Pub offers cost of living support to locals

Frazer Francis runs the pub with his wife Hayley

A pub in Northampton is supporting its local community with the cost of living this winter by offering tea and coffee.

The Longboat in Duston is giving away free hot drinks between the hours of 12:00 and 14:00 GMT seven days a week.

It was also welcoming people to come in if they need somewhere warm, with no obligation to buy a drink.

Frazer Francis, landlord, said the decision was made following "a conversation they overheard" where a customer said coming for a pint was "cheaper" than putting the heating on at home.

Mr Francis, and his wife Hayley who he runs the Longboat with, said they wanted to "help people in that situation".

In the Autumn budget, it was announced that not all pensioners would receive the winter fuel allowance, and that it would instead be means-tested.

The government's figures showed 83% of people over 80 would lose the payment, rising to 90% of those aged 66 to 79.

Other groups will lose out too, with 71% of pensioners with disabilities having the payment taken away.

The Longboat pub is offering free tea, coffee and biscuits to those in need

The pub will be opening to those in need of all ages, not just pensioners.

Mr Francis said they want to offer people the "opportunity to sit in the warm when it's colder", get people out of their homes, "and not worry about where the money comes from" for a couple of hours.

The Longboat posted their plans on Facebook, which saw the local community get on board with the idea.

Mr Francis said they "never in a million years expected it to take the traction that it did".

The pub has also had a number of "donations" from the local community to help towards the efforts, with a local chef offering to make soup.

"It's shown us that there's lots of good people still out there, and it's not all about money, money, money," said Mr Francis.