The UK government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme has proved so successful during the month of August that some venues are extending the discount dining initiative.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak, launched the Eat Out to Help Out scheme on 3 August as way of getting cautious diners back into restaurants. The initiative offers diners a 50% discount when they eat in at restaurants registered with the scheme, up to a maximum of £10 discount per diner.
Running on Mondays to Wednesdays throughout August, in its first three weeks 64 million meals were discounted through the scheme, which has no minimum spend and no maximum group size.
The 84,000 venues signed up to the scheme are reimbursed by the government for the diner discounts.
Eat Out to Help Out has proved so popular that a number of UK restaurants will continue to offer diner discounts after the scheme ends on 31 August.
The Bills chain is extending the scheme off its own bat during September.
In London, steakhouses Gaucho and M will be doing the same, as will Kricket, Benares, Dalloway Terrace, Smokestak, Homeslice, Farzi Café, Polpo, Murano, Café Murano, Arabica, Bala Baya, Brindisa, Norma, Paladar, Lady of the Grapes, Camino and Mama Shelter London.
“We are so pleased at the outcome of the August scheme, it was a no brainer for us to extend it ourselves in September. We feel it’s important to welcome the office workers and returning tourists back with the offer,” said Eran Tibi, head chef and founder of Bala Baya.
Aqua Shard, Hutong and Aqua Kyoto will aslo be extending the scheme throughout September, but with a £30 minimum spend.
“Today’s figures show that Brits are backing hospitality. This scheme has reminded us how much we love to dine out, and in doing so, how this is helping to protect the jobs of nearly two million people who work in hospitality,” Rishi Sunak said of the 64 million meal milestone.
