Source: Independent Catholic News

They are known as some of London’s most elite venues with a string of VIP guests going through their doors.

But Annabel’s, George, Harry’s Bar and Mark’s Club are also helping to feed the homeless at a West End church thanks to a service set up by a group of churches during the pandemic.

On 16th April the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Cllr Robert Rigby, visited the project and helped serve lunch to around 75 people on a visit to the Central London Catholic Churches Homeless lunch service run from Farm Street Church. Dario Mazzzolli, Dimitris Panopoulos and Camllia Fabbio, deputy director and managers at Annabel’s, who had provided the day’s food, also came to lend a hand. 

Set up in 2020 at the start of the coronavirus pandemic and supported by Westminster City Council, the service offers lunch twice a week in a large dining room. It is already supported with donations of food from five-star hotels including the Connaught, Claridges and the Mandarin Oriental.

The addition of the private members’ clubs will mean the service can continue to serve around 140 people per week.

Volunteers led by Father Dominic Robinson, parish priest of Mount Street Jesuit Centre at Farm Street, refer to the homeless diners as guests and serve them sitting at tables – making the point that those sleeping rough are deserving of dignity and respect.

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