LOOKING for a way to beat the credit crunch and rising food prices?

How about a cooked lunch for just £1 - and no, it's not a joke.

Staff at the Man of Steel pub, in Pontfaen Road, Newport, came up with a 'Credit Crunch' lunch menu to help their customers beat the global economic downturn.

The menu has a selection of 18 different meals and was launched on Monday.

The idea came after the landlady, Alison Mcloughlin, met staff to discuss how to get people back socialising in pubs following the recent big downturn in custom.

"I thought we've got to do something otherwise we'd be the next to close - it's wonderful just to hear noise in here," she said.

Before this menu was introduced, Mrs Mcloughlin said she would get around five people in at lunchtimes, and so far this week she said they have had between 60 - 75 people in each day.

The deal is open to everyone from Monday to Saturday between 11.30am-2.30pm, and the pub even does the meals to takeaway.

Mrs Mcloughlin makes the majority of the food herself, buying in items such as coleslaw, chips and beans, and her cottage pie is a recipe from her grandmother.

To get all the food ready, Mrs Mcloughlin starts preparation work in the kitchen at 7.30am every day.

The menu will change every four weeks and will be a permanent feature at the pub.

Mrs Mcloughlin, who has been landlady for five years, said a lot of people come in thinking the price is a rumour, or that some wag has tampered with the chalkboard outside.

The Argus decided to check out the value menu after a shocked phone call to our offices from a customer who had just enjoyed his first £1 meal.

"At first, I thought it was a joke!" he told us.

When I stopped by for lunch yesterday, I overheard one customer at the bar shout in disbelief: "Fish and chips for £1, get lost!"

I chose the sausage and mash with a delicious onion gravy, and must say I thoroughly enjoyed my meal, with a portion size big enough to satisfy even a glutton like me.

Despite the bargain price, Mrs Mcloughlin said she does make a small profit on the meals.

She said: "The last two years have been a nightmare. All I want is people to come and buy a drink, see life again and start socialising. I feel 75 percent happier just hearing noise at lunch time, people laughing, joking and having a good time."

THE £1 menu inludes: Fish and chips Burger and chips Pizza and chips Pasty and chips Jacket potato with chilli con carne Jacket potato with coleslaw Hot dog and chips Cottage pie and chips Liver, mash and gravy Sausage, mash and gravy Egg on toast ENDS