Eat Out To Help Out Scheme

The Chancellor’s statement yesterday brought some welcome news for worried restaurant owners and other eating establishments, including the introduction of the “Eat Out To Help Out Scheme”.

The Scheme will incentivise customers to eat in restaurants or other eating establishment by giving them a discount which can then be claimed back by the business from the government. The aim is for the scheme to drum up custom on quieter days of the week to build business back up. Registration for the scheme opens on Monday 13th July 2020.

The key features of the Scheme include:

• it can be used all day, every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 3rd to 31st August 2020;
• offers a 50% discount, up to a maximum of £10 per person, to diners for food or non-alcoholic drinks to eat or drink in;
• there is no limit to the number of times customers can use the offer during the period of the scheme;
• customers cannot get a discount for someone who is not eating or drinking;
• alcohol and service charges are excluded from the offer;
• business can register if they:
• sells food for immediate consumption on the premises
• provide its own dining area or shares a dining area with another establishment for eat-in meals
• was registered as a food business with the relevant local authority on or before 7thJuly

We have set out additional information on the Scheme based on further guidance released today which is available at click here, and includes:

• eligibility for the scheme;
• how to register for the scheme;
• the next steps once registered;
• records to be kept; and
• how to make a claim.