A much-loved village pub just outside Grantham is back in business with a take-away menu starting tomorrow.

The 19th Century Gregory Inn at Harlaxton closed in April after earlier attempts with a take-out offering as well as village shop, following the lockdown which began in March.

Business owner Lucy Davies told Grantham Nub News the initial take-aways and shop were meant as a service to the village and the pub's own vegetable and meat suppliers.

But soon villagers gained the confidence to do their own shopping.

Lucy said: "It was a good idea at the time but it ran its course."

The pub furloughed staff and researched what to do next, now seeing take-out as a part of its future operations.

The Gregory is well known locally for its popular, affordable fine dining with a decent range of real ales.

Lucy says a Father's Day menu is a prelude to a broader take-away offering due for launch next week. A taster menu has also been launched, for tomorrow and Saturday, for the same reason.

"Our staff are eager to get back to work."

"We only announced this a couple of days ago. We have had many orders. I am surprised. It didn't take long before they started rolling in."

However, preparing for the pub to open its doors to the public, which may be in July, is not easy.

"We are waiting for the official guidelines to come into place. Some people have spent thousands on equipment that may not be necessary.

"Bearing in mind we have been closed for nearly three months we do not want to get things that are outdated, we want to get it right."

"There's so much speculation about a re-opening date. I want to hear it from the horse's mouth."

In the meantime though, the pub's courtyard is undergoing a going.

But Lucy has concerns about the longer term future of the pub sector.

Her pub is owned by Star, which has given 50% rent relief to tenants, while other pub owners have not.

Then there is the impact of lockdown on customers.

"I am concerned about people's confidence in going into an environment like pubs. This is why we have put our take-away menu together. It won't be a temporary thing, it will be part of the business going forward."

The Gregory will look at other changes too, to help the business, which includes rooms, recover from the lockdown.

Lucy added: "It's frightening."

Further details on the pub, the menus, and ordering can be found on it's Facebook page.