Eat out to help out discount scheme

[kelper]

Has anyone taken advantage of this scheme yet?

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-a-discount-with-the-eat-out-to-help-out-scheme
https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/eat-out-to-help-out/find-a-restaurant/
https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/eat-out-to-help-out/find-a-restaurant/restaurant-chains

 

[Thatscold]

Just taken the family to the pub for lunch. Saved me £30.

 

[Thatscold]

https://www.thequeensoak.com/

 

[jMac]

Only by accident! Took the mother in law out for coffee and cake this afternoon. Two coffees and two slices of cake for £4. Not bad. Wouldn’t normally expect change from a tenner.

 

[Horners]

Was meant to be going to Greece yesterday but canned it in the end so as we would have been eating out of a night am going to go out for lunch or dinner every day the offer is on and try and get round most of the local restaurants. It will basically be £40 off each meal for us.

 

[kelper]

£10 per person tops and no alcohol

 

[Jim Brewster]

'Did my bit' today and had a 3 course at a Thai. Had a really good pint of Cobra too, not discounted unfortunately hah

 

[WrexTheDragon]

No, nearist to me is McDonald's then a Burger king. I personally don't agree on this half priced junk food.

 

[Horners]

Every participating restaurant where I live in Beckenham packed to the rafters to the point that without a booking we struggled to find a table. The shortage of spaces was exacerbated by the fact that many other restaurants who have registered for the scheme did not open because Monday is their usual rest day. I would say they missed out and should consider maybe opening all week during August to make up some lost ground or shifting their day off to Thursday.

Anyway nice to see places buzzing and doing a good trade. We got our £40 off and will go out again for tea tonight.

 

[kelper]

MacDonalds are selling British or Irish fat and gristle to British fatties; why should they not benefit from the scheme?

 

[Jim Brewster]

Stay home, social distance, wear masks etc. then encourage everyone to flock to restaurants and you don't have to wear a mask, gotta laugh really

 

[samale]

Stay home, social distance, wear masks etc. then encourage everyone to flock to restaurants and you don't have to wear a mask, gotta laugh really

Don't forget the drive to tackle obesity

 

[Rodcx500z]

We live in a mad mad world

 

[Victor Churchill]

It occurred to me you could go to a street with a few places, do a starter in one, main in another, cheese/pud in another and knock off £30 per person ...

- except a. If dessert costs £20 a head then that's going some. b. Someone might think one was taking the p*$$ a bit.

 

[jof]

Isn't that just discount optimization?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

They have two options -

1] Keep the pubs & restaurants closed to stop the spread as you cannot eat and drink wearing a face covering.

2] Open them and hope people are sensible enough to keep a safe distance allowing the pubs to make some money and with luck not spread the virus.

The problem with [1] is most pubs will close and unemployment will be sky high.

The problem with [2] is after a few beers social distancing is a distant memory (see what i did there) and as we have already seen in the news pubs are a great way for the virus to spread once social distancing is ignored.

.

A Wetherspoon in Cumbria was shut after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus.

The William Rufus in Botchergate, Carlisle, was closed on Friday after an employee's test came back positive, the pub chain has confirmed.

A total 24 staff are now self-isolating, reports Lancashire Live. The boozer is reported to have reopened today following a deep clean.

The north west England city boozer closed early on Friday July 21 after the member of staff completed a home test kit after being concerned about the local outbreak.

It is understood the test was completed on July 27 and came back positive on July 30.

It is one of a group of Carlisle pubs where either staff or punters have tested positive for the virus in recent weeks.

Two shifts, on July 24 and 28, have been identified as a concern by authorities, as the the staffer had responsibilities through the pub on those dates.

Customer details have not been requested at this time, the chain said.

Wetherspoon spokesperson Eddie Gershon said: “Wetherspoon has taken the decision to temporarily close the pub.

“The local authority has not advised the company to close the pub.

“Both the local authority and public health bodies have been very helpful and supportive.

“Customer test and trace details have not yet been requested by the authorities but are available when needed.

“Wetherspoon will reopen the pub as and when it can get the number of staff needed to do so safely.”

Three other Cumbrian spots were identified as having among the highest infections rates in England, in the latest rolling seven-day data.

The Covid-19 data for every local authority showed that for the seven days up to July 28, Swindon, Melton, Eden in Cumbria had the highest rates, excluding the northern towns and cities with local lockdown measures in place.

And in July, Cumbria County Council appealed to punters who who attended three pubs in Carlisle on certain dates to have a test.

 

[PhilBrew]

Hi Chippy

The problem with [2] is after a few beers social distancing is a distant memory (see what i did there) and as we have already seen in the news pubs are a great way for the virus to spread once social distancing is ignored.

... it's a great theory ... and certainly one that the media is desperate to peddle, along with their images taken from sand level looking across beaches (so that perspective is reduced and everyone on the beach look really close together) ... but I really don't think there's actually any evidence to support this supposition that it's "joe public" misbehaving that is the problem

Certainly the example you've cited doesn't support that, it's all there in the story ... put the timeline in the right order and you get ... a Wetherspoons' minimum-wager went to work on 24 July, then felt ill enough to go and get tested on 27th July, but still went to work (complete with suspected COVID-19 symptoms, presumably on a "shall I self isolate, or do I need the money?" basis) on July 28th, the test results then came back positive on the 30th and (presumably on the back of the work of the track and tracers) Wetherspoons are informed on the 31st and close early ... no alcohol-induced social-non-distancing involved, just someone who couldn't afford to not go to work deciding to carry on regardless

Cheers, PhilB

 

[Chippy_Tea]

it's a great theory ... and certainly one that the media is desperate to peddle,

Its not a theory its happening.

My son went to our local pub for the first time since lockdown last nigh he met friends from college and he said they started out trying to keep a safe distance (as did others on tables around them) but by the end of the night (02:30 this morning when he rolled in - not as pissed as i had expected) he said the distance was a lot lower after a few beers had been supped, i doubt it would be much different if a group of over 50s did the same for the same length of time.

 

[MyQul]

Hi Chippy

... it's a great theory ... and certainly one that the media is desperate to peddle, along with their images taken

Soho has been pedestrianized (and possibly) because of this there are people sprawling all over the place drinking. Do a bit of googling. There's loads of images of large crowds of people not social distancing with pint in hand
Whether this is causing a problem (spikes in cases), I have no idea but people are clearly not following social distancing rules

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Soho has been pedestrianized (and possibly) because of this there are people sprawling all over the place drinking. Do a bit of googling. There's loads of images of large crowds of people not social distancing with pint in hand

We will be doing the same if the town council gets its way.



CONCERNS have been raised that a new government scheme allowing food and drink to be served outside will bring the return of ‘drunkenness on the streets’.

South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) has approved a fast-track pavement licensing scheme to support businesses reopening following the coronavirus lockdown.

Councillors unanimously agreed the policy, which means cafes and pubs will more easily be able to apply for licences to use pavements for tables and chairs to maximise their capacity whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines.

However, Mark Wilson an Ulverston town councillor, believes the plans would create a 'strip' in the town centre and encourage criminal behaviour.

He said: “Plans under the new Business Act and Legislation seem to set to take us back to the bad old days of drunkenness on our streets.

“I’m very concerned that residents haven’t been consulted about this and will hardly have a chance to mount objections to the prospect of boozing in the streets or nearby green spaces until September 2021.

“No proper time is being allowed for them to speak to the licensing authorities.

“Places are licensed to sell alcohol until 11pm or later which could create somewhat of a strip in the town centre full of late night drinking.”

A report before SLDC councillors said: “In determining these applications SLDC will have to balance the needs and demands of a number of different interested parties.

“The guiding principle will be that these are temporary measures designed to help business through an unprecedented period of economic uncertainty and wherever practicable we will seek to issue these licences to allow business the best opportunity to manage their businesses through these uncertain times.”