Although the UK Government has performed a U-turn and will now allow pubs to serve takeaway alcohol to those that have pre-ordered online, any establishments without access to ordering apps and delivery will struggle to shift stock and keep their businesses afloat.

To provide pubs with a lifeline OrderPay – a leading ordering app that allows its customers to order food and drink items in thousands of venues – will make its platform completely free during lockdown for any independent pubs, bars and restaurants that want to set-up a food and drink takeaway service.

With industry experts predicting 7m pints will be poured down the drain this month, OrderPay hope the ‘click and collection’ service will give independent hospitality businesses a fighting chance and a simple way for them to sell their leftover stock during this month-long lockdown.

OrderPay’s CEO Richard Carter said, “Fundamentally we don’t want any more pubs to have called last orders for the final time. We love our local pubs, bars and restaurants and like most people up and down the country we want to do whatever we can to support them. We hope that providing free access to our platform throughout lockdown will help much-loved locals across the country get through to this incredibly difficult time.”

OrderPay is already in use by major hospitality brands including Stonegate Pubs, Wasabi, Chopstix and Cote.

For any pubs, bars and restaurants wishing to use OrderPay for free until February 2021, please visit www.orderpay.com/join-us.

Furthermore, Orderpay is committed to ensuring pubs, bars and restaurants who take up its offer incur zero charges via covering all card charges throughout the month and making the service one-hundred percent free.

Any business owner wishing to sign-up to the three month offer which expires on Tuesday 2nd February, must register their interest by Wednesday 2nd December.