Phil Vickery offers takeaway service following restaurant launch delay

Rugby legend Phil Vickery, who was due to open his new restaurant No 3 in Cheltenham this week, has instead launched a takeaway service.

The former England rugby captain and Celebrity MasterChef winner aims to provide high-quality cuisine that customers can eat in their own home.

Vickery said: "Cheltenham and the wider area has a fantastic food scene and it's one I've been looking to get into for some time. For years, people have been asking me what I'm planning to do next.

"Having had many conversations and ideas, it seemed that, last year, the stars were aligning and I was presented with the opportunity to form a series of perfect partnerships, including a brilliant team and suppliers, as well as getting the right landlord on board. Then, out of nowhere, Covid-19 and the subsequent crisis appeared, seemingly scuppering our plans.

"Not wanting to set all the hard preparation work aside, I was determined to continue. So, putting fresh plans in place and implementing them over the past few weeks, we're now in a position to launch No 3 as a collection service, providing people with access to high-quality food at no risk to themselves."

The initial launch menu will include traditional dishes such as cottage pie, red wine slow-braised beef, and Parmesan-crusted chicken breast.

Speaking about his success on Celebrity MasterChef, Vickery, said: "I'm not a chef; I'm a cook. I am hugely passionate about food, the way it's cooked and its purpose. I want to offer good, tasty, wholesome food, supplemented by people coming together, having fun, sharing conversations and generally feeling good, all while eating genuinely delicious meals. Of course, at present, this social element isn't possible, but we can still provide a fantastic taste experience for people to enjoy."

The offering is named after the number of Vickery's jersey when playing for Gloucester Rugby, the England national team and the British Lions.