Bexley pub opens weekly soup kitchen for homeless people

By Joe Couglan, Local Democracy Reporter

A pub has opened a weekly soup kitchen for homeless people in the area, with the hope of giving “normality” back to those in need.

Ray Irwin, 46, and Bonnie Tarleton, 29, run the Guy Earl of Warwick pub in Park View Road, Bexley.

Starting last week, the couple are running a soup kitchen throughout Christmas on Monday mornings for homeless people in the area.

Mr Irwin said: “It’s just about getting a bit of normality back for them. You can come in, read the paper, charge your phone and do whatever you need to do.”

The managers said that the idea for the kitchen came from their relationship with a local homeless man in the area.

Mr Irwin said: “We always talk to him and pass the time with him, just saying hello.

“We got really friendly with him so we said, ‘Can we do something that might make you feel a little bit better at Christmas?’. So that’s where the idea came from to start with.”

Taking over the pub in February this year, Mr Irwin and Ms Tarleton are also running a toy drive for children in Bexley, after being inspired by local food banks.

Ms Tarleton said: “I think it was in Tesco, you know how they do food [donations]? So then I thought that we might as well do it with toys. We advertised it and the next day the trolley was literally full.”

Along with the soup kitchen and toy donations, the couple plan to host a set of free dinners for those who have to spend Christmas Day alone this year.

Mr Irwin said: “Say your local neighbour is going to be on their own and you’re with your family. You can just donate a Christmas lunch to try to get them in and together with people, because it can be lonely at Christmas.”

The soup kitchen runs from 10am until 1pm every Monday, when trade for the pub is quiet. The couple said that aside from homeless people, they have also noticed the ongoing cost of living crisis affecting the spending habits of customers.

Mr Irwin said: “It’s becoming more of an issue, sort of in the last month or so. Because now people’s bills are starting to go up.

“So it’s a little bit distant in the middle of the year whenever you haven’t got your heating on and your lights on all the time. But now, it’s becoming more of an issue and from listening to customers talking, it’s become more of an issue for them too.”

The couple said they expect to see bills rise for them in the New Year, but still plan to run the soup kitchen for as long as it’s needed.

Pictured top: Bonnie Tarleton and Ray Irwin, managers of the Guy Earl of Warwick pub in Bexley (Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga)