Someone has bought £1,000 of Manchester restaurant vouchers for NHS workers

Following the government’s advice for people to avoid bars and restaurants, one way we can all help is to buy vouchers that can be redeemed at a later date. 

Manchester hospitality leaders have this week come together to help local restaurants and bars through the coronavirus crisis with the #PayitForward campaign. The scheme encourages people to buy discounted vouchers at participating restaurants between now and Easter, with a view to redeeming them from May onwards.

For each voucher purchased, restaurants will make a £1 donation to Hospitality Action, the charity which offers vital assistance to all who work within hospitality in the UK.

And restaurants have also launched their own voucher schemes.

MasterChef champion Simon Wood, of Wood Restaurants, has launched a series of vouchers including tasting and theatre menu options as well as vouchers in denominations from £25.

And one Wood fan, who has remained anonymous, has responded with an incredible gesture of goodwill, purchasing £1,000 worth of vouchers for the restaurant to hand out to NHS workers on the front line. 

“This is an incredible act of kindness in a time when we should pull together and help support NHS and front line workers,” said Simon about the donation.

“It’s times like this that remind us that we must all stick together and look after one another.

“We would like to send our thanks and gratitude to the person who purchased the £1,000 voucher, for supporting local restaurants like Wood in our time of need.

“We will now use this incredible donation to gift 21 NHS workers with a 5-course tasting menu as an incredible thank you for working tirelessly to provide 24-hour care to those in need.” 

The kind gesture follows the announcement from Gary Neville this week that GG Hospitality will be accommodating healthcare workers and medical professionals free of charge at Hotel Football and at Stock Exchange Hotel in order to provide them with a comfortable place to stay in these challenging times.