Eat Out to Help Out.

More money for Wetherspoons - they’ve already had millions off the taxpayer.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/07/chancellor-announces-50--off-meal-discounts-in-august/

I don't think it can be used for takeaways or alcohol.

I thought I heard that it applied to take awats too. We had a take away last night that cost £20.

I think that a potential bomb has been thrown into the ring in the form of the report of the Covid aerosol. Now thought to be much wider spread than initially reported, particularly in enclosed spaces like restaurants.

Evidence of this has come from a Chinese restaurant and the widespread level of infection.

I wouldn't feel safe despite distancing. A lot of potential handling of food, crockery etc. by staff who can't be washing their hands all the time.

Will Thursdays be quiet ?

We did for the first time since lockdown have a cream tea in the garden of a little tea room while visiting Lynton in Devon the other day.

It was great and we both felt better for plucking up the courage to go in. After all, we all cannot stay locked down indefinitely, and we have to at least make an attempt to get life back to something resembling normal in as much as is possible.

Well, it's good for the tourist eateries because the visitors will dine out when they arrive at the beginning of the week and be too stuffed to eat any more on Thurs/Fri., leaving those days for the serious diners!
I know nothing about the catering industry merlotgran except to say my Waitrose doesn't have much on a Monday!

I've been in the trade, Ellianne so I know all the tricks and when you are desperate for every penny there are plenty to choose from.

I'd have been thrilled to bits if it had been a blanket discount across the whole week.

You might be right merlotgran about "specials" being put together on Mon/Tues/Weds because it must be so difficult for eateries to gauge how much to order in at the moment. Food being perishable, you either over order and have to throw a lot away or under order and run out.

Done my bit.
Had a coffee and a croissant in the garden of the local cafe; delicious.

I’m not complaining as I probably won’t eat out in August anyway with DH still isolating and perforce me too. I have been buying some lovely frozen ready cook meals from Cook. Their prawn linguine is lovely and like their chicken and mushroom lasagne and venison lasagne doesn’t need anything else except a bottle of vino! Their coq au vin is pretty good too but you will need veg to go with it. They have very good reports and it’s about £8 for 2 portions. They also do single portions. It’s free delivery over £30 and I have 4 lovely meals on their way this a Friday. Don’t need to eat out. Anyone want my vouchers?

Will there be a guarantee that anyone eating at the beginning of the week when pubs/restaurants are generally quieter be offered the normal menu and not a 'special' which has been put together to use up stocks from the previous weekend?

I live in a rural area where not many places are open on a Monday unless you travel into town and eat at one of the chains.

How will we know if the reduction in VAT has been passed on to the customer?

Beverages are not normally part of a meal deal so will the prices of drinks be hiked up?

Just concerns, JenniferEccles, not complaints.

Sounds good to me. I know my DS's restaurant will be very keen to get customers back in. They are planning hard and will do their utmost to maintain hygiene. DS actually caught Covid 19 in March before lockdown.
Not convinced that Scotland will pass on this benefit though.

EllanVannin

It depends what your expectations are Whitewavemark2. The government don't have to this.

My expectations rather naively were that the actuality would live up to the headlines. Nothing more or less.

If they had said in the headlines. £10 voucher for eating out then that would have been fine.

But they have previous form don’t they? Remember the headlines £350 million?

My own refusal is that I don't eat out so I'm hoping that the vouchers are transferable to give to my D for her and the children.

It depends what your expectations are Whitewavemark2. The government don't have to this.

Here we go again.
The government realises the difficulties facing these places, hence the introduction of the discount scheme.

Why can’t the complainers be pleased and see it for what it is - a way to tempt customers back by offering a bit of a discount?

I think it’s an excellent idea and I hope it proves popular.

Honestly, there is no pleasing some people is there?

maggie no not free and neither were the headlines promising that, but we might have guessed that the headlines by the Tories are never true or live up to their promise.

Well I for one won’t be turning up my nose at 50% off, or at trying new restaurants if our usuals aren’t signed up. We’re looking forward to eating out again.

I don’t really see what the moans are about (before the scheme’s even started!). Were you expecting it for free?

Also from what I heard it only applies to restaurants that apply to join the scheme so may not be able to use it at your favourite eating hole anyway. Probably be your nearest Wetherspoons, if he isn’t still on the naughty list, Or MacDonalds. Wonderful!!

My daughter, who's an avid voucher collector, seems to get more than £10 off every time she takes me out for a meal.

What a let down that was.

Quite so wwmk2 I thought the same.