Eat Out to Help Out end date: Is the scheme being extended?

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EAT Out to Help Out diners only have two more days left to use the scheme to get up to 50% off meals – but is it being extended being August? We take a look.

The money-saving initiative was set up by chancellor Rishi Sunak to encourage people to go out and eat again following lockdown.

Eat Out to Help Out is set to end on August 31

The scheme sees Brits enjoy 50% off food and non-alcoholic drinks, up to a maximum of £10 per person, every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in August.

Businesses then claim back the money they’ve discounted from the government.

Eat Out to Help Out has been a big success so far, with more than 64million meals claimed by August 27 – the latest figures available.

It aims to help protect the jobs of the hospitality industry’s 1.8million employees by encouraging people to return to local restaurants, cafes and pubs where social-distancing rules allow.

Around 80% of hospitality firms stopped trading in April, with 1.4million workers furloughed, according to government data – the highest of any sector.

When does Eat Out to Help Out End?

Eat Out to Help Out is due to end on Monday, August 31 – so this will be the last day you can participate in the scheme.

And lots of major chains have said they’ll still run the scheme this day, despite it being August’s bank holiday Monday.

As Eat Out to Help Out only runs on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, that means you’ve only got two days left this month, including today, to enjoy discounted food. 

Eat Out to Help Out started on Monday, August 3.

Which places offer Eat Out to Help Out?

We’ve rounded-up a list of restaurants that are taking part in Eat Out to Help Out.

Some of the big-name brands that are offering the deal include McDonald’s, Costa and KFC.

The government has also released an Eat Out to Help Out postcode checker where you can see which places near you offer it.

Not every restaurant is automatically included in the scheme – businesses have to apply to take part.

Nearly 200 chain restaurants and larger cafes, hotels, and local councils have signed up to the scheme so far across the UK – and there will be smaller businesses and independent firms signed up too.

Will Eat Out to Help Out be extended?

Sadly, the government hasn’t announced any plans for Eat Out to Help Out to be extended beyond August yet.

The chancellor confirmed this in a chat with Channel 5 News on August 12, after being pressed on whether the scheme will carry on.

Speaking to political editor Andy Bell, he said: “That’s not the plan, the idea of this was to try and encourage people to get out.”

Mr Sunak continued: “The reason these things are successful is because they’re time limited.

“That’s the whole point and that’s why concentrating it in the month of August as we’ve emerged out of lockdown it brings the most impact to that sector.”

Will some restaurants continue to offer Eat Out to Help Out after this date?

Some restaurants have said they will continue the scheme after August 31, but this is very much on a case-by-case basis.

Businesses don’t have to do this, and any discounts they do offer can’t be reclaimed from the government.

Michael Smith, the owner of Smith’s in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, has promised to extend the deal from September 7 to September 30 after realising dozens of his faithful customers had not been able to cash in.

It opened its doors in 1999 and offers diners a French-style menu.

56 North, a restaurant in Edinburgh, said it too would also extend the offer in September and October. 

The owner posted on Facebook: “Due to the huge demand we’ve decided to extend our #eatouttohelpout for September and October ourselves! 50% off food up to £10pp and all we ask is you pre-book a table online selecting the offer when booking.

“We’d still encourage you to use the deal during August where we get the government support to help us.”

New Chapter, another restaurant in Edinburgh, will also be extending the scheme throughout September.

The firm wrote on Facebook: “We are very worried that when August finishes, people will stop dining out as often as they do now, so we’ve decided to take the risk and extend the scheme further, even if it means selling the food at cost price.

“The T&Cs will remain the same, available Monday to Wednesday throughout September (offer ends on September 30, 2020). See you soon!”

Restaurants aren’t the only places to get in on the deal – tearooms are also offering half-price treats.

Nando’s is one of the many chains that is taking part – see the full list of its discounts here.

Some restaurants have been forced to pull out of the scheme though after “rude diners abused staff”.