A family owned and operated hotel which is closed until at least May 31 is doing its bit for the community during the lockdown.

Bournemouth’s Marsham Court Hotel is providing essential supplies and pre-prepared meals to elderly and vulnerable local residents along with NHS staff and essential key workers.

Every day it is providing 20 packs of essential supplies, each containing 20 items, for £30.

The items include bread, eggs, pasta, sausages, cheese, ham, milk, lettuce, tomatoes, fruit and four toilet rolls.

Additional items, such as chicken breasts, salmon, steak and mince, are also available together with other goods including tea bags, cereals and black bin bags at an extra cost.

The pre-prepared main meals range from cottage pie to lasagne and garlic bread and fish pie.

Desserts, such as upside down Dorset apple and cinnamon sponge and bread, butter and  orange marmalade pudding – all served with custard – are also available.

The cost for main meals, which serve two people, are £7 or £10 including a dessert.

Delivery within three miles is available for orders over £30 for people who cannot get out.

Timings are flexible for key workers as they can’t always get to the hotel during stipulated times because of shift patterns.

Rosie Radwell, Owner of the Marsham Court Hotel, who lives on the site, said: “We couldn’t just close up, sit back and wait for this terrible time to pass.

“The whole team really wanted to do what we could to help the local community.

“A lot of the local residents come to the hotel to meet friends and family, so it has been great to be able to give something back.”

The Marsham Court has been owned by Rosie’s family for the past 33 years but dates back to 1913.

Rosie said: “During the war, the hotel was actually taken over by the US Red Cross and used as a convalescent home for injured soldiers who had been furloughed (pictured, left).

“It’s ironic now that we may also be utilised by the government in answer to their call for hotels who can assist with the current emergency.

“We will do whatever we can to help, but I am really looking forward to the day we can open our doors and welcome guests back to the Marsham Court with open arms.

“That will be a very happy day.”

• For more information about accessing the essential supplies service, or pre-prepared main meals, please contact rosie@marshamcourthotel.co.uk