Check out the list helping you love local in lockdown

ONE local business owner is doing her bit to help restaurants and cafes forced to do takeaway only during COVID-19.

Sonia Anthony, owner of Masons of Bendigo has compiled a list of takeaway options and is urging people to continue to support local.

In a Facebook post on Saturday Ms Anthony wrote, “Let me know in the comments below if YOUR favourite local hospitality business is open for takeaway and be in the running to win a $200 voucher to a venue of your choice.”

The post received over 400 comments and Ms Anthony’s live Google Spreadsheet has over 100 businesses listed.

She said the idea was to encourage people to find new places for food and help hospitality businesses like her own, affected by COVID-19 lockdowns.

“I kind of did it a few lockdowns ago, and I don’t even know which one,” she said. “For me I feel a strong connection with our industry, local hospitality industry and the City of Gastronomy I want to see all of us come out of this.

“We have so much variety and there’s so many amazing businesses out there that offer such a wide range of different foods and cuisines and styles of products and to lose any of that would take away from that immense diversity that we have.

“If there’s some little thing that I can do and that’s creating a list for people, then I’m happy to do that and I think it works for me as well because there’s all these places that I never knew about that I’ll be checking out as well.”

The recipient of the $200 voucher was owner of Soul M8’s Takeaway Chantal White and Ms Anthony said that while Soul M8’s is a consistent takeaway restaurant, cancellations of local sport have seen their trade struggle.

“It’s really hard to hear that and small business owners work so hard all the time and it’s really difficult when situations are out of your control,” Ms Anthony said.

Ms Anthony said customers spending in local restaurants makes a “massive difference” and is hopeful that her list will help businesses support each other.

“People generally do want to support and be given a little bit of direction or offer their ideas or suggestions,” she said.

“It’s really nice as a business owner to see people going yeah, I love going to this place and I love going here because they make this amazing dish.

“For me it keeps you going through the times that aren’t so great. I’m hoping that those little messages that people put out there will have a positive impact as well.”

Check out the list at bit.ly/36GSQJV.