugely important to have a community aspect. A lot of places don’t have the same kind of community spirit as they used to and that’s the kind of thing i wanted to relive from my childhood.

“When coronavirus came round community spirit became even more important and a lot more people relied on it in order to remain sane and positive. We’re over the moon to be nominated for the award. We didn’t expect it whatsoever.”

Prior to lockdown, Anthony, who also works full time as a business change professional, had plans to introduce a cafe into the pub to make it more open for others. But lockdown quickly changed the plans.

Instead, the pub introduced a new cafe menu for takeaway at a discounted price to support people who were struggling financially and who had been placed on furlough.

Since reopening, the pub has had a great response from customers with a lot of new and familiar faces keeping community spirit in the area sky high.

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