A Wiltshire pub which has adapted particularly well to the challenges of the pandemic has made more than £80,000 in one month alone.

Despite being unable to open for most of the year, The Gladstone Arms in Chippenham has managed to make the most of the services it was allowed offer to ensure the pub remains profitable.

This included offering takeaways and refurbishing its outside area to accommodate customers in the open air.

The pub is run by Leighton Davis, who lives in Devizes Road, Salisbury.

He said: "As soon as the announcement was made that we were being closed down but we could do takeaways, we got straight onto social media.

"We did 350 Father's Day meals and we did the same on Mother's Day, it was a massive success.

"We worked so hard, myself and all my staff, and we came up with a plan when the business was at risk."

To take advantage of the venue's garden, Leighton and his team invested "thousands of pounds" in heated gazebos which in December proved a big hit.

"We took in £82,000 which is crazy, and that's all outside during a pandemic.

"I haven't got a high opinion of myself but what we achieved was absolutely incredible.

"It was one of the best months we ever had."

Salisbury Journal:

In the first two weeks of December, the pub was still offering the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, another incentive to bring people out in droves.

Following the success of the scheme in August, when it was launched and paid for by the Government, Leighton decided to carry it on off his own back throughout September and October to encourage punters to come out.

"We've given back as much as we could," he said.

"It was so good we intend to bring it back for future promotions."

During the third lockdown, staff have been busy doing takeaways and improving the beer garden ready to reopen on April 12.

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