Residents order takeaway to their doors from in-house service at Chapters

What’s for dinner tonight? The residents at our stunning Chapters development in Salisbury have already placed their takeaway orders to be delivered to their door from our in-house service created by our passionate and enthusiastic chef, Martyn Judd, during the second lockdown.

Popular choices such as fish and chips, sausage and mash, baguettes, pies and pasta are available on the menu devised by Martyn, who has worked with us for the last four months and the bistro team. They wanted to ensure that our residents have a range of delicious meals available to purchase while the team have temporarily closed the doors to the bistro until Wednesday, December 2 due to the pandemic.

Hot and cold food can be purchased for lunch and dinner every weekday to ensure that the homeowners can enjoy a hot meal, which is delivered to the homeowner’s front door by Tracy Eggs, our on-site Lifestyle Manager. Tracy also says that it gives her the opportunity to check in on the residents to see how they are coping during the lockdown.

Martyn has also set up a pop-up shop featuring a range of fresh food and household essentials such as bread, milk, cheese, orange juice and toiletries for the benefit of vulnerable, older residents who may be shielding during the pandemic.

Through the takeaway service, Martyn cooks around 20 meals a day during the second lockdown, which he says he is proud to provide to keep the residents happy and healthy.

He said: “I just felt like it was the service that we needed to do for the peace of mind of our customers. We have our regular customers that come and eat with us most days of the week in the bistro, and you worry about them when they don’t come in.

“I thought how is Gwen going to get her meals because she comes in every day and eats with us? Since we launched the takeaway service, sometimes when it’s busy I help to deliver the meals, and so if I deliver her meals, I spend a couple of minutes talking to her, as she says that she doesn’t leave her home during lockdown.

“We have our main core items on the menu, but me being me, I’ve said that if they fancy something different, and I’ve got it, I can do it. We have one man who comes in for a cooked breakfast once a week. He comes down and I have to keep him outside the door, and I just make him a cooked breakfast which he takes it away in a box.

“We see a few people go for a walk around the block as they feel they need to do something but that’s it. It’s all here so they don’t have to worry about it. It is very rewarding to see and hear how appreciative they are.”

The reviews from our homeowners are all glowing with some choosing to have the takeaway dishes every day and some opting to enjoy them as a nice novelty instead of needing to cook.

Gwen Brocksom, 87, normally eats in the onsite bistro on a daily basis and has been ordering lunch and dinner from the takeaway service every day to supplement this. She said: “It’s good for me because I’m housebound. I had a letter from the government to say that I’m vulnerable and to tell me that I should be shielding. I find at Chapters that I’m able to be independent with the help of a carer and cleaner who come in. It makes such a difference to be able to order the food in the bistro. The takeaway service is an added bonus.”

Patricia Hayter, 87, likes to support the takeaway service by using it up to twice a week. She said: “I think it’s a very nice idea. It means that people can survive and have at least one cooked meal a day. I also find it useful that I can at least get my bread and milk, and they will bring it to your door.”

Wendy, 61, and Keith Underwood, 64, have been ordering the takeaway service on an adhoc basis. Wendy said: “It’s brilliant. It’s very good, and it’s a treat not needing to cook.” Keith added: “The takeaway service is a very good idea.”

Sally, 72, and John Parker, 76, also praise the provision of the service. Sally said: “We think it’s good. We like going to the bistro when there’s not a lockdown, and so having a homemade meal delivered to your door is great. The chef is really good.”

Tracy Eggs, our fantastic Lifestyle Manager at Chapters, said: “It has been great to offer the takeaway service and pop-up shop during this lockdown which has been greatly appreciated by all of our homeowners. We have a mix of couples and single people living at Chapters so it has been invaluable to them that they can enjoy their meals and buy their essentials without having to leave the building. We are always receptive to the needs of our homeowners so it has been great to go the extra mile to ensure that they have food and meals provided for them as and when they need it.”

Chapters is a brand-new retirement village in the centre of Salisbury, with an on-site bistro, activity suite, treatment rooms and private lounge areas, which will ultimately provide 197 apartments, cottages and larger houses. Appointments are available to view all Platinum Skies properties in-person throughout the lockdown with enhanced Covid-measures in place for the safety of visitors, homeowners and our team.

For more information and to book an appointment, call 01202 088051.