Foodies who eat out in August will receive up to 50% off their bill, Chancellor, Rishi Sunak has announced.
The ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme will be available on a Monday to Wednesday during August and will offer discounts of up to £10 per head for every table. The discount is available to all, including children and is redeemable as many times as required. Businesses can register online from Monday 13th June to be included.
Discussing the scheme, Sunak said: “Meals eaten at any participating business – Monday to Wednesday – will be 50% off, up to a maximum discount of £10 per head for everyone, including children. Businesses will need to register and can do so through a simple website, open next Monday.
“Each week in August, businesses can then claim the money back, with the funds in their bank account within five working days.”
Around 130,000 hospitality businesses are eligible for the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme, including 90% of pubs that serve food.
Sunak also announced a huge reduction in VAT, in the hopes it gets customers back into pubs and restaurants across the country. He added: “I’ve decided, for the next six months, to cut VAT on food, accommodation and attractions.
“This is a £4 billion catalyst for the hospitality and tourism sectors, benefiting over 150,000 businesses, and consumers everywhere – all helping to protect 2.4 million jobs.”
The plan aims to protect the 2.4 million jobs in the UK’s hospitality sector. With hospitality making up 8% of the UK’s workforce, the government is keen to get the industry back up and running again.
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