Ashby's Tap at No.76 will be re-opening tomorrow (Friday) for the sale of takeaway beers - thanks partly to Tollgate Brewery customers lobbying their MPs.

A click and collect service will now be available with the Calke-based brewery's Managing Director Kevin Elliott saying his pubs will be selling beers 'like DIY stores sell paint'.

But he also admits that this was a solution that almost did not happen as the Government initially wanted to stop pubs not only opening, but also prevent them selling takeouts during the latest coronavirus lockdown.

This was described as the micro-pub chain's 'only potential income lifeline'.

Kevin wrote on Facebook saying that so much pressure was applied to get this changed - particularly from local MPs - that a 'softer' restriction was brought in for pubs.

He also added that the same applies to Tollgate's Milking Parlour in Calke here the MP is South Derbyshire's Heather Wheeler.

Kevin posted: "To our amazing friends (aka Tollgate Customers)

"As we close our pubs again for the second time this year, I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of Team Tollgate and myself, to thank each and every one of you for your tremendous support and particularly over the last few days.

"For better or worse, we accepted closing our pubs again as part of the Government's 'lockdown strategy', but I never expected to wake up on Sunday morning to find the Government was closing down our only potential income lifeline in stopping the sale of takeaway beers.

"No such restriction was being forced on off-licences or supermarkets!

"Such restrictions would have fallen particularly hard on small, independent pubs and breweries like us.

"Our cry for help was answered tenfold.

"An incredible number of you messaged your MPs and, seeing Pauline Latham, Conservative MP for Mid-Derbyshire, the constituency MP of our Duffield pub, the Town Street Tap, standing up in Parliament earlier this week to raise the matter directly with the Prime Minister, was in no small part due to the messages she received from you good folk.

"We also know that Heather Wheeler, Conservative MP for South Derbyshire, the constituency MP of our brewery and the Milking Parlour, raised the matter directly with the home office.

"So, we now have a much 'softer' restriction allowing customers to collect pre-ordered beers direct from our pubs.

"We now have the chance to get through this latest lockdown, for however long it lasts.

"We re-open on Friday for 'click and collect' cask and keg beer in four-pint takeouts, plus cider and bottles, served to you in the street from our pub front doors and, whilst I never thought we'd be selling beer like DIY shops sell paint, at least we can! See you all very soon Thank you."

In May, we reported that the Tap At No.76 would be operating a takeout service during the first lockdown.

Ashby pub opening its doors for two days.

This co-incided with the Mayday Bank Holiday and the VE Day 75 celebrations before a regular takeout service was brought in during the summer.

And, in August, the Market Street micropub fully re-opened to the public with Covid-safe restrictions in place.

Market Street micropub preparing to open again.