A POPULAR pub in Bromley Cross has opened its doors as a community market after the coronavirus pandemic closed a lot of businesses indefinitely.

The Spread Eagle transformed into a shopping hotspot after George Campbell and Daniel Brady, the pair behind the establishment, got chatting with a supplier.

Now, the duo are offering a variety of fresh produce, with customers even able to order goods for doorstep delivery.

Mr Campbell said: “It all started when pubs were forced to close by the government and we started doing delivery and take out services for food.

“It spiralled from a bit of a chat over coffee and ended up with a community market.

“Our customers can choose fruit, veg, cheeses, we even have a meat supplier offering meat packs that they can order in.

“Now we’re delivering out to our elderly who can’t get out. It’s getting bigger and bigger every day.”

Dan shares a live video on Facebook every morning to show customers what they have available in the pub.

Products normally include potatoes, bread, eggs, jams, lettuce, and apples, but the duo have been trying to bring in new and more varied produce too, including passion fruit, chillies, aubergines, and kiwi.

It’s been a big change for the pub, with Mr Campbell adding: “Two weeks ago we were serving people pints and now we’re serving produce.

“We can’t offer everything, there’s only so much space in the pub, but we can offer a good amount and a lot of people are still coming down.

“We do offer a delivery service, even though I’m sick of my sat nav now because I keep getting lost going to people’s houses, and we can take payment by phone and then leave the order on the doorstep so there’s no contact.

“The support in the community is just immense, there’s a proper community spirit which is just brilliant.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far.”

If anyone has any spare time that they’d like to donate to the pub in order to help with delivering to elderly residents, please contact them via the Spread Eagle Facebook page.

Fruit and vegetables can be pre-ordered on the page after 6pm, and takeaway food orders can be arranged over the phone after 3pm. Contact the pub for more information by calling 01204 227734.

The pub in Hough Lane is open from Tuesday to Sunday with its first hour, 9.30am to 10.30am, dedicated to NHS staff and customers over 60.

Only two customers are allowed inside the premises at once.