The Aviator pub at Queenborough Corner on the Isle of Sheppey is taking a leaf out of McDonald's book and turning itself into a fast food takeaway.

Pub boss Kevin Burgess said: "These are really worrying times so we need to adapt."

The giant burger chain is to reopen 15 of its restaurants for takeaway deliveries at 11am this Wednesday - including three in Kent at Gillingham and Sittingbourne - which gave Mr Burgess the idea.

His team is busy converting an outside bar in the car park into a drive-thru so customers can collect ready-cooked grub. They can also pick up bottles and cans of soft and alcoholic drink although alcohol can't be consumed on the premises.

Mr Burgess said tongue-in-cheek: "You could say we will be the world's first McAviator!

"Customers can go online to order their food. We'll give them a time when they can collect it. They can drive into our car park and wait or even eat in their car if they want."

The quirky plan is a serious solution to save the pub's business and that of its sister the Flying Dutchman.

Mr Burgess said: "There are around 50,000 pubs but experts reckon we could lose up to half before this coronavirus is over. Shepherd Neame, which owns The Aviator, has been blinding and frozen my rent.

"But that's not the same at the Flying Dutchman which is owned by the EI Group which is now part of the Stonegate Pub Company. It's future is quite precarious.

"I have had to combine the two pubs. We are using The Aviator's kitchen to prepare food for deliveries. Then I thought about using the outside bar so customers could drive in and collect their food.

"We are working on an app and hoping to try it out this weekend. It's going to be trial and error at first."

He added: "We would have launched it earlier but didn't want to go against the government's Stay At Home advice."

The takeaway smokehouse grill menu includes chicken wings, ribs, burgers, German sausages and steaks. The pub also delivers across the Island and to Iwade, Kemsley and Milton.

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