Aibu to wish they would extend “eat out to help out”

[Mummypig2020]

Just that really.

🐷🐷🐷🐷

Absolutely not. My husband is a chef and has said it's been awful. Where he works is usually busy anyway but it's been even worse than usual. He's exhausted from 14-15 hour days in a kitchen. I hate the whole idea of it

We’ve used the scheme a couple of times this week, I don’t mean any harm to the businesses it is helping but I absolutely would not want it continuing on for very long, everyone seems to be over-ordering and over-eating because of it and it’s encouraging more and more people to eat and congregate together. Its just so easy to cram people in and indulge too much and after months in lockdown that is not a good thing. Judging myself as much as others and we’ve not used it as much as others

Was amazed yesterday to get half price on coffee for three! Had no idea coffee was included. Totally unnecessary.

I don't agree with it at all, and think enough tax has been spent on furloughing etc, when many are taking the piss by being paid to sit at home, moan about going back to work but happily go to parties, barbecues, crowded beaches etc. Obvs not including those who genuinely can't return to work and are abiding by the rules.

I don't agree with it, either. Waste of taxpayer money and it appears a lot people are taking the piss and being rude AF to the establishments just after a freebie and some places are pulling out of it already.

Yes... We have used it once weekly... And used smaller local businesses booked a week in advance.

Tapas was beautiful and four adults, one teen and a toddler ate and drank for less then £35.

Italian was as usual nice. Starters, mains and drinks for three adults and a toddler was £40.

Local good quality pub meal for two starters and two mains £20.00

Currently deciding if we can manage a meal out next week due to work. Will have to book quickly.

We had 5 pieces of cake and 5 drinks for £12 today. The small local independent cafe I went too (not a cheap chain!) said it's really made a difference to trade- doubling takings mon-wed. He also said that he'd heard that they were thinking of extending it.

On Monday we went to our local pub and got a really cheap meal- it wasn't that busy and I felt we were supporting the local economy.

Yesterday we had a relatively upmarket lunch (charcuterie plater/smoked fish platter) plus other bits, 3 drinks and 3 cakes and it was £22- another good saving.

I realise that as a tax player we will end up paying something but I think it's really helping to raise people's confidence that they can go out

It’s supporting the already wealthy not those who’ve suffered most. Photos of very rich MPs and Peers shovelling cheap lunches in smart restaurants turns my stomach.
Why not increase peoples basic money so that poorer families can support the economy more?

Yanbu! 🐷
We (family of 5) have eaten out at local pubs and restaurants twice a week this month and every time it has been half price as a main and soft drink cane to less than £20 per person. Last night an £88 meal came to £44 which makes a huge difference. Also used it at Costa at a service station twice and my teenagers have been to McDonalds a couple of times too. Apart from McDonalds, it hasn’t been crowded and tables have been spread out.
We can’t afford to eat out often normally and had 2 holidays cancelled this year so it’s been a lovely treat.

I haven't found it that cheap. We've done it twice. That's enough.

I don't think it should be extended.

Sorry should have said local independent pubs and restaurants all booked in advance

@SecretSpAD Cornwall doesn't seem to be doing too badly. £1m to help with tourism in Cornwall and £350,000 between Devon and Somerset. Doesn't seem quite fair, I was quite shocked when it was on BBC last night.

We ate out a couple of weeks back in the beer garden of an upmarket pub, had a really lovely meal for the price of basic pub grub and probably wouldn't have chosen to have gone there without it.

It's also helped my DS and his GF who have gone away for a couple of days this week and been able to take advantage at every meal . Given that DS is minimum wage and his GF furloughed it's been great for them , don't think they could have afforded it otherwise

Eaten out tonight. Should have been about £60, but came to £30. Just brill.

Personally I would rather the £500 million of tax payers money set aside by the Treasury for this scheme be used to provide breakfasts in primary schools, help food banks for the poor and help the homeless in winter. But I guess the majority would much prefer a cut price Nando's slap up and not care about those less fortunate.

On the one hand yes about cramming in together and over-eating.

On the other hand, it is wonderful, in these miserable times, for people to have something fun to do.

I haven't used it, though.

Just saw a FB post from our local Italian independent place to say they're offering 50% off through September too.

but it didn't work for some www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/08/19/hundreds-restaurants-pull-eat-help-staff-suffer-physical-mental/?li_source=LI&li_medium=liftigniter-rhr

We are a family of 2 adults and 4 teens, and rarely eat out together since they all starting having adult sized meals rather than the kids menu as it's usually so bloody expensive. The Eat Out Scheme has made it more affordable for us and it's been so lovely to all go out together once a week for a nice meal and not have to say no to puddings or extra (non-alcoholic) drinks for once. Our local gastropub (Marstons owned) is doing 50% of all food with no £10 cap so that's even better! Would love it to be extended for a while longer.

DD works in aforementioned gastropub (in a very "naice" area) and can testify to the horrible, entitled customers though. They had
to call the police one night after a large group became abusive to the staff after being told they couldn't all sit together due to the social distancing rules.

Apologies as I haven't read the full thread. I'm in the industry and there are very big hints that the chains have had such good results from it they will continue to offer it taking the hit to profit themselves. The Mitchell & Butler pub chain have agreed this and if they do it others will follow.

Personally I would rather the £500 million of tax payers money set aside by the Treasury for this scheme be used to provide breakfasts in primary schools, help food banks for the poor and help the homeless in winter. But I guess the majority would much prefer a cut price Nando's slap up and not care about those less fortunate.

You've spectacularly missed the point of the scheme.....

and anyway I've used it in local, independent pubs and restaurants and these need the business to stay open. It's been great to see them busy again.

To get a £20 meal for £10 you first need to have £10 to spend. The poor are not able to take advantage of this scheme. Neither are those with health issues who are still staying at home due to health concerns. It’s basically a discount for the middle class, and as such I have never agreed that it’s a good idea. I’ll be glad when it’s over.

But Glamazoni it's not just on meals. It's on soft drinks, teas, coffee, cake etc, anything that can be bought in a local cafe aswell, so the poor can take advantage. And Maccies, people are getting meals at maccies for £1. Its not just meals. And you dont need a tenner anyway. Its 50% off up to a tenner. So a £10 meal becomes a fiver etc etc. So the poor can absolutely take advantage. It also helps keep the poor in work, waitresses, cooks, washer uppers etc.

@Glamazoni erm no - you get a discount up to £10. So if you have £5 to spend you can eat out. Hardly the realms of only the wealthy.

We've eaten in our local taco place twice. Yesterday we had 3 plates of fish tacos (so 6 total), a side of crab balls and a side of corn fritters with salsa, guac etc and 2 diet cokes it was £16 and bloody lush food!

Oh and yesterday in costa an oat milk cappuccino, a bar of chocolate and an egg mayo sandwich for £3.50 was nice!

We went to a local tapas last week and ordered loads! It was £30 it would of been £50. Were enjoying treating ourselves to nice meals out this month!