I was going to say something very similar Jane10
Isn’t all this negativity depressing?
Thank goodness in the real world they are in the minority.
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Not sure how successful it's going to be for our age group.
I believe the discount scheme is only available during the month of August, Monday to Wednesday.
A lot of restaurants in our area (East Cambridgeshire) are closed. When they are up and running it will be the school holidays so I'm not sure I will feel safe eating in a restaurant with a lot of children. That's if we can get a booking in the first place.
Quite a few restaurants around here don't even open on a Monday.
How do we know the cut in VAT will be passed on to the customer?
I was going to say something very similar Jane10
Isn’t all this negativity depressing?
Thank goodness in the real world they are in the minority.
Any increases in VAT have to be passed on to the customer so the retailer can still make a profit so any reduction should also be passed on. It's not their money, it's a tax. Customers should not be paying a tax which will not then be passed on to the IR
As I understand the issue with restaurants the deduction will be made from the bill if the restaurant participated in this scheme. It’s not a question of vouchers which can be passed on to others. It lasts for the month of August so may well benefit families during the school holiday which is always an expensive time of year.
Alcohol is not part of the deal but if VAT is reduced then the pub landlord will be paying less for his brewery bill.
Will this be passed on to the customer?
I can see why people think it doesn't matter because it's helping the restaurant trade but a tax is a tax.
It's a bit like if you are self employed and the only way you can pay your income tax is to pay it in at a bank and the person behind the counter says, 'I'm a bit short this month so I'll have a bit of that'
Probably not the best of examples but it's all I can think of.
Dinahmo
Peardrop50 Of course the VAT reduction is to help the customer. That's the whole point of it. Instead of paying £2 on top of a £10 bill you'll only be paying £5. Although because lots of smaller establishments will have VAT inclusive prices is anyone going to notice if the prices have changed?
I've just realised that I should have typed 50p not £5.
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It must be so awful to witness people without smiling faces - a bit like having to witness the homeless in doorways if you live in a post part of town. How dreadful!
It’s really not my duty to go out to eat if a) I don’t feel safe and b) I don’t want the experience of dining in a COVId safe environment.
For those of you who have a Cote Brasserie in your area, I’ve been using their home delivery service which I can really recommend and which is continuing.
Jane whatever happened to Lara’s plea for us to me nicer to each other?
suziewoozie
Jane whatever happened to Lara’s plea for us to me nicer to each other?

You already know the answer to that.
growstuff
It must be so awful to witness people without smiling faces - a bit like having to witness the homeless in doorways if you live in a post part of town. How dreadful!
posh not post
Those people complaining about people complaining are probably the same people who complain about not being “allowed” to be offensive. i.e.“ say what they think”
And once again the insults fly. Some people don't need to eat out to help out, they need to eat their words!
Anyway back to the discussion, what if I go to the pub and have a bottle of wine with my meal, could an unscrupulous landlord to ring it through as food?
Ellianne
And once again the insults fly. Some people don't need to eat out to help out, they need to eat their words!
Anyway back to the discussion, what if I go to the pub and have a bottle of wine with my meal, could an unscrupulous landlord to ring it through as food?
All pubs give an itemised bill, in my experience.
I was only commenting on a poster above who was complaining about people being negative- as if such a comment wasn’t negative in itself, it wasn’t an insult, it was pointing out the inconsistency in the comment.
Anyway, I won’t eat out anymore than I would have, which isn’t much. Although some obviously will, let’s hope it’s not just a flash in the pan. There is a difference in a quick pizza with the kids where half price will be an attraction, and a fine dining evening out at a good restaurant. I doubt if £10 off will make much difference to those who are seeking the latter.
To clarify ... not you, vegansrock, the term insulting was used further up. Sorry.
PS * vegansrock* I like your analogy - flash in the pan!! This topic really is on the boil now! 
Thank goodness some people try to see a chink of light at times and appreciate any attempts to help.
With the number of redundancies announced over the last few days, I would have thought that people would have wished to do all they can to try and prevent further such announcements.
However, there are those on here who obviously do not wish to carry out such action, and in that demonstrate they care little for anyone else but themselves.
However, those on a private pension or investment income should consider the fact that many of the larger companies and organizations now coming under severe financial stress are the companies where their pension and other investments have been placed.
No such organisations, no such pensions or investment income. That they should consider.
"With the number of redundancies announced over the last few days, I would have thought that people would have wished to do all they can to try and prevent further such announcements."
Quite true, Grandad. I wont be biting off the hand that feeds me (!!), and by that I could include government's. Eating out is truly a means of helping out when dough is scarce.
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Grandad1943
With the number of redundancies announced over the last few days, I would have thought that people would have wished to do all they can to try and prevent further such announcements.
However, there are those on here who obviously do not wish to carry out such action, and in that demonstrate they care little for anyone else but themselves.
However, those on a private pension or investment income should consider the fact that many of the larger companies and organizations now coming under severe financial stress are the companies where their pension and other investments have been placed.
No such organisations, no such pensions or investment income. That they should consider.
How dare you.
Turret, How dare I what??????
Surely this is just the kind of post that deliberately seeks to judge people, put them down and hold them responsible for things beyond their control..
There was a whole thread started by GNHQ about this kind of sniping.
Apologies, should be furret in my above post.
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