Eat out to Help out??

[thannyflaps]

Hi all,

I was wondering if someone can shed some light on this scheme that has come into effect. I nipped into subway to pick up some lunch today and make the most of the discount. However - I was told I had to sit down with my sub to get the discount... bear in mind this was a Subway and had about 6 seats inside the shoebox that is the restaurant!

I don't have an issue with sitting in a restaurant but where is the logic? Surely we should be encouraged to not congregate in restaurants and instead buy the food (boosting the economy) and take the food away?

Surely even restaurants that aren't chains could offer take out? Money is money right?

Can anyone explain what the heck is going on?

I don't know how people are still getting confused it's being explained every where.

It's for eating inside only. Not applicable to take away.

I agree though, it doesn't make a lot of sense to encourage people inside all together.

I agree it would make sense for it to be take away too but I think it’s very simple to understand.

The discount is only applied if you are eating in, thats the whole point of it.

Take-aways have been open for a while, so do not need to be incentivised to the same degree.

The discount is only for eating in, not take away.

The whole point is to help retain jobs in the sector by having people serve you etc

And takeaways have been running throughout. The scheme is to try to get people into restaurants again

Just say you're eating in and then take it out?

You have to sit in.

Because it's not really aimed at that kind of place. They want people to stay and spend more (dessert, coffee etc). It's to support places which have not been able to trade throughout, which takeaways mostly have.

Tell them you're going to sit and walk out. They aren't going to chase you down the street once you've paid

It's to help restaurants get back in business and serving staff back at their jobs. I had a nice lunch at Pizza Express today and all of the restaurants nearby were full.

Takeaways have been able to operate throughout lockdown.

Saving £2 by going to Subway is a bit disappointing. You really want to go to places with £15 -20 main courses.

We went to a Beefeater restaurant and saved £46 on 2 courses for 4 people.

So far have saved £56, then £29, then £46 All on occasions when we would have eaten out anyway. Hooray. 🥳

@dementedpixie

We went to a Beefeater restaurant and saved £46 on 2 courses for 4 people.

The maximum savings for 4 people is £40.

Beefeater restaurants are not capping it at £10 each

@dementedpixie yes I can get that. I'm asking why would somewhere such as subway (or McDonalds) require you to sit down when the food is basically take away fast food. There is no table service for the staff to do so what's the benefit? Surely the scheme should only be open to business's that genuinely need it i.e actual restaurants and cafes.

@CraftyGin

Take-aways have been open for a while, so do not need to be incentivised to the same degree.

Yes I know about take aways but subway wasn't open throughout the pandemic. McDonald's etc were all closed so why can't they offer discounts to customers going out the door? Why do you have to specifically sit down in order to get a discount?

Because that's the terms and conditions that the restaurants signed up to so they can't claim unless the people sit in rather than takeaway. Why should they be refused the chance to participate if they have tables and chairs you can use to sit in?

@3teens2cats

Because it's not really aimed at that kind of place. They want people to stay and spend more (dessert, coffee etc). It's to support places which have not been able to trade throughout, which takeaways mostly have.

Ok. I just don't get why the huge fast food chains get in on the action. Surely it should only apply to businesses that genuinely need it?

The more complicated you make a scheme the more difficult it is to administer and for people to understand. Saying it’s for any cafe/restaurant when people eat in keeps it simple. Like all of these things there will always be some businesses that benefit that really don’t need the assistance.