The 64 Lancashire places children can eat for free after MPs block half-term meals

Anger erupted last week when MPs voted to block a bid to provide meals to deprived children across the country.

On Wednesday (October 21), the Government defeated a Labour motion calling for the extension of free meals to eligible children during the school holidays in England until Easter 2021 with a Commons majority of more than 60.

In Lancashire, this included Tory MPs Anthony Higginbotham (Burnley), Sara Britcliffe (Hyndburn), Jake Berry (Rossendale and Darwen), Katherine Fletcher (South Ribble), Andrew Stephenson (Pendle), Mark Menzies (Fylde), Scott Benton (Blackpool South), and David Morris (Morecambe and Lunesdale).

MPs in the county came under fire as figures showed that more than three quarters of children in some parts of Lancashire are living on the poverty line.

Government data revealed that there were 83,375 children in Lancashire living below the breadline in March 2019, even before the cost of housing was taken into account and long before the Covid pandemic.

The number has been rising year on year, and is up from 66,684 in 2015.

However, the vote simply served to galvanise public support for the campaign launched by Rashford, with local businesses and other organisations coming forward with offers of free meals.

Preston street food eatery The Box Kitchen caught the eye of the Manchester United striker when they launched their scheme to supply children with cooked lunches during half term holiday.

Chris Maughan, owner of the Box Kitchen on Fishergate, told LancsLive: "I have a friend who is a teacher, he told me that a lot of his kids would not be getting meals, I had some insight there, that prompted, that's why I started it up.

"We have actually had a few members of the public come and give us cash towards it. "It's hard for everyone to give anything away at the moment as it is, but it has been nice to take our mind off getting the shop busy and to think about helping others.

"It's given us a new energy, we want to do this every half term now. I wanted a charity to work with so this has come at the right time. "Something needs to be done about it we can't have children in poverty not being fed."

Atkinson's Sandwich Bar on Primrose Street in Lancaster are another company providing free meals for schoolchildren who are in need.

It is run by mother and daughter Amanda and Jade Atkinson, they said: "We really want to support our community, so decided to get involved. No child should have to go hungry. Anyone who needs help can ring the shop on 01524 931445 or just come into the shop and ask. We do hot meals, including pies, and breakfast all day, or cold sandwiches."

Here, LancsLive has listed all the places openly advertising help for children during the half-term holidays for families who may need it.

The list is extensive but not exhaustive, if you wish to add a company's details contact rachel.howarth@reachplc.com

Preston and South Ribble

Redmans of Preston - Market Street, Preston, PR1 2JD - 01772 558465

Preston Market - Earl Street, Preston, PR1 2JA - 01772 906048

Box Kitchen - Box Kitchen, Preston, PR1 2NJ

TOP Cafe - Ribbleton Lane, Preston, PR1 5EB - 07756 687699

Toni's Pizza - Plungington Road, Preston, PR1 7EP - 01772 561032

Preston North End FC, Preston North End FC, Preston, PR1 6RU

Village Fish Bar, Poplar Avenue, Bamber Bridge, PR5 6JJ, 01772 620442

Evan's Fish and Chips, Blackpool Road, Lea, Preston,PR2 1QR - 01772 727500

Johndory Fish Bar, Station Road, Bamber Bridge, PR5 6EA - 01772 335514

Hungry Horse (Poachers), Lostock Lane, Bamber Bridge, PR5 6BA - 01772 324100

Happy Bunnies, Chapel Lane, Longton, PR4 5EB - 01772 875352

The Rose of Farington, Stanifield Lane, Farington, Leyland, PR25 4QA

St Laurence’s Church, Union Street, Chorley, PR7 1EB - 01257 231360

The Bees Country Kitchen, Cleveland Street, Chorley, PR7 1BY- 07966 097153

Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre

The Stanley Arms, Garstang Road South, Wesham, PR4 3BL - 01772 469495

The Bellflower, Parkside Lane, Garstang, PR3 0JA - 01995 238207

Lytham Quality Pies, Clifton Street, Lytham Saint Annes, FY8 5EW - 01253 731497

Seniors, Normoss Road, Blackpool, FY3 8QP - 01253 393529

Cube Bar Kitchen, Breck Road, Poulton-le-Fylde, FY6 7AA - 01253 895566

St Annes Fish Restaurant, Saint Andrew's Road South, Lytham St Annes, FY8 1PZ - 01253 723311

Carlton Hotel & Banksys Café Bar, South Promenade, Lytham St Annes, FY8 1LZ - 01253 721036

The Cottage, Newhouse Road, Blackpool, FY4 4JH - 01253 764081

At The Grange, Bathurst Avenue, Blackpool, FY3 7RW - 01253 478301

Blackpool FC Hotel, Seasiders Way, Blackpool, FY1 6JJ - 01253 401953

Street Eatery, Lawsons Road, Thornton-Cleveleys, FY5 4PJ - 01253 855655

The Salad Bowl, Topping Street, Blackpool, FY1 3AX - 01253 313208

Seniors Fish and Chips, Queensway, Poulton-le-Fylde, FY6 7ST - 01253 609878

The Wexford Diner, Dickson Road, Blackpool, FY1 2AW - 01253 296867

Buttylicious, 257 Dickson road, Blackpool, FY1 2JH - 07305811893

Pulcinella ristorante - pizzeria, Bispham Road,Thornton-Cleveleys, FY5 1DG -01253 828377

Masons Amusements Ltd, Rough Lea Road, Thornton-Cleveleys, FY5 1DA - 01253 853502

The Cosy Cafe and Bistro, North Albert Street, Fleetwood, FY7 6AR - 01253 876727

Blackburn, Hyndburn and Rossendale

The Butlers Arms, Victoria Road, Pleasington, Blackburn - 01254 207233

The Old Mill Hill Chippy, New Chapel Street, Blackburn, BB2 4DT - 01254 696508

Snowdrop Doula CIC, Cornhill, Accrington, BB5 1EX - 07931 214574

Hyndburn Baby Bank, Hyndburn Road, Accrington, BB5 1PY - 01254 301111

Monkey Playland, Commerce Street, Haslingden, Rossendale, BB4 5JT - 01706 213213

St James the Less and St Thomas Moore RC Church, Burnley Road, Rawtenstall, Rossendale, BB4 8HH - 01706 215634

Shadsworth and Whitebirk Big Local, Accrington Road, Blackburn

Lancaster, Morecambe and Heysham

Hodgson’s Chippy, Prospect Street, Lancaster, LA1 3BH - 01524 67763

Replenish Kitchen, Caton Road, Lancaster, LA1 3PE - 01524 65280

Brittlestar Wine Bar, El Security, The Boardwalk, Greens (Morecambe Meals 4 Kids) - Found on Facebook

The Cornish Bakery, Penny Street, Lancaster, LA1 1XF - 01524 841888.

Toll House Inn, Penny Street, Lancaster, LA1 1XT - 01524 599900

Firths Jewellers, St Nicholas Arcade, Lancaster, LA1 1UH - 01524 63819

Fabulous Foods, Morecambe - Found on Facebook

Chad Tremble Dairyman, Lancaster - Found on Facebook

Atkinsons Fish and Chips, Lancaster Road, Morecambe, LA4 5TJ - 01524 411632

The Whale Tail Cafe, Penny Street, Lancaster, LA1 1XN - 01524 845133

Scale Hall Plaice, Torrisholme Road, Lancaster, LA1 2UA, 01524 844000

Kanteena, Brewery Lane, Lancaster, LA1 1QL - 01524 35381

The Station Hotel, Hornby Road, Caton, LA2 9QS - 01524 770690

Sultan of Lancaster Experience, Lancaster University, LA1 4YA - 01524 593456

Crown Hotel Morecambe, Marine Road Central, LA4 4BJ - 01524 831841

Atkinson's Sandwich Bar, Primrose Street, Lancaster - 01524 931445

Burnley and Pendle

Snowdrop Doula Community Interest Company, Parker Lane, Burnley, BB11 2BU - 01282 926410

NCM Foodbank, Bradshaw Street, Pendle, BB9 0AZ - 07873 282 580

Inspiring Grace Foodbank, Regent Street, Nelson, BB9 8SG - 07788 270413

Ava Rose Hamilton Boutiques, Primet Bridge, Colne, BB8 9NG - 01282 870909

West Lancs

Jens Sandwich Bar, Liverpool Road North, Burscough, L40 4BY- 07947 926453

The Birchwood Centre, Heversham, Skelmersdale, WN8 6QQ - 01695 728391

Birchwood Centre, Skelmersdale, West Lancashire, WN8 6AN

The Courtyard Cafe, Sandy Lane, Skelmersdale, WN8 8LH - 07725 808701

Edge Hill University, Saint Helens Road, Ormskirk, L39 4QP - 01695 575171