How two of Northampton's top flame grill restaurants went from tables to takeaways overnight under the lockdown

The team behind Hops & Chops and The Smoke Pit had to remodel their restaurants overnight when the lockdown began.

For two of Northampton's top flame-grill houses, the challenge was taking a dedicated restaurant table service and building a takeaway overnight.

Brothers James and Matthew Ingram could have hung up their aprons when lockdown began in March.

But instead, they chose to hammer together a takeaway service overnight so their two - Hops & Chops in Duston and The Smoke Pit in town centre - cold still serve customers.

James told the Chronicle & Echo: "On the same Monday night that Boris announced all restaurants had to close we were up googling software to make a delivery service.

"I've got to say thank you to my staff - a lot of them have gone from the jobs they were doing to something completely different. They've done really well to adapt."

James and Matthew had to rework their traditional table service and set up a delivery service from scratch.

Because they're still learning, it has meant the team can only offer limited slots each night - but that just means customers have to fight for their place.

James said: "It's been bloody brilliant, frankly. Customers have been really supportive. Friday and Saturday nights we're usually fully booked.

"We're still taking a lot less. We're probably down 60 per cent in takings - but we're able to pay most of our bills and keep our team working.

But there are still challenges to come. Restaurants and pubs have been put on notice by the Government that they could be able to reopen to customers on July 4.

But, frustratingly, they haven't been told how to go about it.

James said: "We know we need social distancing measures, but what does that mean exactly? At the Smoke Pit, for example, we know we will have to down from 250 covers a night to about 70. Do we need hand sanitiser pumps? Do we need a one-way system? How is going to the toilet going to work?

"It's likely we'll have to do a mix of restaurant service and delivery.

"But for the catering and hospitality industry, this is about the worst it can get - so really it can only be up from here."

For more information on Hops & Chops in Duston or on The Smoke Pit in Northampton, visit their Facebook pages.