Eat out to help out

[mummabear1967]

This sounds like a great scheme and I am
Going to make an effort to avail of it at least once before it comes to an end at the end of the month!

But I do find it a strange that they don’t do it at the weekends? I work Mon-Fri and whilst I could probably do it sometime between Mon-Wed, it would be easier to go out on a Friday or Saturday night. I’d have thought including the weekends would have been better. Anyone else agree?

You really haven't got the scheme have you ?

Just got home from a family meal out. £33 or 4 adult meals (DS and DD1 are too big for kids meals) and one childs meal. 2 Starters and 5 drinks (which were pepsi/tango). I think its a great scheme

Might have to do it more often this month.

We have just come back from a Marston's pub (got there for 6pm). When I went to order food the cashier said they had no steak or gammon left as they'd been so busy.

I wish they’d keep it going indefinitely

I am a bit confused whether collection is valid? I understand takeaway isn’t

That makes me feel old 😀

I wish they’d keep it going indefinitely

It's costing £500 million for the month of August.

@CakeMiddleton

I wish they’d keep it going indefinitely

It's costing £500 million for the month of August.

Surely they get it back though? Businesses pay taxes

@CakeMiddleton

I wish they’d keep it going indefinitely

It's costing £500 million for the month of August.

I don't know where that figure comes from as they have no way of knowing what the take up will be but as I said above if my town is anything to go by it could cost a significant amount.

I don't personally find the contribution-to-obesity argument convincing. People who eat healthily anyway will just order healthy options when eating out. People like me who don't particularly, won't.

Heartsonacake - It’s been targeted at all restaurants. The majority of independent restaurants around me are taking part.

If they’re not near you it’s not because they don’t know about it but rather they’ve chosen not to.

Local independent restaurants near me are taking part and i’m delighted they are being supported. I don’t think they needed to do a blanket scheme that supports profitable big chain fast food outlets though. I’m glad Kazza’s son had a good day but I don’t think the Govt should be subsiding 20 chicken nuggets for £2.35!
Did big fast food chains really need help to get people through the doors?

How high do you think taxes are?! 😂😂😂

@SuzieCarmichael

How high do you think taxes are?! 😂😂😂

With all the businesses in the country I’m sure they rake quite a bit in

Did big fast food chains really need help to get people through the doors?

Mumratheevergiving Burger King have closed 53 restaurants and had 1,600 job losses. Frankie & Benny’s is closing 125 sites and sacking 3,000 workers. Bella Italia has gone under with 1,900 job losses.

So yes, the big chains also need the help. Being big doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t struggling.

@lifesalongsong - god knows where my lockdown addled brain got that figure from! I suppose they've got to estimate how much they can cover.

CakeMiddleton
I wish they’d keep it going indefinitely

It's costing £500 million for the month of August.
Mummabear1967 - Surely they get it back though? Businesses pay taxes

We will all be paying this back through various taxes. As with the furlough scheme it’s great to have these things to support the economy but the public will ultimately end up with the bill.

And Govt will still get VAT.
The deduction is after VAT.

So if your bill for two people comes to £20, you'll get the discount on (I think) £18 - so you'll pay £11ish.

Can someone tell me exactly how it works?

What does it mean 50% off up to £10 per person?

Yes it sounds simple but my little thick brain can’t understand what that means?

So if I went out for a meal with my family that cost £200, would that mean I would only pay £100? Or what does the £10 per person thing mean?

Yes I know I’m dense

50% off up to a maximum of £10 per head, not including alcohol

I presume it means that if each person’s meal cost more than £20, you’d still only get £10 off per person. Booze not included.

So if you spent £200 on 4 people, you’d get £40 off.

I find the up to £10 bit hard to figure out too so if me and DS each have a £10 meal, he total amount I pay is £10. If we each have a meal that costs £11, the total amount I pay is £12?

You get food and soft drinks for 50% off but you can only get a maximum of £10 off per person. So a £15 bill would cost you £7.50 if you were on your own. If there were 4 of you each spending £15 each the final bill would be £30. If you spent £25 per head you would on!y get £10 off per person.

My wedding anniversary was on lock down. Just booked our favourite Italian with home made ice cream for next Monday.

@mummabear1967 I kind of agree and yes I understand that they're trying to get them more custom on quieter days but won't it just mean more people will decide to go out for a meal mon-wed and pay less than they'd pay on a weekend so weekends will be quieter? ...... I eat out a couple of times a month and will definitely be choosing mon-wed over weekends this month!

[quote Thegreymethod]@mummabear1967 I kind of agree and yes I understand that they're trying to get them more custom on quieter days but won't it just mean more people will decide to go out for a meal mon-wed and pay less than they'd pay on a weekend so weekends will be quieter? ...... I eat out a couple of times a month and will definitely be choosing mon-wed over weekends this month! [/quote]
Yeah that’s so true!!

heartsonacake - Burger King have closed 53 restaurants and had 1,600 job losses. Frankie & Benny’s is closing 125 sites and sacking 3,000 workers. Bella Italia has gone under with 1,900 job losses.

So yes, the big chains also need the help. Being big doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t struggling.

It is a shame but some of these chains like Frankie and Benny's were in trouble long before the pandemic. We have seen a lot of chains go under in recent years like Jamies Italian and Giraffe and a lot more chains rationalise their number of stores. I'm certainly not wishing people out of jobs but as this was already a vulnerable sector I don't think this tax payer funded scheme will save chains that are already precarious (Cafe Rouge being an early casualty).

I suppose my main gripe with the scheme is that I don't think the Government (through taxpayer money)should be subsidising fast food.