Tom Kerridge has told lonely pensioners who can't afford to put their heating on at home to go to their local pub to stay warm.
The Michelin-starred chef said pubs are 'so important' for offering a community space for nearby residents, particularly during the cost of living crisis.
Kerridge - who first won acclaim for his cooking at the Hand & Flowers gastropub in Marlow, Buckinghamshire - appeared on the podcast as he opened his newest restaurant in the heart of Chelsea on Tuesday.
Speaking on Kate Thornton's podcast White Wine Question Time, he said human interaction is 'vitally important' to everyday life, and that 'pubs provide that like nowhere else'.