Leeds family-run pizza restaurant donates food to two care homes

Bosses at a Leeds care home were left stunned when a local pizza restaurant offered to cook dinner for staff and residents amid the coronavirus outbreak.
By Joanna Wardill
Published 23rd Mar 2020, 11:55 BST
Updated 23rd Mar 2020, 12:49 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The Coach House Care home in Garforth ate well on Sunday night when local family-run eatery 450 Degrees turned up with a stack of pizzas.

Senior carer Donna McAleese said she was moved to tears by the restaurant's kind gesture.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"They rang up and asked if we wanted some pizzas and when she dropped them off she said 'Here you go, keep up the good work'.

The stack of pizzas delivered by family-run Garforth restaurant 450 Degrees, to the Coach House Care Home. They also sent pizzas to The Hollies care home, also in Garforth.The stack of pizzas delivered by family-run Garforth restaurant 450 Degrees, to the Coach House Care Home. They also sent pizzas to The Hollies care home, also in Garforth.
The stack of pizzas delivered by family-run Garforth restaurant 450 Degrees, to the Coach House Care Home. They also sent pizzas to The Hollies care home, also in Garforth.

"It was so lovely, it nearly made me cry.

"The pizzas went around residents and staff. Everyone enjoyed them. We were all just so appreciative - it was such a kind gesture."

For more: Join our new Leeds coronavirus Facebook group for the latest confirmed news and advice as soon as we get it www.facebook.com/groups/leedscoronavirus

The Yorkshire Evening Post contact 450 Degrees and owner Danny Cairns explained they wanted to support care workers as they are often the unsung heroes in this crisis.

Danny and Lindsay Cairns, of pizza cafe 450 Degrees in GarforthDanny and Lindsay Cairns, of pizza cafe 450 Degrees in Garforth
Danny and Lindsay Cairns, of pizza cafe 450 Degrees in Garforth
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We had dough left over on Sunday night and didn't want to just throw it away.

"My wife, Lindsay, works as a physio in the NHS so we understand those workers on the front line. Care workers aren't really getting any real recognition so we just wanted to donate pizzas to local care homes.

"We donated to two - The Coach House and The Hollies."

Danny said he had made the decision to close his restaurant on Friday morning - just before the Government's announcement that bars and restaurants would shut nationwide that night.

The staff team at 450 Degrees in GarforthThe staff team at 450 Degrees in Garforth
The staff team at 450 Degrees in Garforth

"It didn't sit well with me to ask people to come in and risk themselves to the virus really. So we shut off the restaurant for public dining and opened for take outs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"On the Friday we were overwhelmed with orders for take outs - whether it was goodwill and people just wanted to support us. We ran out of dough within half an hour to an hour."

Since then, the restaurant has continued its take-out service - including to all those who had been booked into the restaurant for Mothers' Day evening - but he admits he doesn't know how long he can keep it up, juggling staffing, cost and maintaining social distancing.

He said: "We're coming up to two years (open) in May. Let's hope we make it two years."

*Share your acts of kindness with us on Twitter using #actsofkindness and #leeds or emailing [email protected].

Related topics:LeedsYorkshire Evening PostCoachGarforth

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.