insideKENT Magazine Issue 100 - August 2020 | Page 21

Punting has been a traditional pastime in historic
cities like Canterbury for generations, and
Canterbury Punting Company is one of the
best around. You get your very own seasoned guide,
who can either tell you tales of days gone by to stories
of ancient Kent, or simply drive the punt while you
lounge and relax with a jug of Pimms or a bottle of
Prosecco. After COVID-19 shut down the company
for an extended period, they have made an incredible
comeback and have implemented multiple changes
to the way they operate, to ensure all their customers
are safe while floating down the river. Speaking to
Bradley Haran, the general manager of Canterbury
Punting Company, he assured insideKENT of some
of the changes that have been made to the business.
“The boats have been customised to feature plastic
screens to separate different groups on the boats.
We have also reduced the number of customers that
can be on a boat at the same time, and there is the
option of booking private boats to avoid needless
contact with strangers. We have a full clean down
after groups to sterilise contact areas and we have
changed from blankets to an easy wipe down cushion
to maintain cleanliness. We have fitted a handrail to
decrease the need for contact while getting in and
out the boat, and the chauffeur can wear a mask or
visor and gloves depending on customer needs. At
our cafe we have a set one way system and social
distanced queuing points, there are also multiple hand
sanitisation stations for customers and our employees,
as well as socially distanced seating and regular
cleaning of all contact areas. Lastly we feature a
NHS track and trace where we take the names of
customers, to easily get in contact if there is ever a
problem.” The staff at Canterbury Punting Company
are so excited to once again be gliding along the
beautiful River Stour.
Recognising the need to protect his business as well
as serve the local community, David House, owner
of The Chequers in Aylesford quickly adapted to
offer a home delivery service which also included
delivering more than 12,500 meals to OAP doors
in the first three months of lockdown. Following its
success, and recognising the demand for people to
create restaurant inspired dishes at home, The
Chequers, and it’s sister restaurant The Hengist, has
gone one step further by launching their Yes Chef!
(www.yeschefboxes.com) range of bespoke recipe
ingredients boxes to cook at home. Each box contains
a week’s supply of fresh and local ingredients allowing
busy or isolating families, couples or singletons to
cook delicious, tasty, wholesome and home-cooked
meals without the hassle of going to the supermarket,
queuing with the masses or in the rain and reducing
the risk of infection. David adds “Lockdown has had
an unlikely effect of people’s shopping habits with
people ordering online, and cooking meals at home.
As the restrictions lift, it seems more and more people
will continue to demand fresh local produce delivered
to their door in an easy-to-follow recipe box.”
Yes Chef! boxes are available for 2 or 4 people and
provide four meals a week.
These incredible businesses are blazing the way for
safe, happy commerce in Kent. Concerned about
both their staff and their clients wellbeing, each and
every one has implemented safety precautions that
allow everyone to be safe, while getting some
semblance of ‘normality’ back into people's lives.
We can’t wait to welcome back Kent!
CANTERBURY PUNTING COMPANY
YES CHEF! FRESH INGREDIENTS
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