The Bush Inn launched a takeaway service this weekend to mitigate the effects of the firebreak lockdown.

The 16th-century coaching inn, which once featured in an episode of BBC Sherlock, has been trading in St Hilary for ten years, so staff were grateful for the support of local patrons.

The takeaway menu includes starters such as chorizo bonbons, loaded nachos and shepherd's pocket, mains such as fish and chips, a selection of pies, wood-fired oven pizzas, and burgers, and desserts like brownies and cheesecakes.

Customers can also get soft or alcoholic drinks, and roasts are available on Sunday.

"It went so well. We had amazing support this weekend, so we'll be back next weekend and looking forward to it," said owner Liz Silva.

"People have been ordering takeaway and then coming back again, so that's how you know you're doing okay."

You can phone The Bush Inn on 01446 776888 from 1pm on Thursdays and Fridays to order for collection between 5-9pm on Friday, 4-9pm on Saturday, and 12-4pm on Sunday.

The phone lines are also open during service times, with a limited number of slots available.

"This is the first time we've done the takeaway as a sole venture without being able to open our doors," said Liz.

"I'm always surprised with these things, because you don't know what to expect," she said.

Like many other local eateries, staff at The Bush Inn are waiting for the rules from Monday 9 October to be clarified and they find themselves having to adapt at the last minute.

"This looks like it might happen on and off until spring," said Liz.

"It's hard to know what we can spend, and how to invest in other avenues. This is the new norm for 12 months or longer, but not knowing what's coming is hard.

"By doing the takeaway we can continue trading with our doors closed, which is crucial."

Liz said the rule that only members of a single household were able to eat out together "made sales drop off the cliff", as many people would usually go for a meal out to socialise with others.

"We've been in that situation from the end of September with no assistance, or support, or inkling of when it would change," said Liz.

"The full lockdown was better for us because we had some financial assistance, and Covid rates could come down.

"Going into lockdown was a shock for everybody but it was a lot easier going in than coming out.

"It's a long way to go until we're back to pre-Covid trading figures."

Despite this, Liz and her husband were grateful for the community support from St Hilary and Cowbridge.

"We are definitely a destination dining venue, so once we went into lockdown not only did we lose friends and families visiting but we lost people who travelled to visit too," said Liz.

"It really was a knock. We don't want to be doing nothing, and we've got a brilliant team with livelihoods to look after as well.

"We've got a couple of ideas going forward, like expanding into outside catering. With so many events pushed backwards, people might do more home catering. That could be something as a support to the main business.

"We've still got to bank on people's confidence getting back to normal, which will take more than just the government saying it's okay to go out again.

"There's a section of our demographic that's older, and we haven't seen them in so long. We have kept in touch, and they're okay.

"Then going back into lockdown, out and in again is like a rollercoaster. It's going to chip away at people.

"From a business point of view, it's a kick up the bum. It takes you out your comfort zone, which is refreshing but it's the most stressful thing I've ever had to do," said Liz.