Pasta meals keep team on the boil
A Bath restaurateur says his pasta delivery service launched in the depths of lockdown has been a “silver lining” for the business and staff.
James Still, 29, set up Pasta Boi after both restaurants he helps run, Walcot House in Bath and Mother & Wild in Corsham, closed in March.
He’s been delivering a menu of seasonal, artisan pasta dishes around the Bath and Corsham area, covering Frome, Melksham, Devizes and Norton St Phillip.
James said: “The idea was conceived in the depths of lockdown as a means of being able to take chefs back off furlough and to carry on delivering food to our customers – it’s really taken off.
“Twelve weeks ago, when we started, we were doing maybe 60 to 70 a week but that has now increased to 250, 300 meals.”
Mr Still continued that delivering the meals, which he does partly himself, has been a treat in itself.
He said: “Seeing people who are excited to get our meal is great – we’ve been told it’s a Friday treat for many.
“We have a team of 75 staff across both sites and this has enabled us to take 20 off furlough. The furlough scheme was a huge moment of relief for us but it’s great to get people back working.
“I think it’s to do with the beauty of pasta and how easy it is, we’re offering restaurant quality food that you can put together easily yourself. We make the pasta in the morning and deliver it in the afternoon.”
Mr Still went on to explain that he feels responsibility for the 75 staff members who have been furloughed.
He said: “There is a lot depending on us, our staff need us to get back up fully and so far they have been really pleased to be able to come back and work, I think after months of not doing much to come back and feel productive has been really good.
“They are all keen to help with Pasta Boi and we are going to be scaling up to go nationwide soon.”
He explained that both restaurants reopened last week but that they are following the guidelines and have reduced occupancy.
Mr Still explained that so far trade has been quiet and they have seen some no-shows in the restaurants.
He said: “I’m not sure why people would do that, we need the trade right now as it is quiet as people become more confident about going out but we do have Pasta Boi.
“I couldn’t have imagined it being this much of a success, it really has been a silver lining during this time.”
To find out more about Pasta Boi, visit the website at pastaboi.com