Eat Out to Help Out.

Grandad1943

If those who can spend carry out that action, that can and will be massive action throughout the world.

Nothing else is sustainable in the long term.

The issue is the lack of spending which happens when economies hit rock bottom.

This happens for lots of reasons. Confidence and unemployment being the main factors.

The tool used in the past which you have hinted at is Keynesianism in the form of demand. But in such a sharp downturn aggregate demand in the form you are suggesting won’t be sufficient to incentivise firms to hire workers to ease employment.

We know from previous recessions like post war, government intervention can stimulate demand, but the question is how much stimulation is needed.

My argument is that given the depth of the recession (comparable or worse than the 1930s) and the amount of stimulation needed then ,we need something very similar.

My worry is that whilst Sunak appears to recognise the need for stimulation he has been neither imaginative nor courageous enough to carry this out.

Yes we will be supporting our local cafes and restaurants - having tea with a friend this afternoon and just ordered a take away from our favourite curry house - DH is took crook to go out - did his back in on the 5th Tee on Tuesday.
Seeing daughter and family on Saturday for the first time in 4 months so definitely going to her local pub proably the garden as she has a large dog and then a lovely Sunday lunch at another gastro pub - no dogs this time.
I did wonder if this new scheme for August included The Ritz.

Really nice to read some positive posts. We shall certainly take advantage of this scheme and help out where we possibly can. Rishi Sunak! A brilliant Chancellor! A future P.M? I certainly think so! Watch this space, carefully!!

If those who can spend carry out that action, that can and will be massive action throughout the world.

Nothing else is sustainable in the long term.

Full credit to the establishments that opened and are adhering to they strict rules. Come August though I fear that just like a lot of the population have been ignoring social distancing in stores etc people and establishments will become lax in these types of establishments too. Familiarity breeds contempt! I would eat outside but not under cover.

We all want to help kick start the economy as much as we can.

Those of us who are lucky enough to have a good income with no worries of redundancy can do the most.

I think too jane where people can see that businesses are passing on things like the VAT reduction etc, then they deserve our support.

But and it is a massive but, no one must run away with the idea that efforts like those mentioned will kick start our economy.

What has happened to the U.K. and indeed the world is massive. It needs massive action to get it going again.

I am like many I am going to just watch how things pan out for a couple of weeks but I am getting very annoyed how many people are just prepared to moan and put a downer on anything suggested. This attitude is not helping we need some sort of normality to look forward to ! I know I do .

I won't make a special effort to eat out on those days, as in normal times I didn't anyway. We have continued to have takeaways throughout the lockdown to support local businesses

In my 'small corner' we'll happily support small local restaurants. My DS's restaurant has had to make 7 staff redundant. A huge percentage of their staff. With the new scheme they are hoping to re employ them. Good news for 7 families.
Meanwhile, due to the VAT reduction on hospitality we're adding an extra night to our short break in October. This means another whole day of visiting places and paying admissions as well as lunch out etc and all on top of the hotel having another night's income with all the knock on effects on staffing and supplies from that.
It's micro economics but if this sort of thing is going on throughout the country it's the start of a wave of positivity which is sorely needed. Me in my small corner and you in yours.

Topcat7

Yes we will. Table booked for tomorrow evening but of course will be following all the guidelines and as an extra precaution will take my ow hand sanitiser and wipes. This virus could be with us for years and getting back to as near normal as possible is essential for all our well being as well as supporting businesses.

You won’t be getting your “Eat out to help out” voucher for tomorrow., I’m afraid.
Mondays - Wednesdays

I do wonder what the cumulative effect of this will be. Even if every single household in the country took up this voucher offer once a week in August would that in any way compensate for the number of tourists missing? China is one of the major contributers to the tourist industry and they won't be coming, most probably no Americans will come, which leaves a huge gap which won't be fillled by this scheme.

I am just thankful that Rishi Sunak is the Chancellor - he comes across as very intelligent and pragmatic (not wedded to idiology); in stark contrast to the absolute shower that comprises the rest of our so-called government (and don't get me started on Bojo). It's a gimmick, but hopefully it will at least start the conversation (as it has done here).

All the pubs and restaurants in our area are taking every measure to keep us safe. I have no qualms about visiting them and look forward to helping them out via this scheme. Indeed we have helped them keep their heads above water throughout lockdown by regularly buying takeaway and food deliveries from them.

We have all got used to living in our own little cocoons for the last few months and now it is time to venture out again. Safely of course. This is a way of encouraging us to do so and helping us to realise that it will actually be ok.

I applaud the government for this initiative and wish people would stop playing politics and moaning about everything they do. It is so negative and petty.

I'm afraid I won't be tempted. We don't eat out much anyway.

Well I shall be taking advantage of the offer £10 per person off the price of your meal. Perhaps it is a gimmick but I think Rishi Sunak is doing a fabulous job doing everything possible to help get the country back on its feet. I'm glad to be out and about again and spending to help the economy.

Yes we will. Table booked for tomorrow evening but of course will be following all the guidelines and as an extra precaution will take my ow hand sanitiser and wipes. This virus could be with us for years and getting back to as near normal as possible is essential for all our well being as well as supporting businesses.

And that sums the situation up very well TerriBull. Our town thrives on tourism and it’s student population, and small independent shops, cafes and bistros are everywhere. No one wants those businesses to fail.

It's a hard balance, I completely understand both points of view, I miss eating out and possibly I would contemplate it where the seating arrangements were outside and well spaced. I hate to think of any business going to the wall, when I drive down my local high street we've quite a few independent cafes, how hard it is to start a small business, I would really like to support them.

We have a table booked for Friday evening with the restaurant of choice doing everything they should to be as safe as possible. I will e taking extra precautions such as hand sanitiser and wipes but after 4 months am really looking forward to going out somewhere other than the supermarket.

On a separate note getting my hair cut today - yaaaaaaaay.

This horrible virus could be with is for years so we have to get to a new normal as best we can.

GagaJo

With heading for 60,000 dead, I think it is entirely rational not to trust what the government says is safe.

No politics at all. Self preservation. Unless wanting to stay alive is regarded as selfish now.

In the economic situation that Britain and many other countries are facing, self-preservation will rely very much on the preservation of millions of jobs in industries that at present are under huge threat.

What many seem not to realise that even where they have private pensions etc the money that pays those pensions is invested in many private sectors of the world economy that are now under severe threat.

This situation affects all without exception.

I'll wait until I see the covid figures for August before I decide anything, just at the moment with over 100 deaths every day it doesn't look good though.

Whitewavemark2

I think after yesterday’s debacle that it would be much better to address the poster and the post content rather than make veiled remarks which do not make clear who you are talking about.

Yes WW this is good advice. And rather that decry those who feel it is neither wise nor safe to venture into a crowded hostelry, perhaps try to understand why.

With heading for 60,000 dead, I think it is entirely rational not to trust what the government says is safe.

No politics at all. Self preservation. Unless wanting to stay alive is regarded as selfish now.

I think after yesterday’s debacle that it would be much better to address the poster and the post content rather than make veiled remarks which do not make clear who you are talking about.

I very much hope it will prove a lifeline for the smaller possibly family run restaurants and pubs - thinking of some of our local country pubs which are owned by local residents or possibly the many little eateries in the towns and cities. Emphatically NOT the likes of Wetherspoons - although their staff need jobs too but have been treated appallingly.
The Hospitality industry is one of the few we have left.