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Eat out to help out

112 replies

Givemethechocolate · 15/02/2021 14:46

I heard in the news that this could possibly be coming back. What do people think of this? Do you think it contributed to increased cases of covid?

OP posts:
Circumlocutious · 15/02/2021 16:22

@Katie517

Schools and universities going back contributed to the rise in cases not EOTHO. It was a great boost for hospitality businesses and I would use it again if they were to do it in spring. All those saying it’s madness have no idea what kind of a mess we are going to be in once we have to start repairing the economy anything that gives the industry a boost is good for me.

I hate how people say “restaurants aren’t essential, I never go to pubs, why can’t you just cook at home?!” It’s a multi million pound industry that employs a huge amount of people so in my opinion it’s very essential.

There's no point in boosting hospitality if you're going to close it again for months on end. Whatever is introduced has to be part of a sustainable re-opening strategy.
VaVaGloom · 15/02/2021 16:24

@LucilleTheVampireBat

Great idea. We went out loads under this scheme last year, and would do the same again if something similar is implemented again.
@LucilleTheVampireBat but would you go out to eat without the scheme? I would.

We as taxpayers are going to be paying for subsidised meals out for a long time. I'd rather my tax went into paying for schools / NHS / social services.

Maverickess · 15/02/2021 16:25

I'm not sure if it contributed significantly to a rise in cases, though I know it definitely contributed to a rise in arseholery and shitty, entitled behaviour and a drop in basic manners.
In all my years in hospitality I have never been on the recieving end of so much abuse than August 2020.
No concept that the new ways of working made things take a bit longer, no care if staff or fellow diners were safe, demands to 'squeeze' people into already full areas and abuse when you couldn't.
At first we thought it was just us, that we were somehow getting it terribly wrong, but as August went on we realised that it was happening everywhere, that offer please 50% off food and they lose their minds and all perspective about how to behave like a decent human being.
And we were supposed to be grateful for that as they were helping out!
We had supply issues because of the sudden massive demands and couldn't get some things and got shit for that.
As a pp said, one star reviews from people who'd been turned away at the door without a booking because we were fully booked.
It was utter madness and I'm even more glad I'm out of hospitality if they're going to do it again because I'm not sure I'd take all that shit again without biting back this time!

SonnetForSpring · 15/02/2021 16:27

@Ohnomoreno

I'm not an epidemiologist , I should think no one else is on this thread. So how should any of us know this. And no, some dumb soundbites from a journalist with a history degree are not proof of anything. I think we can all agree that the food and drink sector will be gone without customers though.
You really don't have to be an epidemiologist to understand airborne transmission. Eating/talking/laughing without masks inside for an hour or more...then someone else comes and does exactly the same thing. Its absolute madness. People can bury their heads in the sand but there will be consequences. The reason we keep having these lockdowns is because we keep repeating our mistakes. Einstein is weeping. Insanity.
LimaFoxtrotCharlie · 15/02/2021 16:27

I object to the taxpayer subsidising meals for people who could afford to pay for themselves and would have gone out to eat anyway.
I think there is so much pent-up demand for eating out that there will be no need for a “boost”; most people I know can’t wait to go to a restaurant with friends

doireallyneedaname · 15/02/2021 16:28

I highly doubt it will come back. I hope it doesn’t. Outrageous.

ginnybag · 15/02/2021 16:31

No, if only because they've had it and other industries - equally hard hit - have not.

Gyms, pools, dance studios, softplays, sports facilities - all get people moving and active after a year of being mostly stuck in boxes. Much better plan.

Hairdressers etc - mostly small business's that have been forced closed. A fresh hair cut can make a world of difference to someone's mood, and would be helpful for those now job hunting.

The arts and museums and galleries - Britain's huge cultural heritage. Performing arts have been in limbo for a year. Subsidizing shows and tickets and entry fees would really help them recover and would allow people who could never normally afford access to them to go. Getting the West End and the other theatres open and operating again (and as full as is safe) boosts the economies of the areas around them as well. It isn't just performers - the bars and restaurants around them pick up trade. People travel to attend. People get hair cuts and beauty treatments done for special night's out. They buy new clothes.

Travel vouchers - if you want to fund the hospitality sector, both the above and the idea of giving people money towards day trips and breaks in the UK is better. People eat out when they're out anyway - getting them away, helping them get a break, is better for mental health, better for the tourism sector, and trickles down to hospitality and leisure.

Fundamentally, the idea floated last year - of a one-off leisure and retail payment to each person - is a better plan than faffy schemes like Eat out to Help Out.

We need the economy moving, as soon as its safe. Boosting high street trade, tourism, gyms, theatres and cinemas trickles down though other sectors and gets them moving, too. Paying to operate is better than continuing to fund furlough, as it spreads the benefit around and helps get businesses up and operating again.

But, before any of it, we need much wider vaccination complete and a proper take-stock of the countries' financial position.

redcandlelight · 15/02/2021 16:36

I think it's a bad idea.
I could get behind it if it were for tables of 4 max and outside.

DrunkenKoala · 15/02/2021 16:38

Another one who hopes not, I’d rather taxpayers money went into health, social care and education. From what I heard during EOTHO all the local restaurants were rammed and I do think it probably a bit of a role but I also wonder how much holiday makers coming back into the country being told to isolate but not doing so actually contributed to the rise of infections.

Someone mentioned schools and universities being the reason, numbers did carry on rising when they went back but in some areas numbers were rising from mid Aug onwards.

I think it was a combination - holiday makers coming back, EOTHO and then schools and universities plus the new variant.

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 15/02/2021 16:41

My local cafe who are known for their top quality food and fantastic service nearly buckled under the pressure of this scheme so l hope for their sake it doesn't!

buttheywereonlysatellites · 15/02/2021 16:44

So it's just Deliveroo that have suggested it, not anyone from the government?

I admit we got a lot of use out of it last year, but most of the time (not all) we went to places with outside space so we could eat outside.
Does anyone here have any stats to show how much it's thought EOTHO contributed to a rise in cases? I wouldn't be surprised if it did, but I'd like to see the evidence.

bofski14 · 15/02/2021 16:47

It's absolute madness. This is the thing I don't get - if it's for protecting the industry and job losses, why is the discount only applied if you physically sit inside the restaurant but not if you take the very same food, at the same price and take it away? Same food, same cost. But no, you only get the discount if you sit in to give the illusion that everything is hunky dory and we KNOW it isn't. It's a smokescreen. Nothing more. It doesn't make any logical sense to encourage people to gather in an indoor space other than to all play a part in the show. It's bonkers.

everybodysang · 15/02/2021 16:53

it's such a terrible idea. For takeaway/delivery, maaaaybbee? But to go and eat inside pubs and restaurants when we know it contributed to the rise last time - madness.

warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/centres/cage/news/30-10-20-eat_out_to_help_out_scheme_drove_new_covid_19_infections_up_by_between_8_and_17_new_research_finds

It's so stupid.

Mummyoflittledragon · 15/02/2021 16:54

@Circumlocutious

Does the Chancellor work for the virus?

It cost £900 million last time, well exceeding the budget. And for what? Some places were covid secure, others were a fucking travesty.

Lol. No but maybe he should pay for this. And nurse the sick when they get ill.
Figgygal · 15/02/2021 16:55

Seriously it was a massive waste of money and completely contradictory last time round and it was found to have not had a significant economic impact anyway
Would be madness

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 15/02/2021 16:56

This government owes businesses something so I’m happy for this scheme to start again.

AlwaysLatte · 15/02/2021 16:57

Ok if restaurants really take the distancing seriously. We tried 4 different restaurants doing this last year and the precautions they took varied hugely.

3JsMa · 15/02/2021 17:02

Completely mad idea.
Is Boris&Co really unaware that it contributed to the rise in cases and 2nd wave Shock ?

twelly · 15/02/2021 17:04

My view is that given the pent up demand for eating out will be high once the lockdown is over (I know they for many the pandemic has brought hardship.) Therefore I do no t believe that government money could be better spent. Only the better off really benefit from this scheme, therefore it is a redistributes wealth to those who least need it

TheyIsMyFamily · 15/02/2021 17:06

It's a terrible idea, and basically forcing all taxpayers to pay for jolly eat out events for people who can already afford to do so.

Especially people who just shifted their nights out to the nights they could get taxpayers to help foot the bill.

I don't want to pay for this!

Hollanda40 · 15/02/2021 17:06

It wasn't so much about the case rises. For the owners of pubs and restaurants, it ended up with incredibly rude behaviour from the public and people demanding to know why they had to queue or couldn't get in. The attitudes I noticed were nothing short of disgusting.

Many staff were run off their feet and working stupid long hours with no consideration for their well being.

I don't like the idea and wouldn't partake although I would of course support our locals any other ways I could!

OakSnows · 15/02/2021 17:07

“Covid secure” is bollocks.
It’s airborne. If you have it, the person opposite you had it. If you have it, the person. Waking to the toilet behind you up to 30mins later has it.
The server only wearing a visor has it and sharing it with you.

Outside yes, inside they should just say “take the risk” as covid secure is a bollocks government term.

OakSnows · 15/02/2021 17:08

Our local place had people sitting back to back chairs touching and someone going round the tables doing card magic tricks.......

ConfusedLove · 15/02/2021 17:09

I hope it comes back. I didn't get to experience it the first time

Northernsoulgirl45 · 15/02/2021 17:12

Yeah peed me right off I had to pay full price for a takeaway McDonald's which would have been safer than eating in. No logic to it.

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